Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-02-16

cidental; another considerable number
think torpedo was exploded under the
vessel, aud third theory is that some
internal machine was smuggled aboard
the ship and set off. In the present
lack of knowledge, it is not thought
possible to say as to which theory the
balance of probability inclines. :
CONGRESSIONAL OPINION.
| WASHINGTON, February 16.-Chair-
man Hit, of the foreign affairs COM
mlttee, Chairman DingIey Of ways and
means, and members OF the naval
committee of the house all said they
preferred TO await further information
before expressing an opinion. Ex-
Senator Bater, of South Carolina, was
of the opinion that some bold man had
gone aboard the "Maine" and placed a
grenade, with slow match, where it
would explode the magazine.
A VETERANS OPINION.
CHICAGO, Ill Feb. 16 Commander
b. E Montgomery commanding officer
of the confederate fleet during the civil
war, was very emphatic today,
declaring that the sinking Of the
battleship "Maine" in Havana barbor
was the result of treachery and an
act without parallel in the worlds his
tory. In his opinion war must
Inevitably follow. "When divers
examine the hull of the vessel" said
Commander Montgomery, ut will be
found that it wasestcve in by a, torpedo
exploded under the bow, with diabolicat
intent" A
LIST OF OFFICERS.
WASHINGTON, d. O., Feb 16. Fol
lowing is a list of officers of tie" Maine: :
Captain Charles D.Sigsbee, Washing ION;
|Lieutenant Commander Richard Vain.
right, Washington; Lieptenant G..
Folhman. California; Captain T. John
Hood, Florence, Alabama; Lieutenant
Carl WeJungen, New York city; Lieut.
eaants (under grade): G.. r. Blow, La
Sale, H.; John j Blandin, Greenwood,
NJ. D., F. w. Jenkins, Allegheny City,
Pa. Naval cadets: w. I, Cluverius,
jr., Louisiana; A. Bronson. Nebraska;
d. F. Boyd, jr., Alabama; Surgeon L.C.
Henbeger, Harrisonburg, Va; .;Paymaster
G. M. Ray, Washington; Chief Engineer,
C. r. Howell, Goshen, N. z; Passed as.
sistant engineer F G. Bowers, Brook
|lyn, Ny; Assistant Engineers G. r..
Mowers, Oregon; Darwin, Merritt. Red
Oak, Iowa; Engineer cadets: Pope
Washington, North Carolina; Arthur
Crenthaw, Alabama; Chaplain, J. p.
Chadwick, New York city; First Lieut.
enant Marines Albert w. Catlin. Mimi
essota.
"wHITE HOUSE, SAYS ACCIDENT"
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Among the
matters discussed by the president and
members of the cabinet was the expe-
diency of immediately sending one or
more warships to Hayaua to take the
place of the Maine The conclusion
| is understood to have been reached
that at present such course is not
desirable. 1t was ,authoritatively
stated at the white house that the
information. so far received Indicated
| that the loss of the "Maine' was the
result of an accident, and in the absence
of evidence to the contrary this SHOULD
be assumed to be the fact.
The coast survey steamer 1Bache" has
been ordered to Havana at once, with
lwrecking paraphernalia. She is now
at Key West.
WHAT TWO OFFICERS SAY.
| HAVANA, Feb. 16 One of. the officers
of the @Maint" said today that at :
o'clock last night the magazines were
closel and the keys turned over to
Captain Sigsbee. Another officer said
"Thea Maine settled quickly on the bot
tom of the hartor. only her upper works
remaining above the water. The ex-
lplosion occurred somewhere in tht
forward partamidship section of ths
battleship. Many of the crew, wht
were unable to escape and those wht
succeeded in reaching the upper deck
saved their lives with great difficulty
| with the assistance of officers and mel
| on watch. .
| WORLDS GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION.
New YORK, Feb. 16.-A copyright
cable to the Epsning World, from
Havana, says that the officers of th
aMaine' state that the explosion wa
in the central magazine and th'
aMaine" was raised out of the waite
and then went partially to pieces. Th'
dispatch continues: 'All the officer
and the surgeon were in the ward room
at the moment of the explosion. Thief
came stupendous shock. All th'
officera below rushed on deck, bu
could get no further forward than th
middle superstructure on deck. Only'
very pitiably few of the $50 Jack Tar
ever got from below. The water rushe,
lover them and many we're stunned en-