The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-21
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tanic energy, though light in comparison
with that first stupendous cataclysm, rived
her shattered hulk asunder and twisted the
plates of proof into tortuCus fragments;
the awful voices of her dying agony APP
palled and beat down the power of human
senses to apprehend them. Down she came,
mountainlike, sending huge waves across
the bay, and as she settled to her place
other voices 1eeDIe, yet more narrowing,
became audible. the groans and outcres OF
dying men, murdered in their sleep, srnoth-
cred beneath the iron decks. drowning in
the foul waters. crushed and pierced and
torn 10 pieces. Their cries soon ceased for
the most part, and many and many a VIC
tim never spoke at all, for death came TO
them before they were fairly conscious OF
the catastrophe. Many of them will never
be seen save In such shreds and frag-
ments OF humanity as may serve to show
life.
"A few instants of time-while one might
draw in long breath and send 1t forth
again-Sufficed for the accomplishment OF
this terrific tragedy.
1T was the forward part Of the ship, con-
tanning the sleeping quarters of the crew,
that had felt the direct force Of the explo-
sion. The stern portion, where the officers
injured though structurally involved in the
general ruin. Captain Sigsbee, struck on
me head q, by some flying missile, and
tion. of the electric lights, CROPPED his way
to the poop deck, where he was met by the
parade, and reported that the vessel had
been blown up and was sinking.
The captain, whatever may have been his
inward feelings, observed from the first the
composed and stole demeanor which brave
men always wear in the presence of what
should most quell human courage. He gave
the necessary orders with no appearance OK
agitation, and his subordinates obeyed them
with q spirit caught from him. 1t only
needed this touch to make the picture COM
plete; the ascendency of the human soul
over all that can be brought against it OK
terror and of pain. Mortal experience can
show no sublimer spectacle.
Ten minutes had hardly elasped before it
had become plain that the great ship was .
issued, and the few boats left available were
employed. But by this time assistance was
on its way from the Ward liner moored ne1r
the Maine and from the King Alfonso on
the other side. Efforts were made to res
cue the victims who had been hurled into
the water. Numbers were picked up by the
various boats and conveyed, some to the
Ward liner some to the Spanish ship, soma
to the wharves, toward which an excited
crowd from the city was beginning to pour.
Grievously' wounded most of this human
fiotsam and jetsam was. They were res
cued only TO die, or to live lifelong cripples-
But they, too, were upborne by the strange
force of manly courage, and complained lit
tie or not at all. They knew that an enemy
had done this, and were grimly resolved to-
crafty his hatred. They believed that their
country would avenge them and had faith
that they would not die wholly in vain
THE RESCUE.
Meanwhile fiocks Of boats from the shore
WcTS GROWING toward the scene OF dis
aster, and the distant wharves were now SO
thronged that they seemed crowned with a
solid mass Of men, uttering a confused up-
roar and beside themselves with excite
ment. Nothing could be conceived in greater
contrast with the silence and quiet which
had refgned everywhere so short q while
before. Then nature was hushing herself
70 silmper, now man was frantically active
In pandemonium Of tragic confusion. And
in the midst of ii all one more episode
stands out In relief-that CT the officer of
the Maine, who, after rowing around and
around the remains Of his ship in search of
victims, at last uplfted his voice and called
aloud in tones that all might hear: Are
there any left alive? If SO, for Gods sake
speak But no answer came from the
wreck, and the boat was reluctantly turned
away from that CHASTITY silence
The next scene of the drama is the SOL
emn one of the funeral. which took place on
the afternoon of the 18th. So far as official
manifestations and expressions OF regret
lacking on the part of the Spanish authors
ties, and the funeral services and process
sion We're as superb as Spanish taste could
make them. The scene in the great hall,
with its portraits of generals looking down
from the lofty walls and on the floor it's
crowd of brilliant uniforms and priestly
vestments and the somber black of civilian
garb, was impressive enough, and there in
the midst of them were set forth the plain
collins, with their silver crosses, each COW
ering all that was mortal of Yankee sea-
man. Without, in the great plaza. was an
enormous crowd of all sorts and conditions,
with regiments in uniform and bankers and
ali the splendor of naval and military dis
play The coTtege was over q mile in
length and moved to the sound of martial
music, and the bodies of the dead were daily
and reverently buried In the ground set
apart for them by the city
but the crime which slew these victims
could not be buried there, nor forgotten in
the chorus of courteous protestations. For
that an accounting is still to come, and it
is to be hoped, for the sake of the internal
peace of this country that 1t will be q
just and stern one.