The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-20
MAINE BLOWN Up
BY SUBMARINE MINE.
Continual from Page /.


II probably is. deep In Tnus. The officials
here intimate that the discovery Of pieces
Of torpedo IS not 70 be taken into consider
alton a proof % an outside explosion.
There was q good deal or tax among
che officials Of the need OF speedy relief
measures for the benefit Of the families
Of the explosion victims. Under the
treasury rules TIE allotnents OF portions
OF pay 10 fnenbeTs az iheir families made
b. the men who persisted IN the wreck
must stop at once. il Is nat doubted
that congress will do ar Il Old IN the case
OF the Samoan disaster. provide years
pay TO the families OF the sailors who
died al their posts. The difficulty, how
ever. IS that such measure cannot be
passed at once. and meantime some OF
the families OF the dead sailors may he
in great dlstrezs. The subject has been
taken Up by Mr.. Long. and ne has called
meeting for Monday TO initiate the
movement.
IL happens that. by the rare chance OF
a. unexpected change % paynasters re-
Gently, very little OF the savings OF the
Names sailors sent down in the vessel.
About Two weeks ago Paymaster Little
Held. OF tbs Maine, VAS relieved By Pay
master Ray. The former came TO Wash
inston and has settled TIE accounts OF the,
ship up 20 the time he left TIE record
shows that PsymAster I;ay had en- hand
In his safe only about 300 in cash, prob
ably gold. and a check for $500 which. of
course IS safe enoagh without his in
dorsement against lDas.
Since the spontaneous combustion theory
has come SO prominently TO the front as
accounting for the disaster, tho officials
have been looking over the records to find
parallel case. as near as may be. The
flagship New York was discovered to be
on fire March .. 1896. Smoke was issuing
from her main magazine. This was clear
ed CT powder safely. and II was found thai
tire woodwork had been charred deeply.
The cause Was not at frst percep.ible. but
Ii was soon discovered thar ga adjoining
coal bunker Was burning. When the bunk
er was opened, tho coal on top was not
hot bat as the men dug down It was found
20 be redaet inside. There was no mani
nor on any save the one next to tie maga-
CINE. That startled naval officers. and
the constructors made considerable air
space between the bunkers and the maya
zine. la the designing OF the rev battle
ships now on the docks. the lesson was
kept In mind. and everything possible was
done to insalate the ceal bunkers from the
magazinss-
Secretary Long has given orders that
with the expiration Of this day there need
b. observed no longer the order to all
ships and commands to display the ma
ilonal eolors az half-mast
While the disaster 10 the Maine has
created a temper ia the house In favor Of
liberal appropriations for the navy. and
while II il undoubtedly true that the
house tn lis present frame OF mind would
nos hesitate 70 vote for two uew battle
ships. the temper Is predlcated upon the
theory thar The Maine was hlown Up by
external agencies. II the result Of the
official iaquiry should devrlo., tho fact
beyond psradycnturs that tie ships mag
azine exploded from fire or other cause
within her. Il Is believed a sentiment IN
eonsre#s Will be created against the cx-
reHditure 81 millions in the construction
Of waTshias that may blow up at any
time.
IL seefas likely that a congressional In
eesiigation viii follow 81 report from, the
board Of inquiry astrlh8llng the explosion
Of the Maine 90 her magazine. No resolu-
ton for this purpose has Yet hee, intro