davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
SLOW TO EXPRESS OPINION.
Senators and Representatives Waiting
For Further Information.

Senators and Representatives Waiting
For Further Information.
Washington, February 16.-Conservatiye
public men in the face of the appalling
catastrophe, the meagre information at
hand, and its possible consequences there.
fore declined to express any opinion at
this time.
Chairman Hit of the foreign affairs
committee. Chairman Dingley of the
ways and means committee, and members
of the naval committee of the House, all
said they preferred to await fuller in.
formation before expressing themselves.
Mr.. Hit said that it would he well for
the public to follow the cue given by
| Capt. olRsbee and suspend Judgment until
the cause or the disaster was ascertained.
senator Platt of Connecticut expressed
| the opinion that the explosion would be
found to be the result of an accident
from within and he doubted that any
a plot to bring about an explosion of
| the ship.
| Ex-senator Butler of South Carolina,
who was member of the committee on
| foreign relations in the Senate during
his service, said it was decidedly strange
that American vessels have visited every
| port in the world and no accident had
befallen them, but that as soon as a yes
sci visited Havana this great disaster
should occur. He 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 maya
zine Ut was probable, he thought, that
many people had been permitted to visit
the warship and that some of the visit
OrS had carried q grenada aboard
A very prominent naval officer, who old
not wish his name used because of the
meagreness of present information as to
details, expressed the informal opinion
that the accident occurred from sponta-
neous combustion in the coal bunkere
the heat OF which exploded tho powder
in the suppleme ntary magazines adioin-
ing.
Still another prominent officer was con-
fident that the forward magazines of the
Maine could not have exploded Had
the magazine exploded said he, 'sthe
ship would have been blown to flinders. +"
Senator Hale, chairman of the commit
tee on naval affairs and a member of the
committee on appropriations, said that
he had had an interview with the Secre-
tary of tbs Navy and that he felt conf
dent that the Navy Department. would
institute thorough investigation into
the disaster.
"There is no OCCASION said the sem
atur, for Congress to take the matter
up. Surely something should be left to
the department. and this is one of the
things which. in my opinion, should be
so left. 1t is of course impossible from
the information received, to say how the
accident occurred but I feel confident
that the facts when developed will show
that it was an accident. The Maine, of
course, was prepared for action in case
action should be necessary and had there
fore many vulnerable points exposed. A
battleship is little less than a volcano I'M
der the most favorable circumstances.
am sure the affair in Havana harbor will
prove a genuine sensation in naval cir
cles aside from any political aspect of
it. %
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
BODIES OF OFFICERS FOUND.
List of the wounded Sailors at San Am
brosio.

New York, February 16.-A special
cable to the Evening World from Havana,
says:
ST have just seen 20 sailors of the
Maine silently enduring the torture
caused by powder skinned faces and
bodies, broken boned and mangled flesh.
They are being well cared for by the mill
tary hospital at San Ambrose. All of
the injured men showed great grit. You
can t hear whimper from one of the 30
swarthed forms in the hospital, nor from
those anywhere else.
1.-The rain fall which Immediately fol-
lowed last nights horror, still continues
in dreury drizzle. Out in the bay lies
the wreck of the Maine Her steel upper
deck forward has been completely lifted
and turned over on her starboard side
None of the big guns in the turrets are
visible. The Maine is slightly listed to
port and all forward of her massive
cranes for Unloading ships boats have
completely disappeared. The big tunnels
lie on the twisted and gnarled iron
braces and pieces of steel deck From
the tunnels aft the ship seems to be In
thct. She has settled until the water has
covered the top of her superstructure:
1.-Two bodies were recovered this lore
noon. The authorities say they are those
of Lieut.. Jenkins and Assistant Engl-
neer Merritt A viQilant outlook is being
kept for bodies. Out of SO injured, not
over four are likely to die.
1.-THE following sailors are in San
Ambrosio. All but three will live; one
man could not give his name: Dan
Cronin, New York; VIM. McGinness, Bos-
ton: John Soffey, Boston; A. Mallen,
Brooklyn; James Rol, New York; Fran
cisco Capill, Massachusetts,; Joe Koene,
Boston, Fred Gerne. New Brunswick, N.
j.; Charles A. Smith, jeremiah Shea,
Alfred Herns, Norway; j. II. Bloomer
Portland; ALI johnson, Sweden; Ed
ward Madison, Sweden, Geo. Fox, Grand
Rapids, Mich. B. R. Wilbur, A. Ericos-
son, Sweden; John E. White, Brooklyn;
John Hebron. Brooklyn; f. E. Holzer,
New York; VIM. Matteson, Bay City,
Mich. H. Judson, st. Louis; W. Allen,
Brooklyn.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
THEORIES AS TO CAUSE.
TIICNFINICO ~ v OFtOOC'
Naval Constructor Bowles Says Magazine
Theory Is Nonsense.

