davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
Scale 1-32 inch to one foot.

In reply to an inquiry as to whether
he meant with reference to their original
positions Ensign Powelson replied atfirma-
lively. The beam supporting the pro-
tective deck a few inches abaft of the
mored tube, to port of the midship line,
was bent up to starboard of the mid
ship line. Just forward of the coming
tower. underneath the deck, two beams
met at right angles; one beam was broken
and pushed from port to starboard A
grating was found on the poop awning
just forward of the after searchlight.
4 piece of the side plating just abaft
of the starboard turret was visible. This
plate was bent outward and then the for
ward end bent upward and folded back
ward upon itself. This plate was sheared
from the rest of the plating below the
water line This plating below the water
line has been pushed out to starboard.'
The armored gratingS of the engine room
hatch were blown off A composition
strainer was picked up from the bottom
on the starboard quarter a point about
opposite the poop capstan and about 20
feet from it. The chief engineer thought
the strainer was from the firemen's wash
room. 1t was not a strainer in the ships
side.
Near the piece of outside plating to
which witness referred above he said there
were pieces of red shellaced planks. On
these planks was bolted a composition
track two inches wide and an inch thick.
Ensign PowelSon then asked if the court
meant for him to say anything about what
the divers reported or just what re saw.
The judge advocate replied that he would
like to have him state any important dis
coyeries which might lead the court to
draw some conclusion as to the cause,
and If a diver gave such information to
state the divers name. Before doing so
the judge advocate asked witness to state
II the forward and after part of the ship
were in line. Ensign Powelson replied
that as far as he could judge they were
not. The end where the explosion oc-
CURED seemed to be pushed from port
to starboard from five to ten degrees he
should judge. with the apex to the star
board. The divers reported to witness that
at point where the ten-inch shell room
should be they discovered ten-inch shells
regularly arranged. but the ship had sunk
down so much that some Of the shells were
in the mud.
Gunner Morgan reported that in walking
on the bottom he fell into hole on the
port side and went down in the mud He
also reported that as far as be could Judge
everything seemed to be bent upward in
the vicinity of this hole. He also reported
that the plates seemed to have been pushed
over to the starboard and then bent down
Ensign Powelson then said that a six-
inch powder tank that he saw appeared to
be an empty tank broken by the explosion
as 1t was not badly dented and merely
ripped the length of the seam A ten-inch
tank was badly battered out Of any con-
ceivabie shape
Continuing, the witness said the divers
up to the night before he was then on the
stand had not been on the outside Of the
ship. The mud was too deep for them to
walk on the bottom.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

What is the condition of the starboard
turret%' witness was asked
ITO my knowledge it has not been found,
SIR" was the reply.
He understood something had been found
under the place where the turret formerly
was, but its exact character had not been
determined.
Impressions of Ensign PoWelson
What impression is produced upon your
mind by the reports, as far as you have
quoted tLem?" Ensign Powelson was asked.
From reports alone or from the appear
ance of the wreck?
Either from such reports or the condi-
lions which you believe to exist
THE impression produced upon me, re-
plied the witness, lis that an explosion took
place well TO port of the midship line, ana
at point in the length about opposite the
coming tower"
Witness in reply 10 further questions said
his opinion was based upon the observation
of things above water. He gave no weight
TO Mr.. Morgan's statement about falling
into a hole on the port side because Nor
gan might have been mistaken about it.
Referring to his notes made of things on
the Maine Ensign Powelson said that the
arc of the engine room telegraph and the
shaft of the steering gear coming down
through the armored tube (turreD was bent
from port to starboard The port side of
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

