The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-17

Washington, Feb. 16.-After a day of
intense excitement at the navy de-
partment and elsewhere, growing out
of the destruction of the battleship
Maine in Havana harbor last night, the
situation tonight, after the exchange
of cablegrams between Washington
and Havana, can be summed up in the
words of Secretary Long, when asked
as he was about to depart for the day.
would he have reason to suspect that
the disaster was the work of an enemy
replied: II do not. In that / am in
fuenced by the fact that Captain Sigs-
bee has not yet reported to the navy
department on the cause. He is eyi-
IDENTIFY waiting to write a full report
So long as he does not express him
self, | certainly cannot. / should think
from the indications, however, that
there was an accident-that the maea-
zine exploded. How that came about
| do not know. For the present, at
least, no other warship viii be sent to
Havana
The appalling nature of the disaster
and the gravity of the situation that
would arise should investigation give
basis for the undercurrent of sus-
picion of treachery and foul play. that
ran through all minds had the sober
ing effect upon public men of all shades
of political opinion. The fact stands
forth and is little less than remarkable
In that not a single resolution was in
troduced or single speech made in
either house of congress, save one of
coincidence with the families of the
killed offered by Mr.. Boutelle and
adopted by the house of representa-
tlVes Public men expressed their opin-
ions with reserve when approach
but everywhere there was a demand
for an investigation and full details. in
the light of which the horror may he
justly viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly sum-
married the general opinion of the ma
Jorlty OF the naval experts in finding it
impossible Just now TO state the cause
of the destruction of the Maine. There
are great number of theories, but
most of them are of character that
makes it easy to prove or upset them
by a single investigation by a diver
Secretary Long has taken immediate
steps TO make this investigation. Late
this afternoon he telegraphed to Ad-
miral Sicard a Key West to appoint
board of naval officers to proceed at
once to Havana, employ divers and
generally to make such inquiries as the
regulations of the navy department de-
mand shall be made in the case of loss
OF snip. 1t is expected this work will
take some time, and While there are
officers who say that in their opinion
it will not be possible owing to the
probable disrupted condition of the hull
of the ship, to make out the cause OF
the explosion, the opinion of the ma
Jority is that the question will easily
be settled by simple observation OF
the condition of the ships hull plates
in the neighborhood of the hole which
sank her. whether or not they are
bulged out. as would be the case if the
explosion came from the inside or
whether they were driven in as would
result from the attack of a torpedo or
the explosion of mine beneath the
ship. The large majority of naval Off
GERS are inclined to the belief that the
explosion resulted from spontaneous
combustion of a coal bunker, the over
heaAng of the iron partitions between
the boilers and the magazine or from
the explosion of a boiler. though the
last theory finds little support.
The list of survivors that came to
the navy department this afternoon in
answer 10 the kilograms were lnaeeu-
rate and made out the loss eight more
than the summary originally given by
Captain Sigsbee in an earlier telegram.
SO Secretary Long telegraphed fer an
o1her corrected list and also one that /
should show who were and Were. not
af the SURVIVORS It was
found necessary ta do this. owing Il
the great number Of pitiful appeals for
information as - The safety Of unfor-
tunates on the Maine that came from
all parts of the country. The naval /
contractors. In the light Of the dis /
patches thus far received, say il is BY /
40 means certain that the Maine can
not be raised and again carry thu flag +
They say that while she is a big ship /
others as large have been raised. and t
II Havana the new floating dry dock /
would receive her if she could only be /
gotten above water.
Captain Sigsbee evidently is taking /
IN interest in the future Of the ship. for l
- sent a telegram To Commander For /
sytEe at Key West that was promptly /
transmitted To Secretary Long, sug- /
sesting that light house vessel Or
NM stLnh small craft h. starinnaa In