| Theory Is Nonsense.
New York, February 16.-Naval Con-
structor Bowles said that the theory that
the Maine was wrecked by an explosion
OF her own magazines was all nonsense.
lie did not believe, either, that gun cot
ton could cause the disaster.
"The Maine has been in commission
for some years." said Constructor Bowles,
''and it seems strange that she should
wait until she got to Havana to have an
explosion on board. cannot understand
how it could have happened"
An officer at the navy yard said that he
believed that one of the Maine's boilers
had exploded and that the head of one of
had exploded. The fire which broke out
Immediately after the explosion and the
length Of time the Maine remained af1oat
led this officer TO favor the torpedo or
boiler explosion theory. The torpedo, he
adds, would have exploded If the gun
cotton, with which they are filled, had be-
come dry.
Had torpedo or other contrivances
been exploded under the Maine" con-
tinued the officer, sit would have torn
such hole in her hull that she would
have sunk almost Immediately"
The more prominent and conservative
Cubans seen at the Junta today, said they
were sure that the disaster was the result
of an accident.
There were many Cubans, however,
who favored the idea that the men on the
Maine met their death through Spanish
treachery.
Captain A. T. Mahan, the celebrated
naval authority, was asked regarding the
Maine disaster. He said: Sin the absence
of authentic information, / am unwilling
to discuss the matter in any light
Hear Admiral Erben, U. S. NJ, retired,
said he WAS inclined to believe that the
Maine was blown up by her own maya.
zine Such things have happened.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
BOTH CREDIT TO SERVICE.
Young Merritt aud Jenkins Who We're
Killed By Explosion.

Killed By Explosion.
Washington, February 16.-The two
officers unaceounted for, and whom it is
feared are dead, are: Lieutenant (junior
grade) F. W. Jenkins, and Assistant
Engineer Darwin r. Merritt. Mr.. Jen-
kins was born in Allegheny City, June
&c, 1865, and was appointed naval cadet
September %, 1882. After he was gradn-
ated he served successfully on the Galena,
Kearsage and Swartara. He was next
attached 60 the coast survey and served
with it until February, 1S90,when he was
ordered to sea on the gunboat Benning-
ton. From June, 1898 to September, 1895,
he was on ordnance duty at the naval
proving grounds, Indian Head, Md, and
on September Is, 1895, he was ordered to
the battleship Maine. He had many
friends in this city and was regarded as a
most capable and efficient officer.
Assistant Engineer Merritt was born at
Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa,
April IL, 1872. He was appointed to
the naval academy September 10, 1891,
graduating at the head of his class four
yeats later. He went to sea ON the
Amphltrite, and was subsequently trans
ferreu to the Indiana. He was ordered to
fhe battleship Maine, September 10, 1897.
Although his naval service has neen
short, it is said at the depaT tment to have
been extremely creditable.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
WAS 1T A TORPEDO?