use at the time of the disaster. but for
auxiliary purposes only with a compare
lively low pressure of steam, and being
tended by a relia BILE watch. These boilers
could not have caused the explosion of the
ship. The four forward boilers have since
been found by the divers. and are in fair
condition
On the night of the destruction of the
Maine everything had been reported Sc
cure for the night at eight p. m. by re-
liable persons, through the proper author
ities to the commanding officer. AT the
time the Maine was destroyed the ship was
quiet and therefore least liable 10 accident
caused by movements from those on board.
Were Two Explosions.
g. The destruction of the Maine occurred
at $40 D. m. on the 18th day of February.
1885 in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, be-
ing at the time moored on the same buoy TO
which she had been taken upon her ar
rival.
There were two explosions of a distinctly
different character with a very short but
distinct interval between them, and the
forward part of the ship was lifted to a
marked degree at the time of the first ex-
plosion
The first explosion was more in the ma
ture of report, like that of a gun, while
the second explosion was more open, pro-
longed and of greater volume. This sec
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

held fast and bent that deck downward
Witness here exhibited two sketches to the
court showing diagram of various parts of
the sunken ship and explained them To the
court.
The witnesses evidence about the strin
on the starboard side of the outside plat
ing of the ship which was folded and
rolled back, was recalled to him, and Pow
elSon said he could see plate underneath II
was bent outward he could see it, as it
was only two feet under water where the
shear occurred.
Witness had taken soundings and had
found five fathoms of water on both sides
of the Maine down to the mud. Taking a
14-pound lead line and dragging with a.
wherry for distractions on the port side.
dragging close to where he thought the wa
ter ways would be found, he found no OBJ
structions whatever. On the starboard side
he found distractions for 20 feet where he,
had reason to believe the waterways had
originally been.
In answer to questions he said there was
nothing left of the port plating al all He
dragged along the outside to see if anything
had fallen out and found nothing Wit
ness thought the ship on the port side was
entirely gone opposite a point indicated on
diagram handed the court 1t was en-
tirely blown out.
This concluded Ensign Powelson's tes.
timony on the third day.
Divers story.
Chief Gunner's Mate Olsen of the United
States steamer Iowa, told how he had been
sent to Havana for the purpose of doing
diving duty on the wreck. He had descend
ed four times, making about eight or nine
hours of total examination.
Olsen told how on his first descent he
went over the forward part of the ship.
To use his own expression, he said: Il
found the wreck all blowed up. l found q
lot OF crate bars down there" The second
time he went down further forward and
there located a lot of ten-inch shells For
ward of these the plates were bent inboard
over them.
Asked II he imagined himself looking for
ward he stated that he did. Going over the
plates he struck into lot of six-inch shells.
with the sings on them. Going to the right
witness stated he found lot of wreckage
II seemed to have been blown over the star
board. Olsen stated that he put his hand
into the cranks and brought out several
six FOUNDER shells.
The next time he went down, Olsen testi-
ned he went outside the ship. forward Of
the crane on the port side. He followed the,
side was blown cupboard and along the
crane ii could be walked on.
AT the part where she is blown up COM
pietely witness said. part of her bottom
plates are turned up. Then you follow the
bottom from there up, and the plates are
down cupboard. At the top and underneath
the bottom they are blown inboard and
bent in. About three feet forward of that
spot there is piece of iron laid along the
bulkhead. The skin of the inside Of the
double bottoms Is curled like sheet Of pa
per inboard from stem to stern.
AmidShipS on the same place there is a n
armor plate. one plate complete, the top of
the plate standing up The plate Is inclined
over the starboard completely. 1t stands
1t is inclined forward. and over to star
board"
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

described with close detail the condition
under the main deck on the port side. The
fixtures were completely wrecked, while
fixtures in the same position on the star
board side were in some cases almost in
tact. The port bulkhead between the main
and berth decks at the coming tower sup
port had been blown aft on both sides, but
d great deal more on the port than on the
starboard side The ireroom hatch imme-
diately abaft of the coming tower had been
blown in three directions-aft, to star
board and to port. The protective deck
under the coming tower supports was bent
in two directions, the plates on the star
board side being bent up and on the lar
board side bent down.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
TOLD BY WITNESSES.
Extract of Important Testimony
Taken by the Court.
Lieut.. PowelsOn's story Told on the
Third Day of the Session-Im-
portant Discoveries Made
Up to That Time.

