The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-17

| the day Senior du Bose, the Spanish
charge d'affaires, received message from
Captain-General Blanco which had been
flied at Havana at 2 o'clock this morn
ing. II read as follows:
with profound regret 1 have to inform
you that the American ship Maine in this
harbor blew up by an undoubtedly chance
accident, believed to result from the ex-
ploson of the boiler of her dynamo. I'm
mediately following the accident, all the
disposable elements of the capital hasten
ed to the spot to extend every aid pos
sible. These included the force of the
marine fire brigade and all the generals
in Havana, among them my chief of staff.
There have been many deaths and wound
ed. 1 have sent an aide-de-camp to offer
every assistance to the North American
consul that he may wish for. I will for
ward further details as they become avail
able.
(Signed) "BLANCO.'
Senior du Bose expressed the most pro-
found regret at the occurrence to the AS
sociated Press reporter, to whom he gave
a copy of the foregoing cablegram from
General Blanco. He said:
/
in every respect and solely and simply to
an accident. That is the clear and I'M
equivocal statement of the authorities at
Havana and all the evidence thus far
available goes to sustain it,"
Asked if the disaster possibly could
have any adverse effect upon the relations
between Spain and the United States, he
responded with a decided negative and
the statement that the affair was wholly
an accident.
Sanor du Bose fastened to the state de-
partment soon after receiving the Blanco
telegram for the purpose of expressing his
deep coincidence to the authorities and of
communicating the captain generals dis
patch to Secretary Sherman and Mr.. Day,
the assistant secretary. To both of them
he expressed personally and officially the
most profound regret
The members of the Spanish legation
called at the navy department in the af-
ternoon and left their individual cards as
an expression of their personal condol-
ences. Up to 2:30 p m. the legation had
not heard from Madrid 1t was stated
that the delay doubtless was due to the
fact that in the matter of this gravity the
queen regent herself would send a mes
sage of sympathy and regret and that
this message would come later. The only
cablegram from Havana came from Cen
eral Bianco and was a request for infor-
nation from this end.
The Spanish naval attache, Senior So
brai, who is in New York, sent a telegram
to the secretary of the navy expressing
If of ha
loss of so many naval companions.
A Spanish official of long residence at
Havana stated that the hour of the acct
dent was the one when excitement at
Havana was at its height. Up to mid
night the theatres, cafes and clubs are
crowded, and strangers find their great
est interest in seeing the city at that
time. For this reason, he said, it was the
time when naval officers usually secured
their shore leave, the leave running from
to u o'clock. At the same time the
leave to the sailors was usually curtailed
between and u o'clock for the reason
that the hours of excitement in Havana
were those in which 1t was desired the
seamen should not participate.
The French ambassador, NJ, Cambon,
took early occasion to call at the state
department and express his deep regret
at the occurrence and loss of life. The
British ambassador also was without di-
rect information from the British con-
sui at Havana At all the foreign estab-
lishments the occurrencewas the one alb
sorbing subject of comment and the ex-
preston was general that aside from it's
melancholy feature of death and destruc-
ton it was profoundly unfortunate TO the
Spanish cause, owing to the natural sus-
picion which would arise. AT the army
and navy club and metropolitan club. two
centers for the army, navy and diplomatic
circles. the same intense interest was
manifested. At these public quarters
there was an undercurrent OF doubt and
questioning as 10 the coincidence of an
accident TO this particular vessel at this
particular time.
Madrid Feb. 16-The first news received
here direct from Havana said the explo-
sion on the Maine was caused by fire
and that the warship. enveloped in flames,
afterwards sank.
London, Feb 16.-A representative OF the
Associated Press communicated the news
OF the disaster OF the Maine TO the Span
ish ambassador here. Count de Rascom,
who was without information on the sub
jet. After expressing regret at the ter
rible occurrence. the ambassador said
that the explosion must have been due
10 an unacc9untable accident, as the visit
OF the Maine 10 Havana vas OF an en-
;irely friendly nature.