The Portland daily press., 1898-03-29

was dressed. lie then went Into a de-
scription of his experience when he felt
the crash. He characterized it as burst
ing, rending, ami crashing sound or roar
of immense volume largely metallic in Its
character. 1t was succeeded by metallic
sound, probably of falling debris,
trembling and lurching motion of the
vessel, then an impression OF subsistence,
attended by an eclipse of electric lights
and intense darkness within the cabin.
He knew Immediately that the Maine had
been blown up and that she was sinking.
He hurried to the starboard cabin ports
but changed his course to the passage
leading to the superstructure. Then he
detailed the manner of meeting Private
Anthony, which is much the same as has
been published.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
was on deck when Captain Sigsbee
emerged from the passageway and turn
ing to the orderly he asked for the time,
which was given as 9. D. m. Sentries
were ordered placed about the ship, and
the forward magazine If practicable. The
surviving officers were about him at the
time on the poop. He was informed that
both forward and after magazines were
under water. Then came faint cries and
he saw dimly white floating bodies in the
water. Boats were at once ordered lowered
but only two were found available, the
gig and whaleboat. They were lowered
and manned by officers and men and by
the captains direction they left the ship
wounded jointly with other boats that
had arrived on the scene. Fire amidships
this time was burning fercely and the
ammunition In the pilot house was eX-
ploding in detail. Every body was then
directed TO get into the boats over the
stern, which was done, the Captain get
ting in the gig and then proceeded to the
49, ~ i, fy,rx ybnr ho md ha
wounded in the dining saloon being care
fully attended by the officers and crew of
the vessel He then went on deck and
observed the wreck for few minutes.
He gave directions to have a muster taken
on board the City of Washington, and
other vessels and sat down in the captain s
cabin and directed a telegram to the
Navy Department..
Various Spanish officials came on board
and expressed sympathy and sorrow for
the accident. The representatives of
General Blanco and of the admiral of the
station were among the Spanish officials
who rendered their respects.
About "a or IS men were found that
night who survived. Between the time
Captain Sisgbee reached the quarter deck
1t was his impre ssion that an overwhelm-
ing explosion had occurred. When he
blinded for a few seconds. In reply to the
direct question of whether any OF the
magazines or shell rooms were blown up
the Captain said it was extremely diff
cult to come to any conclusion. The CEN
ter of the explosion was beneath and
little forward of the coming tower on
the port side. The ten inch magazine was
starboard side. Over the fen inch maya
zine in the Loading room of the turret and
in the adjoining passage number OF ten
inch shells were permanently placed. 40
cording to Captain Sigsbee it would be
difficult to conceive that the explosion in
volved the ten inch magazine, because of
the location of the explosion and that no
were hurled into the air because of the
explosion. The Captain said that he did
not believe that the forward six inch
magazine blew up. The location of the
gun cotton was oft under the cabin. He
stated that he had examined the wreck
himself, but az the Spanish authorities
were very much averse to an investlga-
tion except officially on the ground that
the honor of Spain was involved, he fore
bore to examine the submarine portion
of the wreck for the cause of the explosion
until the court convened. He said the
discipline of the ship was excellent
He had no fault to find with the be-
havior of any officer or man at the time
of the disaster and considered their con-
duct admirable. Captain Sigsbee said
that the highest temperature he could re-
member was 112, but that was in the after
magazine, thu temperatures In the for
ward magazines being considerably lower.
All the coal bunkers were ventilated
through air tubes examined weekly by
the chief engineer.
Captain Sigsbee being recalled on the
third day stated that he had detailed
Lieut.. Commander Wainwright, Lieut..
Holman and Chief Engineer Howell, all
of the Maine, to Obtain information in
regard to any outsiders who may have
seen the explosion.
Captain Sigsbee also gave as his opinion
that If coal bunker ga 1872 had been so
hot as to be dangerous to the six inch re-
serve magazine this condition would have
been shown on three sides where the
bunker was exposed and that men con-
stantly passing to and fro by it would
have necessarily noticed any undue heat.
On the sixth day Captain Sigsbee was
examined as to the ammunition on board
the Maine. He stated that there were no
or other material in magazines or she'll
room which the regulations gprohibited.
He testified that no war heads had been
placed on torpedoes since he had command
of the ship.
LIEUT.. BLANDIN.
On the seventh day Lieut.. John J.
Blandin. who was watch officer on the
deck of the Maine the night of the
disaster, testified that the quarter watch
was onaawatoh all night. When he took the
deck at p. M, everything was in normal
condition. just before the explosion
occurred he looked over the port side but
noticed nothing. There were fewer boats
than usual.
He was standing on the port side of the
deck just abaft the after turrett talking
to Lieut.. Hood when the explosion oc-
Cured He thinks there were two ex-
blossoms. AS he went forward something
struck him on the head, nearly knocking
him down. He reported to Captain Sigs-
bee who ordered the boats lowered.
Mr.. Wainwright reported to the captain
that it was useless to try to do anything.
A few minutes later Captain Sigsbee
gave the order to abandon ship. Witness
impression was that the explosion oc-
CURED on the port side forward Hs
He saw fare but no actual flame. He
could not locate definitely the explosion.
He saw no water thrown up by the ex-