The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-29

Washington, March 2s.-The immense
mass of testimony taken by the Maine
court of inquiry was sent to the senate
to-day, and with the presidents mes
sage and findings of the court referred
to the committee on foreign relations.
The testimony was taken on is differ
ent days, the 14th day and over being
devoted to viewing the wreck. Every
witnesses who had known to have any
information that could throw light
upon the great disaster was called to
give his testimony. The story OF the
destruction of the vessel is to-day not
graphically given, but in a manner
which gives all the obtainable facts.
No technical detail is omitted. Every
moment the incident connected with
the Maine from the time she left Key
West until the last diver examined the
wreck. slowly sinking in the mud of
Havana harbor, is given. 1t is a story
intensely interesting to the people.
Those who read IL could have little
doubt as to whether there was an ILL
ternal or external explosion. Perhaps
the most significant testimony is that
showing the bottom plates on the port
side of the ill-fated Maine to be bent
u u
ly could have followed anything save
an explosion from the outside.
A mass of testimony is submitted
showing the care exercised on board
the ship by Captain Sigsbee and his
officers and the apparent impossibility
of accident occurring by an internal
cause. Such as the heating of hunks,
spontaneous combustion or so many
other theories put forth. The testi-
mony of Captain Sigsbee is of the
greatest Importance, and perhaps Is of
more general interest than that of any
other man CALLED. With great care
and minuteness he gives an account
of the management of the ship. how
she was handled. how she sailed into
Havana. her anchorage and what he
knew about 1t and in fact every point
upon which the government and the
country desires to be informed. Moth
ing in Captain Sigbee's report shows
that the anchorage was changed or
that il was considered dangerous by
anyone.
Second in Importance of the testl-
mony of Captain Sigsbee is that of En-
sign Powelson, who had charge of .he
divers and knew from day to day
what the divers found. This officer was
minutely informed as to the construc-
tion of the Maine and everything about
her. His testimony was to a certain
tAt6nt upOH tHt q "
struction of the ship. her plates, etc,
but it was from these plates and this
technical knowledge that he was able
TO declare that the explosion took place
from the outside.
The divers Morgan. Olsen and Smith,
all contributed important evidence.
They testified that the plates were bert
inward in the bottom port side and
outward on the starboard SIDE. y ',h-
ing in the testimony fixes responsible
ity, but although conspiracy is appar-
ent. no knowledge of the planting of
a mine is shown. Captain Sigsbee
states that a somewhat bitter feeling
existed against the American ship and
Americans generally. and a witness
whose name is suppressed tells of over
hearing a conversation among Spaai.,h
officers and a citizen indicating a ioic
knowledge of the destruction of the
Main by intention to blow her up. An
official of the American consulate tells
of Information received anonymously
tending to show that conspiracy ex-
listed. But nothing definitely is stated
which fixes any responsibility upon
Spain or her subjects.