Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-28


early out Of respect to Representative
Simpklns, OF Massachusetts,.
synopsis OF the Report.
| Washington, March ss.-The Asso
ciated Press presents herewith com
plete abstract of the report Of the court
of inquiry, which Investigated the
wreckage Of the battleship Maine.
| The report is made up of eight parts
as follows:
First-The court finds that ut the
time of the explosion the battleshil
Maine was lying in five and one-half to
six fathOms of water.
| Second-The. discipline aboard the
ship was excellent, everything slowed
according to orders as to ammunition,
guns, stores, etc. The temperature OF
the magazines at p. m. was normal,
except in after ten-inch magazine, and
that did not explode.
Third-The explosion occurred at 9:4O
O'Clock on the evening of February Is.
There were two explosions, with q very
short interval between them. The ship
lifted on the first explosion.
FOurth-The court can form no def
mite opinion Of the condition of the
wreck from the divers evidence.
Fifth--Technica details of the wreck
age are then given from. which the
court deduces, that d mine was ex-
ploded under the ship on the port side
Sixth-The explosion was due to no
fault of those on board.
Seventh-The opinion OF the court
stating that the explosion OF the mine,
caused the explosion of two magazines.
Eighth-The court declares, that it
cannot find evidence to fix the RESPONSE
bility for the disaster. The inability of
the court to find evidence to fix the re-
sponsibility, makes the report so guard
ed in exposition of blame, that neither
Spain nor the Spanish are mentioned
throughout.
Maine's Position Not Changed.
| One OF the main points brought out by
the testimony Of the Maine case, which
went to congress today with the report
Of the board of inquiry, corrects an
erroneous, but important impression
which has prevailed all over the country.
The testimony proves that the battle
ships position was not changed after she
entered the harbOr. She was moored to
buoy, and remained there until blown
up. The statement has been made re-
peatedly in the press, that her position
was changed the night before the explo-
sion by the direction of the master of
Havana harbor
Report of the Court of Inquiry.
The following is the report OF the
court of inquiry in part:
Key West, Fla, March 21, 1885,
After full and mature consideration of
all the testimony before it, the court
finds as follows:
THAT the United States battle
ship Maine arrived in the harbor of
Havana, Cuba, on the 2lst day of Jan
uary, 1898, and was taken to buoy No.
4, in from five and q half and to six
fathoms of water, by the regular gov
ernment pilot. The United States con.
sui general at Havana had notified the
authorities at that place, the previous
evening, of the intended arrival of the
Maine.
2.-The state OF discipline on board
the Maine was excellent; and all orders
and regulations regarding the care and
safety Of the ship were strictly carried
out All the ammunition was slowed
away In accordance with instructions,
and proper care was taken whenever
ammunition was handled. Nothing was
stored In any Of the magazines or shell
rooms which was not permitted to be
stored there. The magazines and shell
rooms were always locked after having
been opened; and after the destruction
Of the Maine the keys wore found in
their proper place, In the captains
cabin, everything having been reported
secure that evening at s p. nj.
The temperature Of the magazines
and shell rooms were taken daily and
reported. The only magazine which
had any undueam0unt Of heat was the
after ten-inch magazine, and that did
not explode at the time the Maine was
destroyed. gf 1Ffs
The report then gives the disposition
Of the dangerous explosives, showing
that they could not have been re.
sponsible for the affair, and says the
coal bunkers, four Of which were empty
had been carefully inspected and add |
ing: 'sThe fire alarms in the bunkers
were in working order, and there had
never been q case of spontaneous COM
bustion of coal on board the Maine. |
The two after boilers were In use at the
time of the disaster, but for auxiliary
purposes, with comparatively q low pres
sure Of steam, and being tended by re-
liable watch. These boilers could not
have caused the explosion of the ship.
The forward boilers have since been
found by the. divers and are in a fair
condition.
The report then gives details Of the
explosions as shown BY the testimony,
the first Of which lifted the Maine In q
marked degree, and says: "The first
explosion was more in the nature of 9
report, like that Of gun, while the sec.
ond explosion was more open, prolonged
and Of greater volume. This second ex-
plosion was, In the opinion Of the court,
caused BY the partial explosion Of two or
more OF the forward magazines OF the
Maine" The balance OF the report
gives the conditions OF the wreck as re-
ported by the divers, which are taken to
prove On outside explosion, which, with
the conclusions Of the court In that re.
gard, are not quoted by the president In
his message. The report a signed by
Captain Sampson, president; Comman.
der Mark, judge advocate, and approved
BY Admiral 6icard.
sounded LIKE Mine
Lieutenant George NJ. Holman, ii lis |
testimony, said the explosion sounded !