The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-03-12
EXPLOSION WAS EXTERNAL.
RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION
Nothing Discovered by the Later
Work of the DiVers To Change
the Evidences First Gathered as
to the MaIae BattIeshiP's Disaster.

New York, March "a dispatch to the
Tribune from Havana says;
The leading facts OF the Maine disaster
are all in the possession OF the naval
board
The divers have continued their work
during the absence OF the board at Key
West They have discovered nothing to
change the evidences tilst gathered, which
showed, apparently, that the explosion
was external, Their examination this
week has extended alongside the plates
and they have penetrated forward well
into the bow All they lind is merely
eontirmatory Of what was previously dis
covered.
Captain Sampson and his associates
we're especially anxious to await further
work by the divers to determine whether
or not mistakes had been made in any
particular, Nothing has been found to
Indicate Il mistake. On the contrary, the
more thoroughly the hull Is examined, the
more convincing appears the original evi
denees OF explosion from without How
.
conclusions on this point can be better
Judged in Washington than in Havana
spaaIard. In No Hurry.
I Notwithstanding the permission given
by the United States government for
Spanish divers to examine the wreck, the
investigation by the Spanish authorities
Of the condition OF the ship proceeds slow
~. They seem u be in no hurry 10 learn
the facts about the hull. magazines and
other matters, which were first to engage
the attention OF the naval bourd. The
government has, however. taken eunaid
cradle testimony o! persons who were in
the harbor on the night Of the explosion
Ii gives much weight to the testimony OF
those who say they saw fame. issuing
from the Maine before the ship va, wreck
I'd by an explosion
VIII ENonerate sis.her.
The understanding in Hayama /, that
the naval board will be- emphatic in exon
Grating Captain Sigsbee and the ofiic~r,
Of the Maine fr m the implication OF nry
Iigence, lack OF discipline or responsibility
tor the disaster. II ha, been almost for
gotten that, until the board report, ON
the subject, Captain Sig,bee is nominll.y
under a cloud. The secrecy with which
the investigation has been conducted ha,
not prevented the tr-tim, ny on the sub
Iect nom becoming known.
The board will be- able 10 % further and
show that there was not only no accident
which could have been prevented. but ai,o
NO basl. for the ,hrorie, 4 accident from
Al unknown cause How Tar il will g.
IN the assertion Of positive prot that th.
Maine was blown up /. Tor the present o
speculative question.
The prevalent impression j, that the
board has ey,drure Il the deed, without
the means OF finding ont gho committed
It. II Il incumbent on the spanish gov
eminent to find that out The denial
credited 10 senior Du Bo-r IN Washington
that mines existed in Havana harbor doe.
not receive the weight that would b.. giy
IN an official declaration from Captain
General blanco or Premier Saga.ta ON
the same subject
tue spanish Attttude.
In official circles II j. the evident mn.
pose 10 combat the finding Of the naval
board, but not aggressively. The Spanish
attitude seems 10 h. that n accident wa.
probable and that the United States IL
justified in making demand for rrpara
t!on when the proof OF foul play i not
positive. The assumption will be that
the two governments. after taking rvt.
deuce, viii be unable 10 agree in their
conclusions However. there Ia. boon
nothing in the nature Of a Joint iuyestiga
ton.
From the present outlook Madrid AMI
Washington ars the places where the
consequences OF the Maine explosion will
be determined. Little more than already
known can be learned here. The wreck
promises 10 remain in the harbor for an
indefinite period. The wrecking compan
les will be able 10 raise the gun. of the
Maine. The hull is an asset Of no value
70 any government.
The temper Of the spanish classes h.
ward the United States finds some exhibit
ton at present but not in the form Of
hostile demonstrations 1t - rnther in
the shape Of fervcnt protests and actions
Of loyalty 10 the mother country. The
arrival Of the warShip Vizcaya has rau.ad
an outpouring Of the loyal spirit, though
It was not exactly spontaneous for the
denomination was arranged in advance.
Apparently a large proportion II the
La IN -.
anchored not far from the other war
ships, which are to come. and with tho
torpedo fleet. Havana and tho ports e.,
Cuba are safe from an American feet.
spain Buys ships.
London, March s.. Spain has purchased
two cruisers which the Armstrong; have
been building for Brazil. the ANA 1onu.
and sister ship, unnamed, If 900 tons
each, % knots and 10 guns. Spain aI.o
negotiating for and will probably SECURE
two cruisers Of similar typc which have
Been building in France for Brazil The
Amazonus ia ready for launching and hcr
sister ship will soon be ready.
The Spanish government il aIao epd.,v
orIng to secure guns and large supplies of
ammunition in England and the continent
Tor immediate use. The government of
Spain seems 10 have funds. for it !. upJsr
stood to be paying large part nj the p,rr
chase money in cash giving good security
Tor the balance, these being the only lorna
upon which the Armstrong; would deal
Some weeks ago Spain attempted 1,
purchase ships and supplies in Eng Iand ON