The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-17
cONGRHsSMHN RETlcENT.
Hut Few viii Express an Opinion
Ipon the Loss Of the Maine.


washington. Feb. 16.-Senators and
representatives were inclined TO retlc-
ence pending positive knowledge of the
cause Chairman Hit, of the foreign
affairs committee, and Chairman Ding
ley, of the ways and means commit
tee, would say nothing. Senator Platt,
of Connecticut, believes 1t was an ac-
cident. and so does Senator Hale, chair-
man of the naval committee. Many
other members of congress were con-
tent to simply say that opinion should
he suspended until after the inVestiga-
ton. Ex-senator Butler thinks bold
man could have gone aboard the Maine
and placed grenade with slow match
where it would explode the magazine.
The Maine incident formed the prin-
. cipal tonic of consideration by the sem
ate committee on foreign relations at
its meeting today, although not otfic-
ialIy before the committee. The opin-
ion Is generally expressed by members
to the effect that the occurrence is one
of very serious import and that it may
result i'm grave complications unless
Spain can make il very plain that no
Spaniard was in any way responsible
for it.
y prominent member said that spain
Wntild he expected to make an eXpla-
nation that would entirely clear up the
mystery, and that If she did not eX-
plain, this country would have right
tp demand such explanation.
1T is too serious to talk about at
present" said Senator Lodge, while
geuatur Crllom said: IT am too mad
t. talk ahou; it. | can't see how the
explosion could have been the result Of
|
rapidly approaching when this coun-
try must do something"
Senator Clark would only say: 1T is
singular that such accidents happen at
such opportune times
BOILER THEORY ACC EPTED.
The theory advanced hy the Spanish
authorities that the disaster might
have beer caused by the explosion OF
the boiler is accepted at the navy de-
partmcnt as within the bounds OF
credibility.
The Mainc'a boiler was separated
from the rOwder magazines at the
nearest point by a space of about four
feet usually filed with coal. At least
one boiler undoubtedly was Kept un-
uer almost full steam in order to run
tie dynamoS ana move the shin in
case Of need.
The explosion of such q boiler might
easily drive through the bulkhead and
fire the magazine.
Inasmuch as suspicion exists in some
quarters that torpedo was used
against the Maine. it may be said that
the majority of naval officers believe
that the character of the explosion was
hardly such as could be attributed to a
10 f.1
about 100 pounds of gunpowder or gun
cotton, it is believed, would have torn
q large hole in the bottom or side OF
the Maine, but was scarcely likely to
fire the maga2ine, which is not neal
the bottom.
It was sale at the navy department
that there is no lack of precedent fol
such "A disaster as that sustained by
the Maine. all of which can be tracea
to accidental causes
The loss of the Maine leaves the Uni
ted States with only six serviceablf
ironclads as against seven in tbs
Spanish fleet.
EXCITEMENT AT HAVANA.
A Spanish official of long residence
at Havana stated that the hour of the
accident was the one when eXcitomen
at Havana was at its height. Up L
midnight the theaters, cafes and cluhi
are crowded and strangers find thei
greatest interest in seeing the city a
that time. For this reason, he said, i
was the time when naval officers usu
ally secured their shore leave, th
leave running from to II o'clock
This he thought would account for tn
absence of some of the officers from tn
Maine and the consequent small deatl
list among the officers. At the sam
time the leave to the sailors was usu
ally cultailed for the reason that tn
hours of excitement We're those il
which 1t was desired the seamen shoul,
not participate.