The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-16

sfstance of the Maine and her wounded.
The Havana firemen are giving aid,
attending carefully to the wounded as they
are brought on shore.
1t is terrible sight. Gen. sSolano aho
other generals have been ordered by Capt.
Blanco to take steps to help the Names
crew in every way possible.
| The correspondent of the Associated
Press was near the Maine in one of tha
boats of the cruiser Alfonso XIII. and was
seen others of the wounded, who corrob-
crate the statement of those first inter-
viewed that they were already asleep when
the explosion occurred
Captain Sigsbee says the explosion oc-
Cured in the bow of the vessel. He re-
ceived a wound in the head. Orders were
given to the other officers to save them
selves as best they could. The latter who
were literally thrown from their hunks in
their night clothing gave the necessary
orders with great self possession and
| bravery.
At 1l.30 .. M, the Maine continues
| burning.
| The first theory was that there had been
preliminary explosion in the Santa
Barbara (magazine) with powder or dy
Mantle below water.
Admiral Manterola believes that the
first explosion was of grenade she'll that
was hurled over the navy yard.
| THE commander of the Maine, Capt.
Sigsbee, is fayorite in the navy depart
ment. For four years he was chief of the
photographic office and by his energy
brought up the office to high standard.
He was lucky to get SO important-a ship
as the Maire considering his actual rank
which is that of commander, but imme-
diately justified the Department. judg-
ment in the selection by running his
ship straight into dock in New York
harbor to avoid running down packed
excursion boat. His officers are also a
good lot, including Lieut. Commander
Richard Wainwright, Lieuts c. f. Hol-
man, John Hood and G. W. Younger.
lieutenants (junior grade), G.. W. Blew,
j. Z. Blaudin, T. W. jenkins; Cadets j.
II. Holden, W. T. Culverius, Amos
Bronson and d. f. Boyd, Jr.; Surgeon
J. G. Heneberger; Paymaster O. W. Lit
tlefield. Chief Engineer G. P. Howell,
Passed Assistant Engineer r. G. Bowers,
Assistant Engineers ]. R. Norris and
ID f. Merritt; Cadet Engineers Pope
Washington and Arthur Grenshaw. Chap
lain J. P. Chadwick and Lieutenant of
Marines A. W. Catlin.
The Maine is q second class battleship.
the keel of which was laid down in the
Brooklyn navy yard in 1sSs She is of
6,6S3 tons displacemost witt net ton
mage of 8, 100; length, S1S feet; breadth,
81 feet; mean draught, 21 feet inches;
with indicated horse power of 1898, and
estimated speed of 17.45 knots. Shecost
81, 500, 600 Her side arlnor is of 1s-inch
nickel steel and her turret 15-inch, with
main turrets equipped with two ten-inch
guns each Her secondard batteries in
clude seven rapid fire six-pounders OF
to the North Atlantic squadron sEnmedi-
ately after being placed in commission.
The Maine had steel hull and a COM
plement of S74amen. Of thu two offers
unaccounted for Fred W. jerks, cadet,
was appointed from Pennsylvania on
September 2s, 1882 became an ensign
July |, 1888, has seen nine years sea-ser-
vice and oyer-fiye yeas shore duty. He was
assigned to the Maine on September II,
1895. Assistant Engineer Darwin r.
Merritt was appointed from Iowa and
became o naval cadet ON September 10,
1851. He served en- the Indiana previous
to being assigned to the Maine.
SpANIARDS WANT TO FIGHT.
London, February ia special de-
spatch from Madrid says the populaee o.
that city are greatly enraged owing to ths
belief that the Spanish cabinet has apol'
(ogized to the United States The popu'
lace, the despatch adds, are Bitterly op'
posed to such course and are exceeolhss'
ly hostile to the government aud may
make demonstration. In conclusion tna
despatch says: The people pr fer war to
an apology. thinking that Spain will
suffer the least thereby as war would pa
exceedingly disastrous to the large COM
merce of the United States. "
ICASE AGAINST DAUNTLESS DIS
MISSED.
New Orleans, February l5.-On motlon
of District Attorney Gueley, in the Unit
ed States court of appeals, the proceed
ings against The alleged Cuban tiilbuster-
er Dauntless were today dismissed. Pro
ceeding will be continued against the
Dauntless in the Florida court.