The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-29

Maine, Captain sigsbee stated that
! there was no serious grounding nor
sudden fiaring up of the lights. before
the explosion, but a sudden and total
eclipse.
TEMPERATURE OF MAGAZINES.
AS for regulations affecting the TAX
ing of the temperature of the maya
zines, etc. Captain Sigsbee stated that
there were no special regulations other
| than the usual regulations required by
| the department He examined the
| temperature himself and conversed
| various temperatures and the contents
| of the magazines, and according to
the opinion of this officer, as well as
Sigsbee, the temperatures were never
at the danger point.
Il do not think there was any lax
ity in this direction said the captain.
replying to a question of Judge Advo-
vate Mark.
He had no recollection of any work
going on in the magazine or shell rooms
on the day of the explosion.
The keys were called for in the usual
way on the DAY in question and were
properly returned. At the time of the
| disaster the two after berths in the
after fire room were in use because the
hydraulic system was somewhat leak
ing.
| FEELING OF AUTHORITIES.
Speaking generally of the relations
! with the Spanish authorities, Captain
| Sigsbee stated that with the officials
they were Outwardly cordial. The mem
| bers of the autonOmistic council of the
| government, however, seem to have
! brought to the attention of the navy
| department the fact that he did not
visit them. and that fact brought en-
! barassment to the government at
J Washington. He took the ground to the
! department that it was unknown ETH
quette to call on the civil members of
the colonial government, other than
| the governors. Without waiting for
| such an order. Captain Sigsbee made a
visit afterwards and, as he states, was
pleasantly received, and his visit
promptly returned by certain members
of the council. a party of ladies and
gentlemen called and the president of
the council made a speech, which Cap
tain Sigsbee could not understand, but
which was interpreted to him briefly, to
which he replied.
MY reply" said Captain Sigsbee.
was afterwards printed in at least two
papers in Havana. but the terms made
me favor autonomiStic government in
the island. L am informed that the au-
III nav elldi 10
unpopular among a large class of Span
ish and Cuban residents. l have no
means of knowing whether my appar-
ent interference in the political con-
Germs of the island had any relation to
the destruction of the Maine"
SPANISH ANIMOSITY.
When asked whether there was any.
demonstration of animosity by people
1fiO1f Canfain SioChaa said that
was never on shore, as he was inform
ed. but there was afioat. He related
that on the first Sunday after the
Names arrival a ferryboat, crowded
densely with people, civil and military,
returning from a bull fight at Regla,
passed the Maine and about 40 people
on board INDUCED in yelling. whistling
and derisive calls. During the stay in
Havana Captain Sigsbee took more
than ordinary precautions for the pro-
lection of the Maine by placing sentrieS
on the forecastle and poop. A corporal
of the guards was especially instructed
to look out for the port gangway, and
the officers of the deck and quartermas-
ter were especially instructed to look
out for the starboard gangway; quar-
ter watch was kept on deck all night;
sentries' cartridge boxes were filled,
their arms kept loaded, a number OF
rapid-fire ammunition kept in the pilot
room and in the spare captains pantry,
and under the after superstructure were
kept additional SUPPLIES of shells, close
at hand, for the second battery; steam
was kept w in two boilers instead of
one. and positive instructions were
given to watch carefully all the hy-
draulic gear, and report defects.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST TREACH- /
cry
He said he had given orders to the
master at arms to keep a careful eye
on everybody that came on board and !
to carefully observe any package thai 4
might be held. on the supposition that |
dynamite or other high explosives (
might be employed, and afterwards to
inspect the routes these people had |
taken, and not to lose sight of the or
der. He states that very few people /
visited the ship, Lieutenant Command /
er Wainwright being rather severe on |
visitors.
There were only two or three of the
Spanish military officers came on board,
but according to the captain they were
and not DESTROYS of accept
ing much courtesy. This visit was dur
ing the absence of the captain. He said
he made every effort to have the
Spanish officers visit the ship to show
good will, according to the spirit of the
Names visit to Havana, but, with ex-
ception stated. no military officers of
Spain visited the ship socially.
Captain Sigsbee then went into details
the precautions in force and
in relation to quarter
watches which, he said, had never been
rescinded. One of the cutters was in
the water at the time of the accident
and one of the steam launches. The
first was riding at the starboard boom.
The captain said that the night was
quiet and warm and that he remem-
oered hearing distinctly the echoes of
he bugle at tattoo, which was very
pleasant. Stars We out, the sky, how
ever, being overcast. The Maine at the
lime of the explosion was heading APP
northwest, pointing to-
ward the shears. He was writing at his
port cabin table at the time of the ex-
1losion and was dressed.
THE TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
He then went into a description of the
explosion when he felt the crash. He
il as bursting, rending
md crashing sound or roar of 'immense
Yolume, largely metallic in its charac-
er. 1t was succeeded by a metallic
;ound. probably of falling debris.
trembling and iurching motion of the
Iessel. then an impression of subsi-