The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-17


grams between Washington and Havana,
can be summed up in the words of Secre-
tary Long. When asked, as he was about to
depart for the day whether he had reason
to susT ct that the disaster was the work
of an enemy, replied: II do not. In that
L am influenced by the fact that Captain
Sigshee has not yet reported to the Navy
Department on the cause. He is evidently
waiting to write a full report. So long as
he does not express himself certainly cam
not. should think from the indications,
however. that there was an accident-that
the magazine exploded. How that came
about do not know. For the present, at
least, no other war ship will be sent to
Havana
The appalling nature of the disaster and
the gravity of the situation that would arise
should investigation give a basis for the
undercurrent of suspicion of treachery and
foul play that ran through all minds had
q SOLDERING effect on public men of all shades
OF political opinion. The fact stands forth
and is little less than remarkable that not
a single resolution was introduced or a sin
gle speech made in either house of Con-
gress, save one of coincidence with the
families of the killed, offered by Mr.. Bou-
telle and adopted by the House of Repre-
sentatives. Public men expressed their
opinions with reserve when approached for
interviews, but everywhere there was a de-
mand for an investigation and full details
in the light of which the horror may be
justly viewed.
Secretary Long undoubtedly summarized
the general opinion Of the majority of the
naval experts in finding it impossible just
now to state the cause of the destruction
nf he Io;~ ,Ix.,.
of theories. but most of them are of a
character that makes it easy TO prove or
upset them by single investigation by a
diver. Secretary Long has taken immediate
steps to make this investigation. Late this
afternoon he telegraphed to Admiral Sicard,
at Key West, to appoint board of naval
officers to proceed at once to Havana, em-
ploy divers and generally to make such in
quiry as the regulations of the navy de-
mands shall be made in the case of the loss
of a ship. It is expected that this work
will take some time, and while there are
officers who say that in their opinion it will
not be possible, owing to the probably dis
rupted condition of the hull of the ship to
make out the cause of the explosion the
opinion of the majority is that the question
VIII be easily settled by the simple observa-
t1on OF the condition of the ships hull plates
in the neighborhood of the hole which sunk
her-whether or not they are buged out,
as would be the case if the explosion came
from the inside, or whether they were
driven in. as would result from the attack
of torpedo or the explosion of a mine
beneath the ship. The large majority of
naval officers are inclined to the belief that
the explosion resulted from spontaneous
combustion of a coal bunker; the overheat-
ing of the iron partitions between the boil
ers and the magazine or from the explo-
sion of a boiler, though the last theory finds
little support.
The lists of survivors that came to the
Navy Department this afternoon in answer
to kilograms was inaccurate and made out
the loss of life eight more than the summary
originally given by Captain Sigsbee in an
earlier telegram, so Secretary Long tele-
graphed for another corrected list, and also
one that should show who were and who
were not wounded of the survivors. 1t was
found necessary to do this owing TO the
great number of pitiful appeals for informa-
tion as TO the safety of some unfortunate
on the Maine that came from all parts Of
the country
The naval constructors. in the light of the
dispatches thus far received, say that it is
ny iO uiSdllS tSTldlu lNdL lIe Maine cannot
be raised and again carry the flag They
say that while she is a big snip. others as
large have been raised, and at Havana the
new floating dry dock would receive her if
she could once be gotten above the water.
Captain Sigsbee evidently is taking an in
terest in the future of the ship, for he sent
a telegram to Commander Forsythe, at Key
West, that was promptly transmitted to
Secretary Long, suggesting that a light
house vessel or some such small craft he
stationed in Havana harbor to watch over
the wreck. The latter, even if beyond res
direction, contains valuable ordnance and
other property that doubtless can be Sc
cured by divers.
1t is said at the Navy Department that
this disaster is the greatest Of the kind in
naval history since the sinking of the big
British war ship Victoria by collision with
the Camperdown, in the Mediterranean, off
Trpoli, June, 1898. By that accident the
British admiral commanding, p officers and
335 men lost their lives.
The disaster is remarkable in that only
two officers lost their lives. and these We're
of Junior grades. They were Lieut.. Friend
w. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Darwin
r. Merritt The former was unmarried, but
leaves a mother and sister. The latter, 1t
is thought, also was unmarried, but the
department was unadvised concerning his
family.