The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-04-07

L. eferred to the Foreign AhaiTs Soci-
rn:ttees in Both Era nches-The Eoart:'s
Report Convicss Spain of Foul Play
Only by InpIication-So Eesscas!-
biIity FoS tho Disaster Fized-MaS-
azines Blew Up, But Not Until After
the Mine Had Becn EIploded-Ship
Broken In Two-Forcs of Explosion
Came From Port to Starboard, Liciin:
the Ship in Air.
WASHINGTON, D. c. (SpeciaD.-The finj'
ings OF the Court o; Inquiry which inyes:i.
gated the disaster causing the loss Of The
battleship Maine on February 10, in Havana
Hacbor, were Transmitted to Congress at
noon Monday. They were accompanied by
the following message from the President:
To the Congress OF the United States:
For some time prior to the visit o; the
Nsine to Havana Harbor our Consular rep
resentatives pointed out the advantages 10
now from the visit OF National ships TO the
Cuban waters, in accustoming the peop!9
to the presence OF our flag aS the symbol
OF good will and Of our ships in the ful:ii-
ment OF the mission Of protection to Ameri-
can interests, even though no immediate
need therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on the 18th OF January last,
after conference with the Spanish Minis
ter, in which the renewal Of visits OF our
war vessels TO Spanish waters wis dis
cussei and accepted, the Peninsuiar au-
thorities at Madrid and Havana were ad-
vised OF the purpose OF this Government 10
or
ports and that in that view the Maine
would forthwith call at the port OF Ha-
yana. This announcement was received by
the Spanish Government with apprecia-
tion OF the friendly character to the visit
OF the Maine and with notification OF inten-
tion to return the courtesy by sending
Spanish ships TO the principal ports OF tho
United States. Meanwhile the Maine ea-
tered the port OF Havana on the 18th OF
January, her arrival being marked Win no
special incident besides the exchange Of
customary sa!utes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the har0or OF
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival. No appreciab!e excite
ment attended her stay; on the con-
trary, feeling Of relief and confidence
followed the resumption OF the long inter-
rupted friendly intercourse. So notice
able was this immediate effect OF her visit
that the presence Of our ships in Cuban
waters should be kept up by retaining the
Maine az Havana, or, in the event o. her
recall, by sending another vessel there
to take her place.
Resume of the Tragedy.
At $40 O'Clock in the evening OF the 18th
Of February the Maine was destroyed by
an explosion. by which the entire forward
part OF the ship was literally wrecked. Ii
this catastrophe two officers and 2Gi OF ne,
crew perishel those who were not killed
outright by her explosion being peaned be
tween decks by the tangle Of wrecGaSe ane
drowned Sy the immediate sinking OF thS
ship.
Prompt assistance was rendered by
the ne!shboring vessels anchoreS In
the karbor, aid being especially giver
by the boats OF the Spanish cruiser Al.
phonso XII and the Ward line steamer
City Of Washington, which ley not far dis.
tant. The wounded We're generously cared
for By the authorities In Havana, the hos
pita.s being freely open to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies OF the dead were
inferred by the municipality in a public
cemetery in the city. Tributes of grief aud
sympathy were offered from oil official
quarters OF the island. The appalling ca
lamity fell upon the people OF our country
with crushing force, and for erief time
intense excitement prevailed, which IN
community less just and self-co2troiied
than ours might have led to hasty
acts OF blind resentment. This spirit,
however, soon gave way 10 Garner
processes OF reason and to the resolve to
investigate the facts and await material
proof before forming Judgment as to the
cause, the responsibility and II the facts
warrautei the remedy due. This course
necessarily recommended itself from the
outse: 10 the Executive, for only in the
iSht Of iSHas.ionately ascertained GER
:ainty coald it determine the nature and
Gaasurs OF his full duty in the matter. The
,sual procedure was followed as in all cases
: casualty or disaster 20 national vessels
Object OF the Naval Court.
u any maritime State. ANaval Court OF In
curry was a. once organized COM
posed CT 0Necrs well qualified by rank
and practical experience to discharge the
onerous duty imposed upon them. Aided
by strong force Of wreckers and divers
the cour. proceeded to make thorough
Investigation on the spot, employing every
available means for the impartial and eS-
act determination OF the cause OF the eE-
plosion. Its operations have been con-
Quoted with the utmost de!iberation and
judgment and while Independently pursued,
no source OF information was neglected,
and the fullest opportunity was allowed Tor
a simultaneous investigation by the Span
ish authorities.
The finding o. the Court o. Inquiry was
reached. after twenty-taree days OF con-
tinuous labor on the 21st OF March and,
having been approved on the 22d by the
Commaad Chief Of the United States
naval force OF the North Atlantic station
was transmitted to the Executive. 1t IS
herewith laid before the Congress, together
with the voiumlnous testimony takea be-
fore the court. Its purport Is, Ia brief, as
follows:
"Whea the Maine arrived n Havana she
was conducted by the regular Government
pilot to Buoy No. 4, to which she was
moored in from five and oae-a2lf to SIX
iathoms OF water.
.The state OF discipline on board and the
condition OF her magazines, boilers aid
coal bunSers and storage compartments
are passed in reyiew, with the conclusion
that excellent order prevailed, and that no
indication OF any cause for an internal eH-
plosion existed il any quarter. AT
s O'Clock in the evening OF FEB. 10 every
thing had been reported secure and all
was quiet. At 9:40 o'clock the vessel was
suddenly destroyed. There were two dis
,tinct explosions, with a brief interval be-
tween them. The first lifted the forward
part OF tue ship very percepttbiy; the sec
ond which was more open, prolonged and OF
greater volume, is attributed by the Court
to the partial explosion Of two or more
~ tIa for-,ri napayines The evidence