The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-02-16

H
HAVANA, Feb. i5.-At quarter OF
10 o'clock this evening a terrible ex-
,los!on took place on board the United
states cruiser Maine. in Havana har-
tor. Many were killed or wounded. All
me bon.s OF the Spanish cruiser Alton
90 XIII are assisting. AS yet the cause
@, the explosion Is not apparent
The wounded sailors OF the Maine are
unable to explain It.
1t is believed that the cruiser Is TO-
tally destroyed.
The explosion shook the whole city.
The windows were broken in all the
houses. 80
The correspondent OF the Associated
Press says he has conversed with sew
c.al 0. the wounded sailors and under
stands from them that the explosion
took place while they were asleep. so
tha, they can give no particulars as to
tae cause.
The widest CONSERVATION prevails in
Havana The wharves are crowded
with thousands OF people. 1t Is believed
the explosion occurred in a small powder
magazine. At a quarter OF II o'clock
VIVA: remains Of the Maine IS still burn
.Eg.
Captain Slgsbee and the other on
cers have been saved. It Is estimated
,ha: over 100 Of the crew were killed, but
hIs .Rposlo!e as yet to give exact de-
tails.
Admiral Manterola has ordered that
boats Of all kinds should so to the as.
sstance o: the Maine and her wounded.
The Havana firemen are giving aid
tending carefully to the wounded as
they are brought on shore. 1t IS terri
Die sight General SoIano and the other
generals have been ordered by Captain
General Blanco to take steps to help the
Ma!ne's crew in every way possible.
Captain S!gsbee says the explosion oc-
CURED in the bow Of the vessel. He
received a wound In the head. Orders
were siTea 70 the other officers to save
themselves as best they could. The lat
Ter who we're literally thrown from their
huaks In their nigh. clothing. gave the
necessary orders with great selr-poses-
| fson and bravery.
Ali3o the Maine still continues burn
ing, The first theory was that there had
been preliminary explosion in the San
ia Barbara tmagaz!ae) with powder or
dynamite below the water.
Admiral Maaterola believes that the
first explosion was of grenade shell
that was hurled over the navy yard.
# .
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Feb. 15.-The
-iaine is battleshlp OF the second
class and is regarded as one Of the best
ships In the new navy. She was built
at the Brooklyn uavF yard and Is slS
feet !ons. 81 feet broad, 2l.s mean
cFaught. and 6.s82 tons displacement.
She carries four ten-inch and six six
incA breech-loadlns guns in her main
oa'tery and seven six FOUNDER and
e'eat one FOUNDER rapid fire guns and
l'ur gatl!ngs in her secondary battery,
ana Tour whitehead torpeGoes.
Inc commander of the Maine, Cap
IAN Sigsbce. Is 4 fayocte In the navy
department. For four years he was
eniet OF the photographic office and by
hli energy brought the Office to high
Standard. He was lucky TO get SO I'm
no''ant a ship as the Maine, consider
'"s MS actual runk. which is that OF a
.ommander; but Immediately he justl-
"eu The departments Judgment In the
sfsect'on by running his ship stra!gh;
mo dock In New York harbor to
S'o'c running down packed excursion
o'at' This was a display OF quick
judgment. nerve and pluck tha, pleas.
20 the department so highly that tho
captain was sent a complimentary let
me secretary OF the navy received
''e following telegram from Sigsbce:
Maine blown up In Havana harbor