Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-04-02

were offered from all official quarters
OF the island.
THE APPALLING CALAMITY
fell upon 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
of blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever soon gave way to the calmer pro-
cesses of reason, and resolve to inves-
tigate the facts and await material proof
before forming judgment as to the
cause, the responsibility, and il the
facts warranted, the remedy due. This
| course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset to the executive, for
only in the light of dispassionately
ascertained certainty could it determine
the nature and measure of its full duty
in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed as
in all cases of casualty or disaster to
naval vessels OF any maritime state.
| A naval court of inquiry was at once
organized, composed of officers well
qualified by rank and practical ex-
perience to discharge the onerous duty
imposed upon them. Aided by strong
force of wreckers and divers, the court
proceeded to make thorough investi-
cation on the spot, employing every
available means for the impartial and
exact determination of the causes of
the explosion. Its operations have been
conducted with the utmost deliberation
and judgment, and while independently
pursued, no source Of information was
neglected, and the fullest opportunity
was allowed for a Simultaneous inves-
tigation by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after 90 days of continuous
labor, on the 2lst OF March, and having
been approved on the 22d by the COM
mander-in-c oil the United States
naval force on the North Atlantic sta
ton, was transmitted to the executive.
BEFORE CONGRESS.
1t is herewith laid before the con-
gress, together with the voluminous tes-
timony taken before the court
Its purport is, in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
ernment pilot to buoy No. 4, to which
she was moored in from five and one
half to six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boilers,
coal bunkers, and storage compart-
ments are passed in review, with the
conclusion that excellent order pre-
vailed and that no indication OF any
cause for an internal explosion existed
in any quarter.
At o'clock in the evening of Feb.
ruary l5 everything had been reported
secure and all was quiet.
At 40 minutes past o'clock the YES.
sci was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions
with brief interval between them. The
first lifted the forward part of the shiI
very perceptibly; the second, which wa.
more open, prolonged, and OF greater
volume, is attributed by the court tc
the partial explosion of two or more o
the forward magazines.
The evidence of divers establishe
that the after part OF the ship wa
practically intact and sank in that con
dition very few minutes after the eX
plosion. The forward part was com
pletely demolished.
; Upon the evidence of concurren
external cause the finding OF the cour
is as follows:
At frame II, the outer shell OF tn
: ship, from a point 11Ha feet from tn
middle line OF the ship and six fee
above the keel when in its normal posi-
ton
HAD BEEN FORCED UP
D so as to be now about four feet abov
E the surface OF the water; therefor
about "a feet above where it would b
had the ship sunk uninjured
: The outside bottom plating is ben
into reversed V shape, the after winl
OF which, about Is feet broad and 32 fee
: in length Qrom frame II to frame 25
r is doubled back upon itself against tn
: continuation of the same plating ex
tending forward.
. At frame 18, the vertical keel
! broken in two, and the flat keel ben
] into an angle similar to the angl
formed by the outside bottom plate:
: This break is now about six feet belo,
the surface OF the water and abou
80 feet above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court, this eI
/ feet could have been produced only b
S the explosion OF mine situated unde
S the bottom of the ship, at about fran
Is and somewhat on the port side OF tn
a ship.
S The conclusions of the court are:
i L hat the loss OF the Maine was nc
v in any respect due to fault or negligenc
e on the part OF any of the officers c
t members OF her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by til
y explosion OF submarine mine, whic
d caused the partial explosion OF two {
n more OF her forward magazines; and
S That no evidence has been obtainab
fixing the responsibility for the destru,
Il -. r Al. A
= persons.
o / have directed that the finding Of II
e court OF inquiry and the views of til
S government thereon be communicate
to the government OF her majesty, II
queen, and do not permit myself I
e doubt that the sense of justice OF ii
o Spanish nation will dictate a course
r action suggested by honor and tt
Il friendly relations OF the two govern
n lnents
: il will be the duty of the executi,