The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-02-19
THE MAINE DESTROYED.
Powerful United States War Ship
Is Blown to Pieces.
Explosion from an Unknown Cause I'm
Harbor of uavnna-It Is Thought
100 Lives We're Lost-Cuban
Capital In "a Panic.

killed or wounded. All of the boats OF
the Spanish cruiser Alfonso MI. are AS
sisting.
As yet the cause of the explosion is
not apparent. The wounded sailors of
the Maine are unable TO explain il. 1t
is believed that the cruiser is totally de-
stroyed.
The explosion shook the whole city.
The windows were broken in all the
houses.
a correspondent says he has con-
versed with several of the wounded
sailors and understands from them that
the explosion took place while they
were asleep, so that they can give no
particulars as 10 the cause.
The widest demonstration prevails
in Havana. The wharves are crowded
with thousands OF people. Ii is believed
the explosion occurred in small pow
der magazine. AT midnight what re-
mains Of the Maine is still burning.
over 100 killed.
Capt. Sigsbee and the other officers
have been saved. II is estimated that
over 100 of the crew were killed, but il is
impossible as yet TO give exact details.
Admiral Manterola has ordered that
boats of all kinds should go TO the as
sistance of the Maine and her wounded
The Havana firemen are giving aid,
tending carefully 10 the wounded az
they are brought on shore.
II is a terrible sight. Gen. Solano
and the other generals have been or
dered by Capt. Gen. Blanco TO take
steps to help the Names crew in every
way possible. The correspondent of
the Associated Press has been near the
Maine in one of the boats of the cruiser
Alfonso XII. and seen others of the
wounded who corroborate the state
mento OF those first interyiewed that they
were already asleep when the explo-
sion occurred.
Mny Have Bcen Designed.
No explanation of the explosion has
been obtainable up to this time. II is
assumed that one of the ships maga-
zines blew up or bombs were placed be-
side her and set of by Spaniards.
The excitement is so intense that the
military authorities have ordered
troops to quarters. and the streets are
filled with crowds Of excited citizens
and soldiers iostling each other.
At this hour 1.-TWO n. m.) the hull of
the Maine is burning and the flames
illuminate the eptire harbor Thou
sands have gathered ut the water front
TO witness the unusual spectacle.
II is clear to those ON shore that the
x,rucnl l. tpIy t,,.. NH l.. a
the bottom Of the bay. The whole city
seems on the verge Of n panic.
Capt Sigsbee says the explosion oc-
Cured i'm the bow of the vessel. He re-
ceived n wound in the head. Orders
were given to the other officers 10 save
themselves as best they could. The lat
ter. who were literally thrown from
their hunks i'm their night clothing,
gave the necessary orders with great
self-possession and bravery.
Cnpt. sInsbcc's Report.
Washington. Feb i6.--The secretary
of the navy received the following tele-
gram from Can't. Sigsbee:
Maine blown IN In Havana harbor a.4O
and destroyed Many wounded ard Doubt
less more killed and drowned. Wounded
anu 0lHtIN On nhhIu spanish manor war
and Ward line steamer. Send lighthouse
tenders from Key West for crew and few
pieces OF equipment sim above Cwater)
No one had other clothes than those upon
him.
public opinion should he SUSPENDED I'M
III further report. An officers believed 10
be saved. Jenkins and Merritt not yet
accounted for Many Spanish officers, In
Guiding representatives OF Gen. Blanco,
now with me and express sympathy.
"SIGSBEE."
The officers referred TO in the .bove
dispatch are: Lieut.. Friend w. Jenk-
ms and Assistant Engineer Darwin III.
Merritt. From the wording Of the dis
patch the navy department thinks IL is
possible that they were on shore at the
time of the accident.
The secretary Of the navy received
another dispatch from Key West at the
same time with the above. but its con-
tents were not made public.
The orders for the lighthouse tenders
were at once sent 20 Key West in plain
language
The Maine ana Her Commander.
The Maine Is a battle ship OF tho Soc
ond class and Is regarded as one or the
best ships In the new navy She was hunt
NJ the 6ToohlNn navy NAfu ana ~ alN feet
long. IS feet broad y mean draught and
/ G,GS2 tons displacement. She carries four
ten-inch and six siN-inch brecch-loadlng
Guns ~ her main hattery and seven SIX.
FOUNDER and eight ore-pounder rapid fire
guns and four Gatllngs In her secondary
battery, and four whitehead torpedoes
Tho mmander 81 the Maine. Cant.
Sgsbee, Is q favorite In tho navy depart
ment For four years he was chief % the
photographic office, and by his energy
brought the office up TO a high standard.
lie was lucky 70 get so important a ship
as the Maine. considering his actual rank.
which IS that Of a commander. but lmmcdl.
ately he justified the departments iudg-
ment IN the selection by running his ship
straight into dock IN New York harbor
20 avoid running down packed excursion
boat. This was a display of quick Judge
mcnt. nerve and pluck that pleased the
department so highly that the captain was