indianapolis, Ind, February &c. Rear
Admiral Brown, retired, was loath to
venture an explanation of the affair.
81 can offer nothing but vague con-
lectures to the probable cause of the de-
struction of the Maine, although it would
seem to me at this time that when an in
vestigation is made it will be found that
an explosion occurred on the VESSEL
The admiral was asked if 1T was pos
sible that torpedo lying in the harbor
could have been accidentally exploded
under the ship. He did not think this
could have been possible. If torpedo
caused the explosion, it must have been
sent from ashore, for hundreds of
torpedoes are not lying around loose in
Havana. where hundreds of ships are GO
ing in and out.
II am sure no official had anything to
do with it, if a torpedo was responsible.
Oh, no. said he, ''there could have been
no explosion of q torpedo by the Name
anchor or dragging of that sort. Nor are
there any submerged mines in the har'
bor."
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
ENGLAND SUSPICIOUS.
Accident May Have Bee n Caused BY Foul
Means.

| ACClu6uG MAY nave B6e IL CauB6U fOul
Means.
| London, February i6.-The Globe this
afternoon, referring to the disaster to the
United States battleship Maine says
1t is, impossible to refrain from the sus.
picion that the explosion may have been
caused by foul means. Although an
chored the Maine would have steam up in
one of the boilers for dynalnos and auxil-
larry machinery.
If an Internal machine had been hid
den in the coal and thrown into the fur
naces obviously there would have been all
explosion of the boiler, and, as result,
of magazine.
That this terrible event should have oc
Cured IN the harbor of Havana renders
solution of the mystery Of international
Importance.
Continuing, the Globe'says: The last
serious disaster of this nature occurring
blew up in the straits of Magellen. The
verdict of the court was that it was
caused by formation of coal gas, another
suggestion being that substance called
xeroline sycative, slowed in the paint
room, was responsible. Upon this occa-
sion there were two distinct explosions,
and 143 out of the crew persisted. In
the following year an explosion on board
III, NJ. S. Triumph killed three men. In
this case the disaster was traced to the
use of the xeroline sycative.
The headlines of the afternoon papers
here all hint that the disaster points to
treachery, either Cuban or Spanish, and
the papers refer to the excitement and
resentment at the Names dispatch to
Havana. The newspapers also publish
long descriptions of the Maine, with the
names OF her officers. They describe Capt.
Sigsbee as m eminent officer and pub
fish accounts of his career.
The ST. James Gazette leans to the
supposition that the disaster was brought
by an explosion In the magazine (Which
is beneath the forecastle and as far as
possible from the engine fires" adding:
sit remains, however, to be explained
how magazine carefully guarded, could
be fired. AS bearing upon this, however,
it must be borne in mind that the dis
cipline on American warShips, is usual
ly, to English ideas, rather lax. Anoth-
or possibility which is readily suggested
is that there was produced by an agency
outside the vessel, the explosion of sub
marine mine or torpedo, caused accidental
" or otherwise This, again, naturally
suggests the thought that the outrage was
perpetrated by Spanish conspirators or
Cuban insurgents incensed against the
United States.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ACCIDEN
TAIL.

Washington, February Ex-senator
Mills of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, expressed the opinion that the
wreck of the Maine was the work of a
torpedo. 81 would not say" he said,
"that the Spanish were responsible for it,
but some one must have been who had
access to the waters of the bay. 1 don It
think it could have been due to an acct
dent, and think Congress should imme-
diately take the matter up for thorough
investigation.
Senator Perkins of California, who has
been navigator all his life and knows
thoroughly every detail in the construc-
ton and handling of great ships, today
said: 81 cannot conceive that such an ex-
plosion as that which is reported to have
wrecked the Maine could have resulted
from an accident. The chances, it seems
to me, are 999 in 1000 that the calamity
lid not result from accident, but that it
r'sulted from treachery."
HASN'T USED WORD ACCIDENT.
Key West, Fla, February 16.-The
United States cruiser New York with
Admiral Sicard on board, reached Sand
Key, eight miles out, this evening and
anchored. She was ordered here to supply
the survivors of the Maine with clothing
and necessities.
There is good authority for the state
ment that Captain Sigsbee has not, in
any despatch to Washington or to Ad-
niral Sicard, used the word accident"
in describing the disaster.
Naval men hero, however, say this is
PERFECTLY natural, as Captain Sigsbee was
in command and would not be willing to
go definitely on the record until the board
Of inquiry meets.
CALLED ON WOODFORD.
- Madrid, February 16.-All the members
of the cabinet and of the diplomatic
corps left cards at the American lega-
ton today.
FL Correo Espanola urges the govern
ment to issue orders prohibiting the
Vizcaya from visiting New York. i
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
THE SPANISH PRESS.

