Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-04-01

relaDle persons, CnrOu8n Inc proper
authorities, to the commanding officer.
At the time the Maine was destroyed
the ship was quiet and therefore least
liable to accident caused by movements
from those on board.
Two Distinct Explosions.
8. The destruction of tho Maine oc-
Cured at 9:40 p. m., on the 18th day of
February, 1898, in the harbor of Ha-
vana, Cuba, being at the time moored
to the same buoy to which she had
been taken upon her arrival.
There were two explosions Of dis
tinctly different character, with very
short but distinct interval between
them, and the forward part of the ship
was lifted to marked degree at the
time of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more m the
nature of report, like that Of gun;
while the second explosion was more
open, prolonged, and of greater volume.
The second explosion was, in the
opinion of the court, caused by the par.
tial explosion of two or more of the
forward magazines OF the Maine.
Condition OF the Wreck.
4. The evidence bearing on this, be.
ing principally obtained from divers,
did not enable the court to form a def.
nate conclusion as to the condition Of
the wreck, although it was established
that the after part of the ship was prac.
tically intact, and sank in that condi-
ton very few minutes after the de.
struction of the forward part.
The following facts in regard to the
forward part of the ship are. however,
established by the testimony:
That portion of the port side of the
protective deck, which extends from
about frame 30 to about frame Al, was
blown up aft and over to port. The
main deck from about frame 30 to
about frame al was blown up aft and
slightly over to starboard, folding the
forward part of the middle superstruc-
ture over and on top of the after part.
This was, in the opinion of the court,
caused by the partial explosion Of two
or more of the forward magazines of
the Maine.
Thirty.fOur Feet Out OF Place.
s. At frame II, the outer shell of the
ship, from point ll1a feet from the
middle line of the ship and feet above
the keel when in its normal position,
has been forced up SO as to be now
about feet above the surface of the
water; therefore, about 81 feet ab0va
where it would be had the ship sunk
uninjured. The outside bottom plating
is bent into reversed "V" shape, the
after wing of which is about Is feet
broad and 80 feet in length (from frame
II to frame 25), is doubled back upon
itself against the continuation Of the
same plating extending forward.
At frame Is the vertical keel is brok.
en- in two and the fat keel bent into an
angle similar to the angle formed by
the outside bottom plating. This break
is now about six feet below the surface
of the water, about 30 feet above its
normal position. In the opinion Of the
court this effect could have been pro.
duced only by the explosion of mine
situated under the bottom Of the ship
at about frame Is and somewhat on
the port side of the ship.
6. The court finds that the loss of
the Maine on the occasion named was
not in any respect due to fault Of neg.
i~anc on the part Of any of the Of.
ficers or members Of the crew Of said
vessel.
Mine Was the Cause.
z. In the opinion of the court the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
partial explosion of two or more of her
forward magazines.
8. The court has been unable to OBJ
tain evidence fixing the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine upon
any person or persons.
w. 7. SAMPSON, Captain U. S. NJ.
President.
A. MARK, Lieutenant Commander
U. s. N, Judge Advocate.
The court having finished the in.
quiry it was ordered to make, ad.
5ourned at Il a. m, to await the action |
of the convening authority.
w. T. SAMPSON, Captain u. 8. N.
President.
A. MARK, Lieutenant Commander, U.
s. N. Judge Advocate.
y. S. flagship New York, March 20, |
1898, off Key West, Fla.
The proceedings and findings of the
court of inquiry in the above case are
NJ. E. SICARD, Rear Admiral, Com
mander.in. Chief of the u. s. naval
force on the North Atlantic station.