Washington. March 2S.-The following are
portions of the testimony:
Ensign w. V. n. PowelSon was called
the third day of the court. He testified
that he had been present on the Maine
every day from the arrival of the boat
Fern and during a great deal of the diving
In reply to a question TO tell the court
all about the condition of the wreck, he
said the forward part of the ship forward
of the after smokestack had been to all
appearances completely destroyed. The
coming tower lay in a position opposite
the door leading TO the superstructure aft
and to starboard, inclined al about 10 de-
grees to the vertical with the top of the
coming tower in board. Continuing, he
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

amount of heat was the after ten-inch mag
azine, and that did not explode at the time
the Maine was destroyed
The torpedo war heads were all slowed
i'll the after part of the ship under the ward
room, and neither caused nor participated
in the destruction of the Maine.
The dry gun cotton primers and deton-
atorS were slowed in the cabin aft and
remote from the scene of the explosion.
The waste was carefully looked after on
board the Maine to obviate danger. Spe-
cial orders in regard to this had been given
by the commanding officer.
Varnishes, dryers. alcohol and other COM
hustibles of this nature were slowed on
or above the Maine deck and could not
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

the protected deck was covered with a
greasy deposit, the starboard side being
comparatively free from it.
The forward smoke pipe, between the
main and superstructure decks, did not
show signs of the internal pressure of
gases. On the main deck forW ard of the
coming tower where the fore and after
angle bulb beam was locat ted the plankng
was blown off on the only remaining plate.
of the main deck on the port side while the
wood was still attached to that part on the
starboard side between the coming tower,
base and the turretS. What witness saw
would indicate that the pressure lifted the
protective deck up on the port side, and
the protective deck on the starboard side
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
PROFILE VIEW.

ond explosion was, in the opinion of the
court, caused by the partial explosion of
two or more of the forward magazines of
the Maine.
Condition OF the Wreck.
4. The evidence bearing on this. being
principally obtained from divers, did not
enable the court to form a definite con-
clusion as to the condition of the wreck,
although it was established that the after
part of the ship was practically intact,
and sank in that condition a very few
minutes after the destruction of the for
ward part.
The following facts in regard to the for
ward part of the ship are, however, es-
tablished by the testimony:
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

been in use that day, and A Is was full
of New River coal This coal had been
carefully inspected before receiving il on
board. The bunker in which it was slowed
was accessible on three sides at all times,
and the fourth side at this time on &C
count of bunkers B and B being empty.
This bunker, A IS, had been inspected
that day by the engineer officer on duty
The fire alarms in the bunkers were in
working order, and there had never been
a case of spontaneous combustion of coal
on board the Maine
After Boilers Only in Use.
The two after boilers OF the ship were In
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

have had anything to do with the destruc-
ton of the Maine.
The medical stores were slowed aft I'M
der the ward room and remote from the
scene of the explosion.
No dangerous stores of any kind were
slowed below in any of the other store
rooms.
Coal Bunkers Inspected.
The coal bunkers were inspected. OF
those bunkers adjoining the forward mag
azine and she'll rooms four were empty,
namely g. B 4, B and B 6. A Is had
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

eminent thereon be communicated to the
government of her majesty, the queen, and
| do not permit myself to doubt that the
sense of justice of the Spanish nation VIII
dictate a course of action suggested by
honor and the friendly relations of the two
governments.
1t was the duty of the executive to ad-
wise the congress of the result, and in the
meantime deliberate consideration is in
voked.
(Signed) WILLIAM NJ kINLEY.
Executive Mansion, March IS, 1888.
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
THE COURTS REPORT.
Statements of Capt. Sampson and
His Associates Based on Tes-
timony Taken.

