Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

covered visits to Havana for five or six
years, man-of-war to be anchored at
that buoy; that he had rarely known
merchant vessels to be anchored there, and
that it was the least used buoy in the har
Dor In describing the surroundings whesl
first moored to this buoy Capt. Sigsbee
stated that the Spanish man-of-war Al
phonso XII. was moored in the position
now occupied by the Fern, about $50 yards
to the northward and westward of the
Maine. The German ship Griesenau vas
anchored at the berth now occupiesi by
the Spanish man-of-war Legaspe VIII oh is
about 400 yards about due north from the
Maine. He then located the German man
of-war Charlotte, which came in:o the
harbor day or two later. which was an
chored to the southwark of the Names
berth about AGO or 500 yards.
In describing the surroundings at the
time of the explosion, Capt. Sigst ee stated
that the night was calm and still The
Alphonso XII. was at the SO me berth
The small Spanish dispatch bost Legaspe
had come out the day before ari taken the
berth occupied by the German Inan-of-war
Griesenau, which had left. The steam
er City of Washington was anchored about
200 yards to the south and east of the
Names stern slightly on the port quarter.
The Maine coaled at Key West, taking on
sbout l50 tons, the coal teing regularly
inspected and taken from .he government
coal pile. This coal was placed generally
In the forward bunkers. no report was re-
ceiVed from the chief engineer that any
coal had been too long In the bunkers, and
that the fire alarms in the bunkers were
sensitive.
Regulations Strictly Carried Out.
In so far as the regulations regarding in
fammables and paints on board Capt Sigs-
bee testified that the regulations were
strictly carried out IN regard to storage
and that the waste also was subject to
the same careful disposition. AS to the sit
uation OF the pains room, he fixed it as in
the ''eyes of the SHIP" just below the berth
deck, the extreme forward compartment
AS for the disposition of inflammab les, they
were slowed in CHESTS according to the reg
ulations, and wnen infammables were in
excess of chest capacity they were allowed
to be kept in til bathroom of the admiral
cabin. Regarding the electric plant of the
Maine, Capt. Sigsbee stated that there was
no serious. grounding nor sudden laring
up OF the lights before the explosion, but
a sudden and total eclipse. AS for regu-
lations affecting the taking of temperature
OF the magazines, ETC., Capt. Sigsbee said
there wee no special regulations other
than the usual regulations required by the
department. He examined the temperature
himself and conversed with the ordnance
officer as to the various temperatures and
the co tents of the magazines, and accord
ing tG the opinion of this officer, as well as
Sigsl.ee, the temperatures were never at the
danger point. 81 do not think there was
any laxity in this direction" said The cap
tain, in reply to a question of Judge Advo-
caGe Mark.
lie had no recollection of any work 60
ii.g on in the magazine OF shell rooms on
the day of the explosion. The keys were
called for in the usual way on the day in
question and were properly returned. AT
the time of the disaster the two after boil
ers in the after fire room were in use be-
cause the hydraulic system was somewhat
leaking. Speaking generally of his rela-