The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-03-30

A~AA NPOA Jul NOulillJ Will
force, and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed which, in 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-
tlgate the facts and await material proof
before forming a judgment as to the
cause, the responsibility, and if the
facts warranted, the remedy due. This
course necessarily recommended itself
fom the outset to the executive for
only in the light of a 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 a 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 simultaneous inves-
tlgation by the Spanish authorities.
The finding OF the court of inquiry
was reached after % days of continuous
labor, on the 2lst OF March, and having
been approved on the 22d by the COM
mander-in-chief OF 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 8 o'clock in the evening of Feb
ruary Is everything had been reported
secure and all was quiet
At 40 minutes past 8 o'clock the ves
sci was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions,
with brief interval between them. The
first lifted the forward part of the ship
very perceptibly; the second, which was
more open, prolonged, and OF greater
volume, is attributed by the court to
the partial explosion OF two or more of
the forward magazines.
The evidence of divers establishes
that the after part of the ship was
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 a concurrent
external cause the finding OF the court
is as follows:
At frame II, the outer shell of the
ship, from point 1lh feet from the
middle line of the ship and six feet
above the keel when in its normal posi-
ton
HAD BEEN FORCED UP
so as to be now about four feet above
the surface of the water; therefore
about "a feet above where it would be
had the ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating is bent
into reversed V shape, the after wing
Of which, about Is feet broad and 80 feet
in length (from frame II to frame 25)
is doubled back upon itself against the
continuation of the same plating ex-
tending forward.
AT frame 18, the vertical keel is
broken in two, and the flat keel bent
into an angle similar to the angle
formed by the outside bottom plates.
This break is now about six feet below
the surface of the water and about
80 feet above its normal position.
In the opinion Of the court, this eff
feet could have been produced only by
the explosion OF mine situated under
the bottom of the ship, at about frame
Is and somewhat on the port side OF the
ship
The conclusions of the court are:
l,nt tI,a Al 4.
in any respect due to fault or negligence
on the part Of any OF the officers or
members of her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the
explosion Of submarine mine, which
caused the partial explosion of two or
more of her forward magazines; and
That no evidence has been obtainable
fixing the responsibility for the destruc
ton OF the Maine upon any person or
persons.
| have directed that the finding of the
court Of inquiry and the views of this
government thereon be communicated
to the government OF her majesty, the
queen, and | do not permit myself to
doubt that the sense of Justice of the
Spanish nation will dictate a course of
action suggested by honor and the
friendly relations of the two govern
ments.
1t will be the duty OF the executive
to advise congress OF the result and
in the meantime deliberate considera-
ton is invoked.
WILLIAM MKINLEY,
Executive Mansion March %, 1893.
THE EVIDENCE.