Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-02-18
TuE prsIpENT's STATEMENT.

$3.50
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 18. This
morning, President Mckinley made
the following statement through hi
secretary: "Based on information nov
in his possession. the President belisyes
the Maine was blown up as the result
of an accident. If it is found the
disaster was not an accident, prompt
and decided active steps will be4taken
in the premises. The finding in the
naval court will develop the cause, and
until this is submitted nothing will be
DONE" ,tsi
SOUNDS SENSATIONAL.
New YORK, Feb. l8.--'fhe Herald
prints the following from its Key West
correspondent: One of the MANNED
sailors in the marine hospital, whose
name for obvious reasons is withheld,
says he was On the watch on the fer
ward deck of the MAINE shortly be-
fore the explosion occurred. While
looking over the bow he saw a black
object coming toward the vessel. ~
was apparently illuminated and emitted
smoke. lie started to communicate
the fact to the officer OF the day, when
the explosion took place The Maine"
was raised in the air and he was thrown
to the deck stunned and bleeding. He
also says that simultaneously with the
raising of the Maine he saw asteam
launch moored along SIDE the Maine"
also thrown out OF the water. This
ND fnrG a
in the "Maine's" magazine was felt,
which sent her to the bottom.
TO KEPLACE THE "MAINfs. v.--s
New York, N. Y, February 18.-I
Late dispatches from Washington an-
nounce that the administrations has
decided that another nlanHof-war will
be sent at once to Havana to replace
the "Maine." The Montgomery will
probably be selected. and will be IN
Havana harbor probably Monday noon.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 18.-The
first news to reach the navy department
today, from the scene Of the, great
naval disaster at Havana. was a belated
telegram of last night from Captain
Sigsbee, as follows: Nineteen of the
'Maine's' dead were buried this after
noon with great civil, ecclesiastical,
naval and military cerimonies and with
all the resources of Havana brought
into requisition. The Spanith govern
ment, under the express direction of
General Bianc0, Bishop of Haika, Cen
eral PARADE, General Manterola and
the mayor of Havana, took complete
charge of the arrangements. The
bodies were laid in state in the build.
ing OF the city government of Havana,
where they were covered with floral
and other emblems suitable to the oc~
cassion, presented by officials and other
persons of all shades of politica i
opinion. They were escorted to the
cemetery by representatives of all the
military. naval and civil organizations
Hnd foreign consular officers, through
d vast coneonrse of people spreading
over the route. Fhe ground for the
burial OF all the Names dead has
been presented Gensral Blanco and thts|
Bishop of Havana. in the beautiful
cemetery of Havana. The ut
most sympathy and respect
have been shown. 1t is inconceivable
that greater demonstration could baye
been made. 70 me. personally, great
number of people have expressed the
deepest tsympathy for the the sufferers
of the Maine disaster and for the
United States government and people.
4 The remainder of the dead must, peril
fCrce be buried with brief ceremonies
conu,. oted by ourselves, but care and
preparation will be attendant upon the
remains from the Spanish government
About forty in addition to those buried