The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1898-02-24
THE MAINE BLOWN UP
THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN
HAVANA HARBOR.

THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN
HAVANA HARBOR.
The Cause Not Definitely Stated.
Many of the Crew KilIed-whole
City Shaken-Great Excite
ment in Washington.
HAVANA, Feb. 16.-A terrible ex-
plosion occurred on board the United
States battleship Maine. in Havana
harbor, at 9:45 o'clock last night.
The explosion shook the whole city
and windows were broken in all the
| houses. The widest CONSERVATION
prevailed In Havana and the wharves
were soon crowded with thousands Of
| people.
| CAPT. sIGsBEEs DISPATCH.
The Secretary of the Navy received
the following from Capt Sigsbee: ::
vana harbor at $40 and destroy ed.
| Many were wounded and doubt
| less many were drowned. The
| wounded and others are on
| board the Spanish man-of-war and
Ward Line steamer. Send light
| house tenders from Key West for
| crew and few pieces Of equipment still
above water. No one had other
clothes than those upon him. Public
opinion should be suspended till fur
ther report. Officers believed to be
saved Jenkins and Merit not yet
accounted for. Many Spanish officers,
including representatives Of General
BlancO. now with me, and express
sympathy.
(Signed) SIGSBEE
REGARDED ONE OF THE BEST.
The Maine was battleship Of the
second class, and was regarded as one
of the best ships in the new Navy. She
was built at the Brooklyn Navy yard,
10 1890, at a cost of 81 5SS, 900, and was
3lS feet long, 81 feet broad, 81 mean
draught, and {, 682 tons displacement
She carried four 10 inch and six 6inch
breech-loading guns in her main Dat
terry and seven 6Duunder and eight
pounder rapid fire guns,sand four
GdttlingS in her secondary battery,
and four Whitehead torpedoes.
All REPORTED KILLED.
At 10 o'clock this morning. the
num- ber killed by the destruction OF
the Maine is reported to be All, only
33 surviving out of $50 officers ana
crew. The wounded from the Maioe
are being taken on stretcbers 10 Casa
De SocOrro, where surgeons al e 10 at
tendance.
THE COOKS STATEMENT.
James Rowe, the ships cook, who
was least injured, says: Il turned
my hammock at o'clock and went
asleep. The next think | knew l felt
myself whirling in the air, turning
over and over, aud falling on the deck
choking with the dense smoke.
crawled along the deck and staggered
When l realized that, jumped over
board and tried to swim away, so as
not to be drawn under by the suction.
A boat from Spanish man-of-war
picked me up. The same boat picked
up four Others struggling in the
water. They were Daniel Crorien,
landsman; Charles Bergman, boat
swain; Albert Johns, seaman, and a
landsman named Blosmer."
WHAT THE COMMANDER SAYS:
Captain Sigsbee says that one quar-
ter of his crew of six hundred are
dead, which is precisely the same
statement as was made by Chief of
Police Paglirie. Capt. Sigsbee says
he will be unable to state officially
the cause of the explosion until he has
made an in nvestigatfon among his Of
ficers. He says the magazine was
well guarded as usual. Sigsbee says:
Tell the American people nearly all
the officers are saved. The ship was
lying near the head Of the bay. Proof
that it was the magazine only that
exploded is shown by the way the
bow was entirely blown to pieces. The
crew is in entire ignorance of the
cause Of the disaster. The force of
explosion was something frightful.
Part of the mariners were taken
aboard Alphonso XII, which render
ed very efficient service in saving the
lives of American sailors. Others OF
the crew were picked up by the Ward
Liner. There is much excitement,
but no risk or danger to Americans"
Sigsbee and Lee advise suspension
Of public opinion until further report.
A REPORT FROM MADRID.
MADRID, Feb. 16.-The first news
received from Havana said the eXplo-
sion on the Maine was caused by fire.
The warship was enveloped by flames
and afterwards sunk.
CABLE FROM LEE
WASHINGTON, Feb. I6.-General Lee
| cables that the explosion occurred well
forward under the mems quarters and
consequently many were lost. 1t is
O6l1eVeO all bue OlHCeTS are saved, DQ J
| Jenkins and Merritt are not account
| ed for. Thee cause of the explo sion
| is unknown. The Captain General
and the Army and Navy rendered
every assistance. Capt. Sigsbee and
| most of his officers were aboard the
| steamer City of Washington. Others
| were in the city.
OPINION OF NAVAL OFFICERS
| BROOKLYN, Feb. 16.-Lieut Purcell,
| Commander Of the recruit ship Stor-
mont, says: "The Maine struck some
hidden or forgotten mine or torpedo.
| She could not have blown up her own
magazine"
Lieut.. Col. Speyre, Commander Of
| Marines, says: "It was no accident
that destroyed the Maine. Such might
be the case in heat of action when the
| magazine was being used, but not
| while lying at anchor.
Capt. Sumner, Acting Commandant
1T the Navy yards, says: st is i'm
possible for the blowing up of the
Maine to be due to accident. The
magazines were amidship, while the
explosion was forward"
SANK TO THE BOTTOM
| HAVANA, Feb. 16.-The Maine took
fire Immediately after the wreck and
sank to the bottom of the harbor at
l Tt 10 hnl