The following is the full text Of the re-
port of the court of inquiry:
United States Steamship Iowa First
Rate--key West, Fla, Monday, March q,
1S9s.-After full and mature consideration
of all the testimony before 1t, the court
finds a. follows:
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
The evidence of the divers establishes

The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after part Of the ship was prac-
tically intact and sank in that condition
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part was completely demolished.
Upon the evidence of concurrent external
cause the finding of the court is as follows:
AT frame II the outer shell of the snip,
from point 11iz feet from the middle line
of the ship and six feet above the Keel
when in its normal position, has been
forced up so as 10 be now about four feet
above the surface of the water; therefore,
about 81 feet above where II would be had
the ship sunk uninjurel.
Plate. bSnt Inward.
THE OUTSIDE bottom plating is bent into
reversed V shape, the after wing of
which, about 10 feet broad and 80 feet
in length (from frame II TO frame 25), is
doubled back upon itself against the con-
tinuation Of the same plating extending
forward.
AT frame IS the vertical keel is broken in
two and the keel bent into an angle singu-
lar to the angle formed for the outside
plates. This break is about six feet be-
low the surface of the water and about
30 feet above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
plosion Of mine situated under the bot
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
tom OF the ship, at about frame IS and
somewhat on the port side of the ship"
Conclusions of the Court.
The conclusions OF the court are:

The conclusions OF the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not in any
respect due to fault or negligence on the
part of any Of the officers or members of
her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the ex-
plosion of a submarine mine, which caused
the partial explosion of two or more of her
forward magazines; and
That no evidence has been obtainable fix
ing the responsibility for the destruction
of the Maine upon any person or persons.
7 have directed that the finding OF the
court of inquiry and the views of this gov
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

l. That the United States battIeship Maine
arrived in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on
the 18th day Of January, 1895, and was taken
to buoy No. 4, in from five and a half to six
tathoms of water by the regular govern
ment pilot. The United States consul gen.
eral at Havana had notified the authori-
ties a that place the previous evening of
the intended arrival of the Maine.
Discipline Was Excellent.
. The state of discipline on board the
Maine was excellent, and all orders and
regulations in regard to the care and safety
Of the ship were strictly carried out
All ammunition was slowed away in &C
cordance with instructions, and proper care
was taken whenever ammunition was
handled.
Nothing was slowed in any one of the
magazines or shell rooms which was not
permitted to be slowed there.
The magazines and shell rooms were al
ways locked after having been opened; and
after the destruction Of the Maine the keys
were found in their proper place in the cap
tain's cabin, everything having been re-
ported secure that evening at eight p. m
Temperature Was Normal.
The temperatures of the magazines and
shellrooms We're taken daily and reported.
The only magazine which had an undue
The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31
Discipline Was Excellent.

The temperatures of the magazines and
shellrooms were taken daily and reported.
The only magazine which had undue
The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-09-20
THE fROCk COAT.

What has been the evolution of the
coat In this Paradis2 How has the
dress OF men evolved from the "malo"
and piece Of KAPPA to the black, heavy,
anti-tropical, sweat creating, and fune-
real frock coat?
A full length portrait Of gentle
man In the time OF Kamehameha II
would represent one arrayed In the
same extremely simple fashion that ap-
pears In every authentic portrait OF a
gentleman In the period of the garden
OF Eden
What then have been the causes
which have operated SO powerfully,
during the last half century, to radical
ly change the dress OF the Hawaiian
forefathers to one that Is. from the tro-
pical standpoint, most Inappropriate
II will be said that Hawaii has been
in transition period, II was a saga
cious remark OF the noted Rev. DR.,
l.indley the missionary to Africa, that
the first evidence OF an African
heathen's conversion was his request
for u pair Of trousers. No doubt there
Is a mystic analogy between the crav-
The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-09-20
HUMANE FIGHTERS.

