Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-04-07

forward or rise transverse armor being
weaker thar they are aft. the ship might
have been lifted up there by this cushion
pressure from: further aft"
1T struck sns." continued Mr.. Powelson,
speaking Of t1s same part of the vessel.
that the mi:ls- there could not have been
very close to those plates that were lifted
up because, as 4 say. the plates are not so
much damaged or bent In the form of a V
and raised uE vertical distance. II seems
to me that .he mite was somewhat re-
moved, and the pressure came through the
water which produced that cushion sort OF
pressure"
Plates Identified.
Ensign Powelson Wa recalled on Feb
ruary Is and showed the plans OF the
Maine, from which he had identified the
bottom Plates that were blown up
through thu upper deck. The finding of
these platea on top Of the wreck clear
above water VAS among the first and most
important p5ints Of evidence cleanJ dis
proving the possibility OF an internal ex-
plosion.
After minusely describing the bottom
plates, with sheir green coating OF paint
and the other marks by which they were
identified, PovSllson stated that they must
have been blown up IS or So feet to reach
their present position.
Beside the bottom plates, Powellson
found some powder from the bottom COM
partment lodged in lie angle OF the bot
tom plates that protruIad above the water.
The berth deck over th!s bottom compart-
ment was also on top OF the wreck, and 20
feet forward of the plates. while this Sec
ton of the main deck hhI disappeared.
The diver who had been working for Pow
ellison on this investigation informed him
he had found the ammunition tor the six
inch magazine pushed over 70 the star
board side.
Ensign Poweilson was recalled on the
18th day. and described the reports made
to him by the divers which were afterward
directly testified to before the board.
PoweIIson's Sketches.
Ensign Powellson was recalled on March
Is and explained how he got the data for
his sketches. which played such an impor-
tant part In the work of the court. lie said
he sent divers down at various points along
the line Of the keel as II lay broken and
twisted on the barber bed. Then he got
In a boat and located the points on the
keel by lead line On the wreck he es-
tablshed stations at the main mast, the
port crane, the smokeStack and so forth,
and from these bases he would get the
bearings by angles of his lead line as II
rested on the keel and other points OF the
wreckage under water. Thus he was able
to plat a map of the wreck both above and
below water that was mathematically cor
rect. BY comparing this with theoretical
plans of the vessel 1t was possible to tell
just how much and In what direction any
part Of the Maine had been distorted by
the explosion without relying on under
water estimates by the divers.
March g." testified Powellson, Il sent
Olsen down to the piece of keel. the vertical
Keel, to make further explorations OF the
ten-inch magazine. He went down to where
the keel became horizontal at frame %.
walked aft about % feet and climbed over
a lot of wreckage consisting OF plates and
bulkheads standing upright. The upper
ends were ragged and he crawled over them
to where he thought was a part of a boiler.
lie could not give definite details but he
thought ii was boiler.
"A little after this he walked out to port,
clear of the ship In the mud. He was at
this time forward of the break OF the ship
at frame Al. Returning about ten feet In
he found wreckage. He examined this plate
and found it curved as II II were a part of
the ship. 1t pointed toward the starboard
bow, but 1t was so dark he could not dis
tinguish the color. All the edges of the
plating were rough. The compartment
seemed to be about 2ia or three feet wide
Forward from this point he found a six
inch tank. 1t was intact and was sent up.
1t proved to be a full tank. He found lot
OF broken tanks split up on the seams and
in one tank at the cover which has holes In
1t He found lot Of mud which was
brought up and which looked like dissolved
powder. There was any quantity of sim
liar mud in the same place. The mud
around the tanks was black, that of the
harbor is gray"
Testimony of Private Anthony.
Private william Anthony. Of the United
States marine corps, whose GOODNESS at the
time of the explosion In reporting TO Capt.
Egsbee has become the theme OF admira-
ton throughout the world was the next
witness. He testified that he had the first
watch from eight to twelve o'clock on the
night Of the explosion. There was drill that
day and 1t was not necessary to open the
magazines. In response to questions Pri-
vate Anthony told his story.
II was standing on the main deck just
outside the door on the starboard side. i
first noticed trembling and buckling of
the decks and then this prolonged roar
not short report, but prolonged roar.
The awnings were spread and where the
wing awning and the quarterback awning
should join there was q space OF at least
Is inches. looked out and saw an immense
sheet of flame and then ! started in TO
warn the captain"
did you notice any perceptible list to no
ship at the first shock?"
AT the first shock, the ship instantly
that is the quarter deck, where 1 was
like that Qndicating). 1t apparently broke
In the middle, like that Gndicating), and
surged forward and then went over to
port"
Witness said the upshoot Of flame he saw
was well forward. 1t must have been for
ward of the superstructure. j could see
the debris going up with 1t. do not know
what 1t was, but saw firebrands going
up"
WAS 1t on the port or starboard sidey"
1T looked more to port than 1t did TO
starboard. 1t looked like 1t covered the
whole ship. 1t was an immense glare that
illumined the whole heavens for the mo-
ment, as much as could see for the avn
ings."
Ibid you see any water with it?"
II didn't notice that, sir. ! started In
the cabin at once"
This closed the brave marines testimony.
As Seen by the Chaplain.
Chaplain John Chadwick. Of the Maine.
was In his room on board the night of the
occurrence He said:
II heard "a loud report and everything at
once became dark. The lights went out and
there was crashing sound of things fall
ing. ! rushed on deck and got to the cap
tain's poop, where l saw the captain giving
his orders. After trying to cheer up the
men who were crying out on the water for
help was ordered by Lieut.. Jungen to SO
into boat, which did. He rowed around