Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-02-23
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ACCIDENT TO THE MAINE.
Mhe Horror Grows In M sgnltudo as Details
are Received.

are Received,
Washington, Fab IA feeling of
uncertainty regarding the cause of the
Names destruction pervades official
circles While all expressions are
guarded, and those that are made
to hold to the theory of accident,
it is apparent in certain circles that
suspicion is growing that torpedo
was exploded under the boat by design.
Public utterances of influential mem
bers, rather than the guarded state
ments of heads Of departments give
strength to this view This sentiment
may precede another Cuban resolution
A prominent member of the foreign
affairs committee said that Spain
would be expected to make an expla-
nation that would entirely clear up
the mystery. aud IL she did not this
country would have right to demand
such explanation. Most of the mem
bers of the committee refused after
the conference to express any opinion.
1t is too serious to talk about at
present" said Senator Lodge.
Senator Cullom said: II cannot see
how the explosion could have been the
result Of an accident, and / think the
time is rapidly approaching when this
country must do something"
Senator Clark would only say: 1T
is singular that such accidents happen
at such inopportune times
dispatch from Key West says the
boat was blown up by design, and
claims Sigsbee has reported to the
navy department that such is his be
lief. An investigation will be made at
once. Admiral Sicord at Key West
has been officially instructed to ap-
point board of naval offices to pro-
ceed to Havana, employ divers and
make thorough investik alton,
The naval officers cannot agree upon
any theory to account for the destruc-
ton of the Maine Perhaps a major
ity are inclined to the belief that the
explosion was purely accidental; an
other considerable number feel that a
torpedo was exploded under the vessel,
and third theory is that some infer
nal machine was smuggled aboard the
ship and set off
An examination by a diver of the
hull of the Maine would demonstrate
instantly whether or not torpedo had
been used, for in case it had the plates
would surely be driven In. On the
other hand, protruding plates would
be an evidence that the explosion was
purely internal.
There was no smokeless powder on
board the ship, and the ten-inch am
munition was made up of brown pris-
matte powders. Not only is this pow
der most carefully packed in hermeti-
cally sealed copper cans, but its heat
resistance qualities are SO great that
It cannot be ignited by the flame of
match, 600 degrees Fahrenheit being
the amount of heat that must be ap-
Piled for some time to set off the pow
der. On the other hand it is readily
lgnited, as in the case of the charge in
the gun, by the explosion of good
quantity of fulmanate. Every pre-
caution is made aboard ship to safe
gnard the magazine.
Tee Maine had three magazines,
The one forward was used for the
storage of ammunition, weighing 49,
900 pounds. The quantity of explo-
sives is SO large that the naval off,
GERS here can scarcely believe it was
possible for any human being on
board to have escaped had this maga-
zine exploded entirely
In its vicinity sentry stands on
duty continually. The doors are
closed hermetieally, except when the
ship is cleared for action. At s o'clock
every night the temperature is taken
and the keys of the locked door are
placed in the captains hands for the
night. The records of the navy de-
partment show that 81 degrees was
the maximum temperature in the
Names magazine during the past
month, very low and safe tempera-
ture. These facts make IL extremely
difficult to account for the explosion.