The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-03-31
BOARD OF INQUIRY.

O~~~.0 -
symbol of good will and of our ships in
the fulfllment Of the mission Of pro-
lection to American interests, even
though no immediate need therefor
might exist.
Accordingly, on the oath Of January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the PENN
sular authorities at Madrid and Havana
were advised of the purpose of this gov
eminent to resume friendly naval Wis
its at Cuban ports, and that in that
view the Maine would forthwith call
at the port of Havana. This announce.
ment was received by the Spanish gov
eminent with appreciation Of the
friendly character Of the visit of the
Maine and with notification of the in
tention to return the courtesy by send
ing Spanish ships to the principal ports
of the United States. Meanwhile the
Maine entered the port of Havana on
the 25th of January, her arrival being
marked with no special incident and
besides the exchange Of customary SAL
utes and ceremonial visits.
Remained in Havana Three Weeks.
The Maine continued in the harbor
of Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No apprecia BILE
excitement attended her stay, on the
contrary feeling of relief and conf
dence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was this immediate effect
of her visit that the consul general
strongly urged that the presence of our
ships in Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining the Maine at Havana or
in the event of her recall, by sending
other vessels there to take her place.
At 40 minutes past 9 in the evening
of the 10th of February the Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire former part of the hull was
utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe
officers and 260 of her crew persisted,
those who were not killed outright by
her explosion being penned between
decks by the tangle of wreckage and
drowned by the Immediate sinking of
the hull. Prompt assistance was rem
dered by the neighboring vessels an
chored in the harbor, aid being especi-
ally given by the boats of the Spanish
cruiser Alphonso XII and the Ward
line steamer City of Washington,
which lay not far distant. The
wounded were generously cared for by
the authorities of Havana, the hospi-
tails being freely opened to them, while
the earliest recovered bodies of the
dead were inferred by the municipality
in public cemetery in the city. Trib-
utes of grief and sympathy were Of
fered from all official quarters of the
| Island.
Intense Excitement Resulted.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people Of our country with crushing
force, and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed, which, in a COM
munity less just and self. controlled
than ours, might have led to hasty acts
in resentment. This spirit, however,
soon gave way to the calmer processes
of reason and to the resolve to investi-
gate the facts and await the material
proof before forming Judgment as to
the cause, the responsibility, and, if the
facts warranted, the remedy due. This
course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset to the executive, for