Admiral Cervera and the $4,000
Spanish prisoners have given to the
people of the United States an unQuali-
fed certificate Of their kind and gener-
Gus treatment by the American forces.
There is no similar instance in authen-
tic history, 1t Is said. The highest
analysis OF war means the disabling
Of men, not their torture. Behind the
gun stands the nurse for friend and
foe. If wars continue there will be
found In the l3-incb shell of the future
as 1t explodes and destroys, lint and
medicine carefully packed within 1t for
the wounded.
Aside from the humane feeling of our
troops, the chiyalrous act OF Admiral
Cervera In his capture of HobsOn, fixed
the tone of intercourse during the war.
Every American officer, every soldier
and sailor became, In the words of
Capt. Evans, ''as tender as woman"
when his hand was upon the vanquish-
ed.
But the ignorant peasants OF Spain
will only believe that "hoodoo" has
been put over their men by the Ameri-
cans
The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-09-20

msi ~ 49, ssui sna ne loai ~ tloih
nf tas ihsis sssns % - ~ ssrlsns
lisu 49, go Nnal eapriiee ~ 80 slvss
aha .iuff ifo.t ssai
ft tha and N suushius ~ uth
JOEL 81. fnaHHnf sfas 40 aiuuia
men an festive oaaa'onf dfaps ihsm
rTfst boz hatlHmenif II Nus a BE-
faId fbai itis ilart fafmeni nfhtiius
anis ths osUas.obs foi fpnsfa's. sanssi
q dsln, "a splfi lh men. ~ ths pebble
iunntions. and creaits ga arid ara ~
conversation ihai Do painfully free
from hiisfiig
% Will b. said ~ oourts hy the
students Of social ,,uluiion tibet che
missionaries sro the cause 81 b. and "
ihs family conpsci cen bo brpken No
a much better fashion ~lli soon pre-.
vat u mnsi b. oandidly admitted
ihl tbs missionaries did not ,ncoBrass
Cd, heather io adopt fantastic garbr
hui uo ous ,an say thar even iho mosi
deprayei missionary ever suggested
such o munslrusiiy Boz d tropical elm
ate o. thc black frock coat n IL the
cause Of the well known melancholy
character ~ the conversation a. these
public functions, which not even the
oghilaratinE effect OF Ice cream and
cake can remove. II L. a dress that
should never be- worn below the zones
where the snow falls. Even the young
man who Informed the sexton al HE
wife's funeral thar II he war forced 10
ride % the grave. In the same carriage
with his mother IN law. u would de
priye him OF an pleasure connected
with that melancholy event even this
young man would find no pleasure at
a garden party with his brain throb-
bling and his body roasting IN a coat
that should have no place in the
tropics.
The Hawaiian gazette., 1898-09-20
JAPANESE CITIZENSHIP.

The new treaty between the United
States and Japan will take effect on
July II, 1893.
It's important provisions regarding
persons and citizenship are as follows:
In whatever relates to the rights OF
residence and travel; to the posses
sion OF goods and effects OF any kind
10 the succession TO personal estate,
by will or otherwise, and the disposal
OF property OF any sort and In any
manner whatsoever which they may
lawfully acquire, the subjects or citi-
zens of each Contracting Party shall
enjoy In the territories Of the other the
same privileges, liberties and rights,
and shall be subject to no higher i'm
posts, or charges In these respects than
native subjects or citizens of the most
favored nation"
"The subjects or citizens OF each OF
the two High Contracting Parties shall
have full liberty to enter, travel or re-
side in any part OF the territories Of
the other Contracting Party, and shall
enjoy full and perfect protection for
their persons and property"
1t Is, however, understood that the
sllpulatIons contained In this, and the
preceding Article do not In any way
anect the laws, ordinances and regula-
lions with regard TO trade, the immi-
grafton OF laborers police and public
security which are in force or which
may HEREAFTER be enacted in either of
the two countries"
There are no provisions whatever In
this treaty. nor in any Of the treaties
to which the United States are party
which refer to, permit, or regulate
the change OF nationality, Each State
has the inherent power to determine