Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-02-17

The first explosion Is said to have been
caused by over GO pounds of gun cotton
and second explosion is alleged to have
been caused by shells and cartridges.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
of the Maine was half undressed at $40
p. m. and was smoking in his cabin.
next to that of Captain Sigsbee, it is
said, when the explosion occurred and
put ont the electric lights. Lieutenant
Commander Wainwright then lit a
match and went to Captain Sigsbee's
room. The captain, it appears, had been
thrown from bis bed, but was unin
Jured. They both went on deck and or
dered some men to flood $500 pounds
Of gun cotton which was on board. The
order was carried out, but the men
never returned. Havana however. was
saved from still more terrible explo-
sion.
-Four boats were lowered, all manned
by officers, and one of them was lost.
The lifesaving then commenced.
Boats from the Washington and Span
ish cruiser Alphonso. XIII helped the
Names boats save those of the crew
not dead. The survivors were carried
aboard the Washington and the Spanish
cruiser and later taken to the military
hospitals.
Not an officer, it is reported, lost his
head or man failed to obey orders.
Captain Sigsbee remained about the
Maine giving orders, while the vessel
settled
The explosion frightened the sharks
away or many Of the swimmers would
likely have been mutilated.
couple Of men swan all thesway to
the Maehiua wharf. They reported
that they had been blown overheard by
the explosion Thirty-six had been
taken on board the City of Washing
ton, % ON the Aipbonso XIII, 2 on the
Colon and some 81 ers had swan ashore
Thirty-slx Of the wounded are being
cared for at the military hospital of
San Ambrosia and five are at the
Alphonso XIII hospital
Though the wounds of nearly all are
quite serious, and ten will probably lose
limbs, the doctors think only four of the
injured men will die.
In all l0l survive. Twenty four of
these are officers. OF the 50 sailors only
Is are 1ninjured When the wounded
had been taken care Of Captain Sigsbee
went on board the Spanish cruiser AL
phonso XIII 10 thank her people for
what they had done. Then he went to
the City of Washington, where he met
Consul General Lee
1t was a melancholy group. Captain
Sigsbee shook hands with the consul
general Neither of them dared speak
for several minutes.
God knows how it happened, said
the captain at last The others fell
away from Lee and Sigsbee, and nobody
knows what they said during their long,
whispered conference.
Ostensibly at least, the Spanish au-
thorities are vigorously investigating
the disaster. Of course, the government
officers are unit in declaring it was an
accidental explosion aboard ship.
rhe spaniards show Proper Spirit of
Respect Over the Disaster.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE follow
ing cablegram has been received by the
state department from Consul General
Lee, dated Havana:
Profound sorrow expressed by gov
eminent and municipal authorities, con-
suls of foreign nations, organized bodies
of all sorts and citizens generally.
"F'lags at halfmast on governor gen.
erals palace, on shipping in harbor and
in city.
Business suspended, theaters closed.
"Dead number about 260.
Officers quarters being in rear and
seamen S forward where explosion took
place accounts for greater proportional
loss of sailors.
Funeral today at p. III.
"Officers Merritt and Jenkins still
missing.
Suppose you ask that naval court of
inquiry be held to ascertain cause of
explosion.
Hope our people will repress excite
ment and calmly await decision .
HAVANA, Feb. 17.-Captain Sigsbee,
on being interviewed by a correspond
ent with reference to the cause of the
explosion, said:
Il cannot determine the cause, but
competent investigators will decide
whether the explosion was produced
from an interior or exterior cause.
cannot say anything until after such an
investigation has been made. | will
not and cannot conscientiously antiei-
pate the decision nor do wish to make
any unjust estimate of the reason for
fine disaster -