The sun., 1898-02-19
Startling Report Of thr I'pstruc-
ton Of the Maine.
PRESIDENT SAYS ACCIDENT.
The All.Important Question Dis.
cIsscd by the Cabinet. New York
Police Guard the ViZcaya.

kEi WEST, Fla, Feb. lS.-A member
OF the crew Of the Maine, in II statement
made while lying in Il cot in the Marine
Hospital in this city, says he saw black
object approaching the Maine just before
! the explosion occurred. The object was
illuminated and emitted smoke. He
suspected foul play. The black object
was sent to destroy the ship, he thought.
! lie ran to warn the officer o. the deck.
Almost as soon us he had opened his lips
the explosion occurred.
The Maine was raised in the air, and
he was thrown to the deck, stunned and
bleeding.
The statement Of tie MANNED sailor
bears the stamp Of truth. He only
spoke after his deep gratitude had been
aroused by the kind treatment and care
ful nursing he received at tie hospital.
The story of the sailor is also borne
ont by the fact that his statement that
he was on watch on the upper geek
when the explosion occurred is true.
hey WEST, Fla, Feb. lS-Lieutcnant
Blandin who was officer of the deck at
the time Of the disaster. says there is M
truth in the report that smoking object
was seen approaching the Maine just be-
fore the explosion.
WASHINGTON, Feb. lG - Tie following
statement has been given ont us repre-.
senting the views of President Mckinley;
! BASED upon information now in his
possession the President believes that
the Maine was blown up as the result OF
an accident. and he hopes the Court oi
Inquiry will develop that fact. II it il
found that the disaster was not an acci.
dent, prompt and decisive steps will b,
take n in the premises.
che finding of the naval court will de
vclop the cause, and until that is sub
mitted nothing will he done
Thc only absentces from tod; US cabi.
net meeting were Secretaries sherman
and Alger. The disaster to the Maine
was the principal topic Of discussion
Secretary Long read a cablcgram from
Captain sigsbe. giving an account OF
the funeral Yesterday OF the nineteen
victims Of the explosion, although the
President and members of tie Cabinet
await with interest the result OF the in
quiry into the cause Of the disaster,
there remains scarcely doubt in
their minds that it was an accident,
purely, and such as might happen at
any time. This view of the affair, how
ever, will not influence the President to
stop short Of a most searching investiga-
ton into all the facts, present and re-
mote, that may have any possible bear
ing upon the case or throw upon il Il
single ray OF light until facts are shown
to the contrary The President will az
sume that the explosion came from
within. and was not the result Of treacl-
cry on he part OF anyone.
WASHINGTON, Feb lS.-S"nn after the
Senate met today Mr.. Hale. Of Maine,
obtained the fnnr, and intr Muced a
resolution to the effect that the Secretary
of the Navy be authorized to engage the
services of a wtccking ccmrany having
proper facilities for tie prompt and eff
cient performance Of sul marine work,
for the purpose of recovering the remains
of the men and officers lost on t he United
States steamer Maine. and for the pnr-
pose the sum Of 5000, 600 be appropriated
and l.a,c Immediately available.
The resolution passed by the lnani.
nous vote of the body. 1t was also
presented in the House with similar
result
LAS PALMAS. Canary Islands, Feb. Is.
The Spanish armorrd crusier Almi.
rantc Oquendo LETT here today for
Havana.
The Italian third-class cruiser Clio
vann Bausan is expected here on Satur-
day next. She is on her way to Cuba.
New York, Feb. lS.-E"cry policeman
in this city is on duty today. Last night
Chief McCnIlagh caused an order to be
sent to all police captains notifying them
to report back to their precincts imme-
datel y after supper, and there to remain
in reserve until further orders.
The action has been taken in c",npli-
ancc with the request made to the Police
Department by Mr.. Roosevelt, Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy. last night, that
precautions be taken against the posi-.
blity Of a hostile demonstration upon
the arrival Of the Spanish cruiser Viz
Saya.
The police have provided the Spanish
Consul General in this city with a spe-
cial guard. A harbor policeman today
sat in the outer room OF the Consulate, in
the hall a policeman in full uniform was
stationed, and on the street extra pre-
cautions were observed by the police
with beats in the vincinity.