The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-03-29
BOARD OF INQUIRY.

the Railways We're choked with push.
the galleries. Not an inch Of space re.
manned in the public galleries at
. o'clock, though long lines of
people stretching down the stair
ways to the lower corridors continued
press forward. Within a few min.
utes after the reserved galleries We're
thrown open, they were completely
filled, with the exception OF those re.
served for the diplomatic corps and the
families Of the president and cabinet.
Admission to these galleries was strict.
" by card. Many distinguished per.
nag Were III the galleries. The hall
buZzed like a beehive with the sound Of
mvrlads of voices. On the floor there
was almost as much excitement as in
the galleries.
Immediately after the assembling Of
the house a message from the president
accompanying the report of the Maine
board of inquiry, vas presented and
read. II was as follows:
To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior 10 the visit Of
the Maine to Havana harbor our con.
sular reports pointed out the advan-
tages to follow from the visit of ma.
tional ships to the Cuban waters in &C.
~customlng the people to our flag "a the
symbol If good VIII and of our ships in
the tulhllment Of the mission Of pro-
lection to American interests, even
though no Immediate need therefor
might exist.
Accordingly, OF the 24th OF January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister IN which the renewal of visits
ii our war vessels TO Spanish waters
vas discussed and accepted, the PENN.
su.ar aurhorltles at Madrid and Havana
Were advised Of the purpose Of this gov
eminent to resume friendly naval Wis.
II at Cuban ports, and that in that
view the Maine would forthwith call
Ar the port OF Havana. This announce.
meAt was received by the Spanish gov
ernmen with appreciation Of the
friendly character Of the visit of the
Maine and with notification Of the IN
tentloA to return the courtesy by send
ing spanish ships u the principal ports
of the United States. Meanwhile the
Maine entered the port Of Havana on
the 10Th Of January, her arrival being
marked with no special incident and
besides the exchange Of customary sal.
utr, and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued IN the harbor
Of Havana during the three weeks fol.
lowing her arrival. No appreclable
excitement attended her stay, on the
contrary a feeling Of relief and conf.
dence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
SO noticeable was this immediate effect
Of her visit that the consul general
strongly urged that the presence of our
ships III Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining the Miane at Havana or
III the event OF her recall, by sending
other vessels there to take her place.
At 40 Ii Il past . III the evening
Of the 10th Of February the Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire former part Of the hull was
utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe
z officers and 800 Of her crew perished.
those who were not killed outright by
her explosion being penned between
decks by the tangle Of wreckage and
drowned by the immediate sinking of
the hull. Prompt assistance was rem.
dered by the neighboring vessels an.
chored in the harbor, aid being especi.