The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-03-05
EXPLOSION FROM BENEATH
CONFIRMED BY THE DIVERS.
Evidence That the Magazines on the
BattIeship Maine Had Nothing to
DO with the Initial Explosion,
and Played n Small Part in the
Affair.

that the explosion which wrecked the
Maine came from underneath the vessel,
and that the magazines had nothing TO do
with the initial explosion and played
much smaller part in the great disaster
than was at first supposed.
The evidence that has served to con-
vince the board was obtained by Ensign
Powelson, an officer attached to the Fern.
Mr.. Powellson was formerly in the con
struction corps and took two years spe-
cal course in the Glasgow school of naval
architecture. He is therefore a competent
witness.
What he discovered was that the for
ward part of the keel of the Maine. with
its ribs and plates, was stove upward so
far that parts of the shattered double bot
tom show out of water, and in places see
tons of the green-painted outer hull are
visible.
Corroborative of evidence given by Pow
ellison, and of equal significance and i'm
portance, is the result of the close eXami-
nation made by the divers. What they
found indicates that the explosion came
from point beneath the keel A plumb
line dropped from a point just forward of
the coming tower would have laid the
lead exactly on the spit where the explo-
sion occurred that hove keel and plates
and ribs almost to the surface. The main
force of the explosion seems to have been
exerted slightly on the port side of the
vessel
This is consistent with the facts hither
to aseertained. Collectively these now in
dictate that the contents of the reserve six
inch magazine were exploded by the i'll
itial blast and that there was no explosion
in either of the other two. In the reserve
magazine was slowed $500 pounds of pow
der in copper tanks, each of which con
tanned 200 pounds Several of these tanks
have been found by the divers all in
crushed and shapeless masses.
1t is important to note that in the six
inch and l0-inch tanks recovered the ex-
celsior used for packing the charges shows
no injury from flame or gases. The pow
der stored in the six-inch reserve maya
zine was used for saluting purposes only.
The magazine itself appears to have been
utterly destroyed only few traces being
left to show where it was once located.
The under part of the lOinch magazine
is wholly inaccessible to divers In the
upper part is tightly wedged mass of
powder cylinders too heavy for the divers
to eXtricate, but apparently containing
unexploded charges of powder. The Dow
torpedo tube of the Maine has been To-
Gated in the wreck. 1t lies in the debris
forward, submerged several feet under wa
ter.
The hull is now embedded in the mud to
the depth of eight feet The divers sink
to their armpits in the mud and have the
greatest difficulty in prosecuting their
work. Those engaged on the forward part
of the ship are under charge of Gunner
Charles Morgan, an officer specially detail
ed from the flagship New York for that
purpose.
M Doubt Remains.
New York, Feb. 26.-The Mail and Ex-
press prints the following, dated at Ha-
Vana:
While of course the members of the
court of inquiry will not talk for publica
ton, | am informed on the highest author
ity that the evidence of Diver Morgan as
10 the condition of the Maine shows almost
beyond the possibility of doubt. in the
opinion of my informant, that the Maine
was blown up by an outside agent Fur
thermore, Morgan's opinion is verified by
other American divers who descended to-
day.
The court will finish its work here to-
morrow and proceed to Key West to take
testimony of the survivors there 1t has
been decided not to return to Havana, all
information as to the cause of the disaster
having been secured.
Spain Wants War.
London. Feb. 26.--According to special
dispatch from Madrid the reports received
there from the United States, to the effect
that public opinion in the latter country
is becoming more excited owing to the i'm
preston that the Maine disaster was not
due to an accident, are "restirrino popular
feeling here lin Madrid), and the convic-
ton is increasing in ministerial circles
that the worst must be expected" Con
tinuing, the dispatch says:
THE government has no choice if the
United States adopts threatening atti-
tude, for the prospect of war is popular
with all parties, and the more excitable
newspapers are already urging the gov
eminent to take measures to enable Spain
to strike the first and decisive blow"
Denies Presence of Mines
New York. Feb. ga dispatch to the
World from Madrid says: Admiral Terry
chief of staff of the minister of marine
says: "The harbor of Havana contained
no submarine mine in the vicinity of the