The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-17
HEARD WITH HORROR.
Senor Dubosc Expresses Profound Regret
at the Occurrence.

at the Occurrences.
Washington, Feb. 16.-The news of
the Maine disaster was learned at the
Spanish legation with horror and oc-
casioned many expressions of profound
regret and coincidence. Early in the
day Senor Dubosc, the Spanish charge
d'affaires, received a message from
Captain General Blanco, which had
been filed at Havana at > o'clock this
morning. 1t read as follows:
With profound regret | have to in
form you that the American ship
Maine, in this harbor, blew up, an un-
doubtedly chance accident, believed
to have resulted from an explosion of
the boiler dynamo. Immediately fol-
lowing the accident all the disposable
elements of the capital hastened to the
spot to extend every aid possible. These
included the force of the marine fire
brigade and all the general in Ha-
vana, among them my chief of staff
There have been deaths and wounded.
L nave sent an aide-de-camp to offer
every assistance to the North American
consul that he may wish. / will for
ward further details as they become
available
Senior Dubosc expressed the most
profound regret at the occurrence.
Asked If the disaster possibly could
1tdSp duS ADVERSE effect upon the HRi1-
tions between Spain and the United
States. he responded with a decided
negative and the statement that the
affair was wholly an accident.
Senior Dubosc FASTENED 10 the state
department soon after receiving the
Blanco cablegram for the purpose of
expressing his deep coincidence to the
authorities, and of communicating the
captain generals dispatch to Secretary
Sherman and Mr. Day, the assistant
secretary. To both of them he ex-
pressed personally and officially the
most profound regret.
The members of the Spanish legation
called at the navy department in the
afternoon and left their individual
cards as an expression of their personal
coincidence. Up to 2:3o p. m. the lega-
tion had not heard from Madrid 1t
was stated that the delay doubtless
was due to the fact that in a matter of
this gravity the queen regent herself
would send a message of sympathy and
regret, and that this message would
come later.
The Spanish naval attaehe. Senior
Sobral. who is in New York. sent a tel
egram to the secretary of the navy,
expressing his profound regret at the
news of the loss of so many naval COM
panions.
A Spanish official of long residence at
f1dAdHd- stated IldI the lGnf the
accident was the one when excitement
at Havana was at its height Up to
midnight the theaters, cafes and clubs
are crowded. and strangers take
the greatest interest in seeing the city
at that time. For this reason, he said.
naval officers usually secured their
shore leave, running from to II
o'clock. AT the same time the leave
to the sailors was usually curtailed.
as 1t was desired the seamen should
not participate in the excitement.
The French ambassador. NJ cambon,
took occasion to call at the state de-
partment and express his deep regret
at the occurrence and the loss of life.
At the foreign establishments the
occurrence was the one absorbing sub
ject of comment, and the expression
WAS general that aside from the melan-
choly feature Of death and destruction.
it was profoundly unfortunate IL the
Spanish cause, owing To the natural
suspicion which would arise At the
Army and Navy club and the Metro
palitan club two centers Of the army
navy and diplomatic circles. the same
intense excitement was manifested At
these public quarters there was IN un-
dercurrent Of doubt and questioning as
to the coincidence Of an accident ta this
particular vessel at this particular