Madrid, February 16.-The Epoch says
"Whatever the relations between Spain
and the United States, Christian feelings
and humanity compel us to regret tbs
catastrophe. The spectacle Of 80 many
lives suddenly launched into eternity in
spires compassion" ~
The Heraldo remarks: although the
Americans try to represent us as people
devoid of virtues, we must face this hor-
rible misfortune sincerely and express
feelings OF compassion"
The Heraldo says: sIn the face of
provocative Americans we shall always
remain proud people; but in the face of
men in misfortune of whatever nationali-
ty, our hearts are always full of pity"
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

New York, February 16.-Lieutenant
Commander Speers of the United States
navy, was aroused from his bed in the
Navy club and told of the Maine de
struotion.
81 cannot understand how such an ex-
plosion occurred in the ship" he said.
III am not, however, familiar with the
location of the magazines in the Maine.
Sometimes there are magazines before
and aft in warship, and it is barely pos
sibla that the forward magazines of the
Maine exploded.
''But do not understand how ammu-
milton in the magazine exploded at this
time. There is no reason that know
of why any body should have gone to the
magazine then.
'sThe keys of a vessels magazine are
always in the possession of the captain
and when the captain leaves they are
turned over to the man left in command.
"Not having any further information, l
cannot express any opinion on the disas-
ter
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
PRESIDENT AND CABINET CONFER.
Indica ions Are That Explosion Was Re-
suit of Accident.

suit of Accident.
Washington, February 16.-The Presi
dent and several of his Cabinet associates
held an extended conference about noon.
1t was not Cabinet meeting, as nc
notices. had been sent out, and only Sec
rotary of tho Navy Long, Secretary Gage,
Attorney General Griggs, Postmaster
General Gary and former Attorney Cen
eraI McKenna were present. The disaster
of the Maine was the only topic con.
sidered. It was determined to abandon
the reception at the White House tonight
and also the reception to the general pub
lie tomorrow night.
At twelve O'Clock the cabinet officers
came from the Presidents office. One OF
them stated that the President had given
directions that all official information re-
lating to the disaster should be given to
the public. He added that private de-
spatch to Secretary Long, signed Rea
stated that the loss was over 270 but this
was not official, and Mr.. Long considered
the estimate too high. This was before
Captain Sigsbee's despatch placing the
loss and missing at 253 was at hand. The
Cabinet officers stated that there were
many evidences that the disaster was the
result of an accident. Up to the present
time he said no orders for sending an
other American chip to Havana had been
given. Consul General Lee had cabled
that the Spanish authorities had ex-
pressed to him their profound regret at
the occurrence.
Another Cabinet officer stated that one
of the dispatches stated kthat Captain
Sigsbee was the last man to leave the
ship.
At 12. 80 while Secretary Long was still
with the President, Mr.. Finney, private
secretary of the Secretary of the Navy,
was admitted with AN important despatch
just received from Captain Sigsbee, COM
mander of the Maine. This was read by
then given out.
Among the matters discussed by the
PresieenG the members Of the Cabinet
was the question of the expediency of i'm
mediately sending one or two warships to
Havana to take the place OF the Maine,
and the conclusion is understood to have
been reached that at present such cOuIse
was not desirable At about half past one
O'Clock 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
that in the absence of evidence to the
contrary this should be assumed to be the
fact.
i. Secretary Long returned to the White
House early in the afternoon and re-
manned with the President for some time.
Up to two O'Clock nothing had been re-
ceived from Havana since the cablegram
from Captain Sigsbee.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17

