Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-09
EXPLOSION WAS EXTERNAL.
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION
Nothing Discovered by the Later
Work of the Divers to Change
the Evidences First Gathered as
to the Maine Battleship's Disaster.

New York, March "a dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says:
The leading facts of the Maine disaster
are all in the possession of the naval
board.
The divers have continued their work
during the absence of the board at Key
West. They have discovered nothing to
change the evidences first gathered, which
showed, apparently, that the explosion
was external. Their examination this
week has extended alongside the plates
and they have penetrated forward well
into the bow. All they find is merely
confirmatory of what was previously dis
covered.
Captain Sampson and his associates
were especially anxious to await further
work by the divers to determine whether
or not mistakes had been made in any
particular. Nothing has been found to
indicate mistake. On the contrary, the
more thoroughly the hull is examined, the
more convincing appears the original evil
dences of explosion from without. How
long the board will take to formulate its
conclusions on this point can be better
judged in Washington than in Havana.
spaniards In No Hurry.
Notwithstanding the permission given
by the United States government for
Spanish divers to examine the wreck, the
investigation by the Spanish authorities
of the condition of the ship proceeds slow
ly. They seem to be in no hurry to learn
the facts about the hull, magazines and
other matters, which were first to engage
the attention of the naval board. The
government has, however, taken consid-
cradle testimony of persons who were in
the harbor on the night of the explosion.
1t gives much weight to the testimony of
those who say they saw flames issuing
from the Maine before the ship was wreck
ed by an explosion.
VIII Exonerate sigsbee.
The understanding in Havana is that
the naval board will be emphatic in exon
Grating Captain Sigsbee and the officers
of the Maine from the implication of neg
ligence, lack of discipline or responsibility
for the disaster. 1t has been almost for
gotten that, until the board reports on
the subject, Captain Sigsbee is nominally
under. a cloud. The secrecy with which
the investigation has been conducted has
not prevented the testimony on the sub
ject from becoming known.
The board will be able to go further and
show that there was not only no accident
which could have been prevented, but also
no basis for the theories of accident from
an unknown cause. How far it will go
in the assertion of positive proof that the
Maine was blown up is for the present a
speculative question.
The prevalent impression is that the
board has evidence of the deed, without
the means of finding out who committed
it. 1t is incumbent on the Spanish gov
eminent to find that out. The denial
credited to Senior Du Bose in Washington
that mines existed in Havana harbor, does
not receive the weight that would be Civ
en- an official declaration from Captain
General Blanco or Premier Sagasta on
the same subject.
The Spanish Attitude.
In official circles it is the evident pur-
pose to combat the finding of the naval
board, but not aggressively. The Spanish
attitude seems to be that an accident was
probable and that the United States is not
justified in making demand for repara-
ton when the proof of foul play is not
positive. The assumption will be that
the two governments, after taking evil
dence, will be unable to agree in their
conclusions. However. there has been
nothing in the nature of joint investiga-
ton.
From the present outlook Madrid and
Washington are the places where the
consequences of the Maine explosion will
be determined. Little more than already
known can be learned here. The wreck
promises to remain in the harbor for an
indefinite period. The wrecking compan
les will be able to raise the guns of the
Maine. The hull is an asset of no value
TO any government.
The temper of the Spanish classes to-
ward the United States finds some exhibit
ton at present, but not in the form of
hostile demonstrations. 1t is rather in
the shape of fervent protests and actions
of loyalty to the mother country. The
arrival of the warship Vizcaya has caused
an outpouring of the loyal spirit, though
it was not exactly spontaneous for the
demonstration was arranged in advance.
Apparently large proportion of the
populate are gratifed to see the Vizcaya
anchored not far from the other war
ships, which are to come, and with the
torpedo fleet. Havana and the ports Of
Cuba are safe from an American fleet.
Spain buys Ships.
London, March Spain has purchased
two cruisers which the Armstrong; have
been building for Brazil, the Amazonus
and a sister ship, unnamed, of 400 tons
each, 20 knots and 10 guns. Spain is also
negotiating for and will probably secure
two cruisers of similar type which have
been building in France for Brazil. The
Amazonus is ready for launching and her
sister ship will soon be ready.
The Spanish government is also endeav-
oring to secure guns and large supplies Of
ammunition in England and the continent
for immediate use. The government Of
Spain seems to have funds, for it is under
stood to be paying large part of the pur-
chase money in cash, giving good security
for the balance, these being the only terms
upon which the Armstrong; would deal.
Some weeks ago Spain attempted to
purchase ships and supplies in England on
credit from prominent firms having close
relations with the government. hut. after