The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-22
PROOF PILING UP.
Evidence of External Explosion Said
to BE Accommodating.

NEW YORK, March 21.-G. Bronson Rea,
in copyright cablegram from Havana to
the World, says: The work of investigating
the Names bottom to determine the cause
of the explosion is practically finished. One
point after another has been quietly piled
up until the mass of evidence that must
have been laid before the board of inquiry
can only bring one logical conclusion or
decision Ali who the mountain of
twisted and bent iron and remain for any
length of time in the vicinity of the wreck
studying the divers and wreckers' move
ments come at last to the popular decision.
The Maine was destroyed by some immense
initial explosion on the port side forward.
No matter how skeptical a man may be
beforehand on simple superficial exami-
nation of the visible debris, when he learns
how the hull appears below water or makes
a careful perusal of the dispatchs about the
same his conversion is rapid.
Naval divers under Gunner Morgan have
shifted work to the after part of the hull.
They have been busy extracting articles of
value from the ward room and cabins.
Slowly but surely are they recovering ev-
erything of value belonging to the officers.
The most striking picture near the wreck
yesterday was the big port anchor slowly
hoisted out of the water by the barge Sharp.
To the ordinary observer this would not
mean anything, but to one who has fol-
lowed these dispatches with interest the
picture of that ponderous anchor, discol-
ored by mud, was like an accusing spirit
arising from the bottom of the harbor.
The Maine carried three anchors, two bow
and one sheet. Most men-of-war carry four.
but the port sheet anchor of the Maine was
removed some time ago to lessen the tre-
mendous weight forward The Maine was
moored to the buoy by the starboard bow
anchor chain. The anchor with the shackle
ana three links. remained on the bill board,
secured with the usual chain stops or fast
eners. The sheet anchor on the starboard
side. located just forward of the big ten
inch turret, was hoisted in on deck and Sc
cured in regular checks. Its chain was I'M
bent and stored in the locker The port bow
anchor was easily identified. and it's po-
sltlon under water is almost convincing
proof that the ship was broken in two the
parts lying at right angles to each other.
Another point confirming this fact was that
the two rapid-fire slx-pounders located on
the forward superstructure or forecastle
were hoisted out of the water in close prox-
unity to the anchor. The battered and
nroken remnants of the forward search
light and pedestal located on the forward
superstructure also came out of the same
place These facts all bear out and prove
the correctness of former statements
Captain Peral. president of the Spanish
naval court and Engineer Ardoiso of the
harbor commission, are very anxious to To-
cate the ram and to ascertain if the ship's
keel is still on straight line. To discover
this one fact their divers have kent work
ing in a semi-circle from starboard to mort
They made important discoveries around
the bow, which your correspondent is in
position TO state with accuracy They
commenced work by thorough investiga-
ton of the after part of the hull corroh-
Grating the fact that the plates are intact
working around on the starboard side 10
point about midships or just forward of
the starboard crane, they found the shin.
broken at this point. The bottom was COW
cred with an unacceptable mass of
twisted plates and distorted beams. The
starboard ten-inch turret was found blown
out and thrown on its side just about twen-
~ feet abaft of the original position. The
sheet anchor was also located near by The
sides below the water line from the center
OF the snip TO q point three feet aft of the
starboard bow anchor We're blown out
In conversation with high parsonage
connected with the Spanish navy taking
part In the investigation he said that every
body was convinced of a second explo-
sion after the first great flash amidships
This report was dull and sounded like
torpedo, explaining the phenomena by stat
ing that the forward magazines had ex-
erted their force 10 one side or out under
the water. blowing out the bow and de-
stroying. the mooring bouy and ram. The
SpanardS deride the report that the bow
is away over TO port The Spanish divers
say the forward superstructure deck was
explaining why our men think IL is the real
bow, II the six-pounders were found hang
ing from the deck this would corroborate