OLWETTE EXPECTED AT KEY WEST
VIII Bring Forty-Five Survivors of the
Maine.
Key West, Fla, Feb. 16.-Forty-five
survivors of the Maine,' injured slightly,
or uninjured, are expected to arrive here
tonight by the steamer Olivette, the
wounded in charge probably OF surgeons
sent from here. The wounded will be
received at the U. S. Marine hospital.
where they will be we'll cared for. 1t is
said here that the boats of the Spanish
coast ship Havana received some of the
Names survivors,. The torpedo boat
Cushing left at noon for the fleet, with
dispatches for Admiral Sicard from
Captain Sigsbee. The first despatch
announced the disaster, and the second
said that Gen. Blanco and his staff had
called ON Captain Sigsbee, had expressed
their deepest sympathy and offered the
use of the hospitals in Havana, to which
the most seriously wounded had been
taken.
Dispatches are now here from Wash
ington addressed to Admiral Sicard, but
Captain Forsythe has no way to send
them. The Gushing, Ericsson, the ern
and the Mangrove have been sent on
duty today and the Bache is still with
the fleet at Tortugas.
AS yet no details other than those
contained in Captain Sigsbee's message
to Commandment Forsythe have been
made public here. 1t is doubtful if any
material facts are known by the local
officials at I O'Clock this evening, when
this dispatch is sent.
The air is rife with absurd stories.
The arrival of the Olivette is eagerly
awaited, as the officers on board can give
definite news.
There is a good deal of excited COM
ment among the Cubans by the fact that
the Spanish flag is not displayed at half
mast. Everything, however, is pervert-
ed to suit the belief that the disaster was
not the result of disaster, but of Spanish
design. Commandant Forsythe said ito
the representative of the Associated
Press this evening.
81 would give a good deal to see
smoke to the southwark or west
ward"
After the experience of the Cushing
during her last weeks trip to Havana,
his nervousness over her salty, as well as
that of the Ericsson, in high sea, was
only natural.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
HOW DOES HE KNOW?

Madrid, February l6-Admiral Chacon,
the COMMUNICATIVE hief of the Spanish
navy in the course of an interview today
said the United States warship Maine had
on board a "new' explosive based on
Guncotton manufactured by special
process.
''Such explosives he added, "were
very dangerous, the slightest friction
causing an explosion. He believed the
disaster was due to such cause.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
THINKS II AN ACCIDENT.

London, February l6.-A representative
of the Associated Press communicated the
news of the disaster to the Maine to the
Spanish ambassador here, Count de
Rascon. who was without Information on
the subject.
After expressing regret at the terrible
occurrence, the ambassador said that the
explosion must have been due TO an I'M
accountable accident, as the visit of the
Maine to Havana was of an entirely
friendly nature.
PREPARING FOR SUFFERERS.
Washington, February 16.-A despatch
from Commandant Forsyth at Key West
saws he has made arrangements with
Captain Merritt, commanding Key West
barracks to quarter and subsist the sur
vivors of the crew who come over in the
steamer Olivette tonight. The Treasury
Department has granted the use of the
marine hospital service at Key West for
the treatment of any Of the wounded who
may be brought there for treatment
HAD HARD COAL.
Key West, February lett is stated
here that the United States battleship
Maine had hard coal on board and that,
therefore, the theory that the disaster was
caused by spontaneous combustion is not
tenable.
CAUSED BY DYNAMO.
Havana, February 16.-Lieut. Comman-
was due to the short circuit dynamo.
The Portland daily press., 1898-02-17
A NOTE FROM MADRID.

Madrid, February 16.-The following
semi-of1icial note has been issued:
1.-The news Of the disaster of the Maine
has caused painful impression at Ma
drid. 1t was at first feared there had
been some act of impudenoe to which the
catastrophe was attributed. Afterwards,
as the details arrived, the fears dispelled
and took the form Of sympathy and sor-
row for the misfortune which has &C.
CURED.
"The captain general, the commandant
of the arsenal, the sailors of the cruiser
Alfonso XIII, the crews of the merchant
vessels and all the available forces hast
ened to succor the injured.
The government has expressed to Minis
ter Woodford the regret it feels at the
catastrophe, more especially as it occurred
in waters within Spanish jurisdiction.
An admiral in full uniform, in the
name of the minister of marines, and
the entire Spanish cabinet called on
Gen. Woodford today and informed him
that the government had telegraphed to
the authorities in Cuba to do their ut
most to relieve the distress of the injured
and to furnish the officers and crew of
the Maine with everything which they
may need.