The San Francisco call., 1898-02-20

then. An hour later I was on my way to Key West in the Herald's chartered tug G. w. Childs. Before departing it came to me from trustworthy source that the complications referred to by Captain Sigsbee had their origin in Madrid. The Spanish authorities. ac- cording to my informant, fully realize the position in which they have been placed by the unexplained explosion of the Maine. So far there is not the slightest clew as to the cause of the ex- plosion.
 I spent last night in getting hints that might have led to a solution, but found no corroborative evidence, no tangible results. Theories are offered in plenty, but every one of these save one will contradict some other.
 A naval board of examination, com posed of Lieutenant-Command Vain wright Lieutenant Holden and Chief by Captain Sigsbee and ordered to closely examine the wreck and report their opinions as to the cause of the explosion. Accompanied by Captain Sigsbee the board pulled around the wreck yesterday and closely scruti- nized it. This inspection was, of course, of cursory nature and if the
 
 to themselves.
 This matter. is far too serious for nasty conclusions" was the grave re- ply to my question as to whether the inspection had given the officers any new idea about the accident. As I have said, there are theories in plenty, and in the multitude is one that commands attention
 T heard it several times last night, and 1 heard it again this morning. It is that the Maine was wrecked by a submarine mine laid during the days of Weyler. To appreciate the signifi- canoe of hints that have been given me it is necessary to explain that once inside of Havana harbor a heavy ship of war has the city at her mercy. It is not to be supposed that the Span iards neglected the opportunity to plant mines There could have been no hit or miss chance about such an opera ation, for ships entering port do not anchor, but are escorted to mooring buoys located at various places in the harbor. Thus the Maine was brought in by the Government pilot and told what buoy she must tie up to. That buoy must have also marked the To- cation of a mine, and other buoys may serve similar purposes.
 T am convinced that if such was really the case, and if the Maine was destroyed by a submarine mine ex- plosion, the act was perpetrated with out the knowledge of the Spanish au- thorities. It is conceivable that some fanatic might have discovered the To- cation of the mines, and it's electrical connection, and set the spark that caused the wreck.
 . I have tried to verify these whispered things, but you can understand how well nigh impossible it is. I have also tried to trace the rumor that what I have described has been the case, that the secret is in the possession of several men and that one of these is making his way to Washington to tell what he knows about it. Such is the theory and rumors that go with it. There is no positive evidence here to show that either is true. Nor is it likely that any convincing evidence of any sort will be obtained until divers make a report
 The spectacle that the wreck pre- sented yesterday made one sick at heart to contemplate. Hundreds of car rion crows were perched upon it, and the guard boats pulling around could not keep them away. At intervals a body or mangled limb would come floating upward, to be taken in tow when discovered by boats detailed for that purpose. One living thing was
 
 Tom, the huge black cat that belonged to the Maine, and which had escaped death in some miraculous manner. The cat was found by the boats crew from the lighthouse steamer and was taken on board that vessel.
 In the city all precautions are being taken to guard against any anti-Amer- ican demonstration. General Lee is being guarded by detectives in civilian dress and up to last night the General did not know that he was the subject of such espionage.
 Here are running extracts from letter which Captain Sigsbee has writ ten to his wife and which he kindly permitted me to take: "So far as am able to judge at noon to-day 253 per sons have been drowned or killed and 101 saved. Merritt, the dead officer, re- ceived help in the blinding darkness and watery whirl of his quarters by Naval Cadet Boyd until they were swept apart. Jenkins, up to his arms in water, started for his stateroom. which was in an opposite direction to the hatch, doubtless to save important departmental papers, and was drowned. Of the crew saved only eighteen or nineteen are uninjured. The explosion