The herald., 1898-02-17
VAGUE coNJEcTURESs
BUT NO EXPLANATION OF THE
DISASTER
So Far No Theory Has Been Formu-
lated Which Seems Tenable to
Naval Experts

WASHINGTON. Feb. 16.-The Key West
dispatch to the effect that Captain Sigsbee
believed the Maine had been torpedoed
was shown to Lieutenant Whittlesey of
the navy department. who had been de-
puted by Secretary Long to receive all dis
patches on the subject of the disaster. He
said:
1--WE have had absolutely nothing from
Havana or Key West since the last dis
patch Of Sigsbee announcing the departure
of the Olivette. do not think the torpedo
theory tenable and do not believe Cap
tain Sigsbee expressed such an opinion"
NO TENABLE THEORY OFFERED
NEW YORK, Feb. ia dispatch to the
the Maine fail utterly to account for the
disaster on the theory of any internal ex-
plosions. but they also agree that no tor
pedo could have caused the damage that
this explosion wrought Then, 100, the
finding of a large diamond shaped piece
of cement which went so high in the air
as to crash clear through the deck of the
City OF Washington in its descent adds a
puzzling feature to the case. An internal
eAplOoiUH WOulu lOt HdNS AtA kSu ~ SO MS IL
In the air.
The captain choked down his emotion
and I asked him of, the disaster. There
is very little that can tell you, he replied.
I was in the cabin at the time. I had just
finished letter to my family when that
enormous crash came. The ship lurched
heavily TO port and knew In an instant
what 1t all meant-that 1t meant that my
ship had blown up.
'All the cabin lights were put out, and
as CROPPED my way out of the apartment
I met my orderly running toward me-
Reaching the deck, gave orders to post
sentries, keep silence and flood the maga-
zines. The magazines were already flood
Ing themselves. saw then that the dis
aster was complete-in fact, I noticed a
few of our men struggling in the water.
Only three boats were left of the number
we carried. These-the gig, barge and
second whaleboat-were lowered as quick
ly as we could get them in the water. There
was big hole knocked in the side Of the
barge, and It is a wonder that IL did not
sink With the few who had climbed into
it."
What do you think caused the explo-
ston?' ! asked Captain sigspee
You Will have to excuse me from an
swering that" no replied. ''In such cases
It is best not to think; it Is best to know.
That requires investigation ana time"
Might not small torpedo, the reason
ers argue, have struck the side Of the
Maine, and exploding. set on one Of ths
magazines, some Of which are located for.
ward? Still again 1t was hinted there W. .
q Cuban mine laid, and it failed in its mis-
sion. which was to destroy the Spanlsb
cruiser anchored near. and struck the
Mnine.' s''s
ALGER'S IDEA
NORFOLK, Va. Feb. ia represant-
alive Of the Norfolk Daily Pilot went -
Point Comfort, and was granted an inter.
view with Gen. Russell A. Alger, secretary
Of war.
Asked as TO his idea Of how the exn,os,or
could have occurred. Gcn. Alger said that
e was perfectly inexplicable to him. Ths
statement that the shock OF the explorior
shattered windows III buildings ali over
Havana, he regarded with incrodnIitv
stating that he did not pes how AZ ~ 5ios
SION Of q battieship out ii the Hnynna
harbor could have caused such havoc.
TO tho question IL 1t were not possible
that some one OK the 7ljtra-epanish eIa-
ment had been cofcaaled On board .the
;esA< e9eIod