River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-03-31

for a few minutes and gave directions 70
have muster taken on board the City of
Washington and other vessels and sat down
In the captains cabin and dictated a tele-
egram to the navy department. Various
Spanish officials came on board and eX-
pressed sympathy and sorrow for the acct
dent The representatives, of Gen. Blanco
and of the admiral OF the station were
among the Spanish officials who rendered
their respects. About 81 or IS men were
found that night who survived. By the
time Capt Sigsbee reached the quarter
deck 1t was his impression that an over
whelming explosion had occurred. When
he came from the cabin he was practically
blinded for few seconds. His only thought
was for the vessel, and he took no note
of the phenomena of the explosion. In re-
ply to the direct question of whether any
of the magazines or shellrooms were blown
up, the captain said il was extremely diff
hcuit to come to any conclusion. The CEN
ter of the explosion was beneath and
little forward of the coming tower on the
port side. In the region II the center
or axis Of the explosion was the six-inch
reserve magazine, which contained Very
little powder-about 500 pounds. The ten
inch magazine was In the same general re-
gion, but on the starboard side over the
ten-inch magazine in the loading-room OF
the turret and in the adjoining passage a
number OF ten-inch shells were perma-
nently placed. According to Capt. Sgs-
plosion involved the ten-iEch magazine be-
cause of the location of the explosion. and
that no reports show that any ten-nch
shells were hurled into the air because OF
the explosion.
The captain went into details as to the
location of the small ammunition. lie
said that he did not believe that the for
ward sx-inch magazine blew up. The To-
cation Of the gun cotton was aft, under the
cabin. The gun cotton primers and the
decorators were always kept in the cabln.
He stated that he had examined the wreck
himself, conversed with other officers and
men. but az the Spanish authorities were
very much averse to an investigation eN-
cept officially, ON the grounds as stated by
the Spanish admiral that the honor OF
Spain was involved, he forebore to exam
inc the submarine portion of the wreck
for the cause of the explosion until the day
the court convened. lie said the disci-
plne of the ship was excellent. The ma
rine guard was in excellent condition. The
reports of the medical department show
that about one man and quarter per
day were on the sick list during the past
year In the engineers department the
vessel was always ready and always re-
sponsivc. He paid Tribute to the crew
and said that 4 quieter, Differentiated
lot of men he had never known on board
any vessel in which he had served. He had
no fault to find with the behavior Of any
man at the time of the disaster and con-
sidered their conduct admirable. on his
examination by the court Capt, Sigshee said
that the highest temperature he could re-
member was III, but that was in the after
ma gazine, the temperature in the forward
magazines being considerably lower
No Loose Powder.
There was no loose powder kept in the
magazine. All the coal bunkers were ven
tilated through air tubes examined weekly
by the chief engineer and were connected
electrically to the annunciator near his
cabin door. The forward coal bunker on
the port side was fun. The forward coal
bunker on the starboard side was half
full, and 1t was being used at the time OF
the explosion.
Coal Bunkers Not OverheHted.
Capt Sigsbee. being recalled. stated that
he had detailed Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, Lieut.. Holman and Chief En-
gineer Howell, all of the Maine, to obtain
| information in regard to any outsiders who
may have seen the explosion.
Cant Sigsbee also gave as his opinion
| that II coal bunker A 16 had been so hot as
to be dangerous TO the six-inch reserve
magazine, that this condition would have
been shown on three sides where the bunk
er was exposed and that men constantly
passing to and fro by it would have neces-
sarily noticed any undue heat
Capt Sigsbee was recalled and examined
as to the ammunition on board the Maine.
He stated that there were no high explo-
sives, gun cotton, decorators or other ma
teria in magazines or shell room, which
the regulations prohibited. lie testified
that no warheads had been placed on tor
pedoes since he had command of the ship.
PoweIson's Testimony.
Ensign w. V. N. Powelson was called
the third day of the court. lie testified
that he had been present on the Maine
every day from the arrival of the boat
Fern and during a great deal of the diving.
In reply to a question to tell the court
all about the condition of the wreck, he