The Eddy current., 1898-04-02
PRESIDENT MKINLEY SENDS THE
REPORT TO CONGRESS.
His Message Recites the Circumstances
Surrounding the Destruction of the
Maine, but Suggests Only Further Con-
sideratiOn Before Action is Taken.

proceeded TO make a thorough inyes-
tlgatlon on the spot. employing every
available means for an impartial and
exact determination OF the cause Of the
explosion. It's operations have been
conducted with the utmost dellberatlon
and judgment. and while independently
pursued. no source OF Information was
neglected. and the fullest opportunity
was allowed for a simultaneous inves-
tigation by the Spanish authorities.
The finding OF the court Of inquiry
was reached after % days OF contlnu-
Gus labor. Oh the 2st Of March. instant:
and having been approved on the 22nd
by the commander-ln-chlef OF the
United States naval force on the North
Atlantic station was transmitted to
the executive. II Is herewith laid be-
fore congress to-day with the volumIn-
Gus testimony taken before the court.
It's purport In trlef. Is as follows;
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
ernment pilot 10 buoy No 4, TO which
she was moored. In from Ave and one
half 10 six fathoms OF water; the state
OF discipline on board and the condition
OF her magazines, boilers. coal bunkers
and storage compartments passed In re-
view. with the conclusion that excellent
order prevailed. and that no Indication
OF any cause for internal explosion OK
listed In any quarter A. o'clock In
the evening OF Feb. 49, everything had
been reported secure and all was dd'et.
/ Al 40 minutes past o'clock the vessel
was suddenly destroyed, There we're
two distinct explosions. with brief In
teryal between them. The hrst lifted
the forward part OF the ship very per-
ceptlbly. the second. which was more
prolonged. attributed by the court 20
the partial explosion Of two or more Of
her forward magazines. The evidence
OF divers establish that the after part
OF the ship Is practically intact and
sank in that condition very few min.
utcs after the explosion. The forward
part was completely demolished
Upon the evidence OF the concurrent
external cause the finding Of the court
Is az follows:
~ frame II, outer shell Of the ship
at a point iiis feet from the middle OF
the line OF the ship and six feet above
the keel when in lts normal position
has been forced up so as 10 be now
about four feet above the surface OF
the water; therefore. about "a feet
above where II would be had the ship
sunk unlnjnred. Outside. the bottom
plating is bent into reversed "V'
shape, the after wing OF which IL about
rs feet broad and 32 feet Ia length
gfrom frame n to frame 25) IL doubled
back upon itself against a continuation
Of the same plating extending forward
At frame rs the vertical keel Ia broken
In two and the keel bent into an angle
similar 20 the angle formed for out
side plates. The break Is about slx
feet below the surface OF the water and
about 80 feet above It's normal position
In the opinion OF the court his efecl
could have been produced only by the
explosion OF a mine situated under th'
bottom Of the ship about frame rs anS
somewhat on the port side OF the ship.
The conclusions OF the court are;
That the loss OF the Maine was mol
In any respect due 10 fault or negli
I gence on the part OF any officers oI
; members Of her crew That the ahll
was destroyed by an explosion Of
a submarine mine. which caused the par
Q tlal explosion OF two or more OF be-
r forward magazines; and that no evi
dence has been obtainable fixing re
!, sponslbllity for the destruction OF th
; Maine upon any person or persons
+ ! have directed that the finding o
,, the court OF inquiry and the views o
this government thereon be eommunl
: Gated 10 the government Of her maj
y esty, the queen. and I do not perml
myself 10 doubt that the sense OF ius
. tiec ,of the Spanish nation will dletat
Q the course of action suggested by homo
= and the friendly relations OF the tw
Z governments. Il was the duty OF n
y executive 10 advise congress Of the n
suit. and IN the meantime deliberate o
= the consideration that ia 10 be n
Is vOkad. WILLIAM MCKINLEY
Il Executive Mansion, March 2s. 1888