The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-17
WAS NOT ACCIDENT.
Some of the Senators Outspokcn In
Their Remarks.
BELIEVE THE MAINE WAS BLOWN UP.
Ia No May Can They Account for an
Internal Explosion.
SENATOR MORGAN VEHEMENT.
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viii OTer Bill 10 Buiid Two More
wnrships-The Matter to BE
ProDed to the Bottom.
SENATOR MORGAN VEHEMENT

i Washington, February Ex-senator NOR,
gan of Alabama. a member OF the commit
Tee on foreign relations, said:
| I'm the absence of definite information
as to the causes and result of the Maine
catastrophe. l would not venture an opin-
ion ON II. II it was an accident, as the
first dispatch seems 10 indicate, it was
most deporablc Ii 1t was due to treach-
cry as some are inclined to believe, 1t was
most heinous and no penalty would be too
severe for those responsible for 1t. But,
whether the calamity wac due to accident
or treachery, I shall Introduce In congress
joint resolution providing for the imme-
diate construction Of two battleships equal
in size and equipment TO the Maine, and
costing not dollar less than the Inflated
Maine cost. Action of that kind by us
would indicate to the world that whenever
or wherever one of our tentacles was cut
off two would at once grow in its place.
1T seems almost out of the question
that 1t was the result of an accident 1t is
unusual for a ship of the Names class to
carry her magazines in her hold, where the
explosion seems to have occurred. | can
not guess and speculate 1t is an awful "a
lamity. Let us await the particulars
Senator Perkins of California, who has
been navigator all his life and knows
thoroughly every detail In the construction
and handling of great ships, said:
~ can not conceive that such an explo-
sion as that which is reported to have
wrecked the Maine could have resulted
from an accident. The chances, 1t seems
to me, are 999 in 1000 that 1t could not re-
suit from an accident. The explosion might
have resulted while ammunition was being
handled but that is scarcely credible, as
ammunition on a warship lying at anchor
is not handled at 10 o'clock at night. The
discipline OF both officers and men on the
Maine, as well as on every other vessel, is
such that the explosion could not have
been caused by any action OF any one Of
them. / am firmly Of the belief that the
horror in Havana harbor last night was
not due to an accident can scarcely
conceive, either, that 1t was due to the
treachery of the Spanish offiials. or vas
brought about by their cognizauce How
ever. the situation in Havana is so critical
and the Spanish feel so keenly what ap-
pears TO them an affrout that the Maine
should have been in the harbor that it
to the action Of Spanish sylnpathizers
That 1t was not an accident, feel assured,
and that it was due to treecbery, am con-
vinced,"
Senator Mills of the committee on for
eign relations expressed the opinion that
the occurrence was the work of torpedo.
II would not say" he said, ''that the
Spanish were responsible for 1t, but some
one must have been who had free access
to the waters OF the bay. ] do not think
it could have been due to an accident and
l think congress should Immediately take
up the matter for a thorough investigation. |
II the vessel had gone into Havana harbor
In time OF hostllites between this coun-
try and Spain precautions would OF course. |
have heen taken. but there was no more
reason 10 expect anything of the kind there
than there would be in one Of our own
h''i boih' 't9, WI SHOulu prone the mat
ter to the bottom
Senator German (Md) said:
ut is a most appalling disaster, but
no one attempts TO say what the cause
was before the facts are known"
Senator Morrill, said;
in my opinion the occurrence was an
Incident ! have no idea that any Span
ard had anything whatever to do with
t."
Mr. Cummings On. " member of the
laval committee, unhesitatingly gave it ms
his opinion that the ship was blown up
'y floating torpedo. 1T would have been
Easy for some one to have Hoated a tor.
1edo down on the ship as she lay at anchor.
believe the Maine was blown up"
Representative Mercer (Neb) said this
afternoon:
Nothing will satisfy the American peo-
Die except war if this awful accident is
raced to the Spanish government"
Il