Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-03-28

washington, marcn Eo.-Ine president
to-day sent the following message TO
congress:
To the Congress Of the United States.
For some time prior to the visit OF the
Maine 10 Havana harbOr our consular
representatives pointed out the advan-
tages 10 follow the visit OF our national
ships 70 Cuban waters, In accustOming
the people TO the presence OF our flag IA =
symbol OF good Will and our ships In full
dllment OF a mission OF protection 10
American interests, even though no i'm
mediate need therefor might exist.
Accordingly on the 18th OF January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister In which renewal Of Wits OF
our war vessels 10 Spanish waters was
discussed and accepted, the peninsular
authorities at Madrid and Havana were
advised Of the purpose OF this government
10 resume friendly naval visits 10 Cuban
ports, and in that view the Maine would
forthwith call at the port OF Havana.
This announcement was received by
theSpanish government with apprecia
tiOn OF the friendly character OF the visit
OF the Maine and with a notification OF
an intention 10 return the courtesy by
sending Spanish ships 10 the principal
ports OF the United States
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
OF Havana on the 20th OF January, the ar.
rival being marked with no special incl
dent besides the exchange OF customary
salutes aud ceremonial visits. The
Maine continued in the harbOr OF Haya-
ma during three weeks following her ar
rival. No appreciable excitement at.
tended her stay; on the contrary feel
ing OF relief and confidence followed the
resumption OF long interrupted friendly
intercourse. SO noticeable was this i'm
mediate feet Of her visit that Consul Gen.
eral Lee strongly urged that the presence
OF our ships In Cuban waters should be
kept up by retaining them at Havana OF
IN the event OF her recall. by sending
another vessel there 10 take her place.
At forty minutes past nine on the
evening OF the 18th OF February, the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion. by
which the entire forward part OF the ship
was utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe
two officers and two hundred and sixty
OF her crew peTished; those who were not
killed outright by the explosion being
penned between decks by the tangle OF
wreckage and drowned by the immediate
sinking Of the hull. Prompt assistance
was rendered by neighboring vessels an-
Cuoicu but hiu Dtluk toUtCihlly
given by the boats OF the Spanish cruiser
AlphOnsO XII and the Ward line steamer
City OF Washington, which lay not far
distant
The wounded were generously cared for
by the authorities OF Havana, the hOspi-
tails being freely opened 10 them, while
the earliest recovered bodies OF the dead
were inferred by the municipality In
public cemetery In the city Tributes of
grief and sy mpathy were offered from all
official quarters OF the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people Of our country with crushing
force, and for brief time an intense ex-
element prevailed, which, In cOmmu
nifty less Just and self. controlled than
Oura, must have led 10 basty acts OF blind
resentment. This spirit, however. soon
gave way 10 the calmer processes OF rea-
son and 10 resolve TO investigate the
facts and await material proof before
forming judgment az 10 the cause and
the responsibility, and II the facts war
Tanted. the remedy due. This course
necessarily recommended itself from the
outset the executive, for only In the light
OF dispassiOnately ascertained certainty
could II determine the nature and meas
ure OF its full duty In the matter.
The usual procedure was followed as
in all cases OF casualty OF disaster 10
national vessels OF any maritime state
A national court Of inquiry was at once
organized, composed OF officers we'll quail
iflsd by rank and practical experience TO
discharge the OnerOus duty imposed upon
them. And by strong force OF wreckers
and divers the court proceeded 10 make
thorough investigation on the spot. EN-
plOying every available means for the i'm
partial and exact determination OF
the causes OF the explosion. Its
operations have been conducted with
the utmost delibeTatiOn and judgment
and while independently pursued. no
course OF information was neglected, and
the fullest opportunity was allowed for
simultaneous investigation by Spanish
authorities. The finding of the court Of
inquiry was reached after twenty-three
days OF continuous labor, on the 2lst day
OF March, and having been approved on
the 22d by the commander in-chief OF the
United States naval force on the North
Atlantic station, was transmitted 10 the
executive. IL Is herewith laid before
congress, together with the yOluminOus
ee't mOny taken before the court. Its
purpOrt is in brief az follows.
" hen the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by regular govern
ment pilot 10 buoy No. 8, 10 which she
was mOOred In five and half to six
fathOms OF water. The state discipline
on board and the condition Of her mAga-
zines, boilers. coal bunkers and storage
compartments are passed In review with
the conclusion that excellent order pre-
vailed, and that no indication OF any
cause for internal explosion existed in
any quarter. At O'clock on the evening
OF February 10th everything had been re-
ported secure and all was quiet. At forty
minutes past nine o'clock the vessel was
suddenly destroyed. There we're two dis
tinct explosions, with brief interval
between them. The first lifted the for
ward part OF the ship very perceptibly;
the second, which was more prolonged, Is
attributed by the court 10 a partial ex-
plOsiOn OF two or more Of the forward
magazines. The evidence OF the divers
established that the after part of the ship
was practically intact and sank In that
condition In very few minutes after the
explosion. The forward part was com
pletely demolished Upon the evidence