Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-02-26
ACCIDENT TO THE MAINE
A GREAT SENSATION
Out of a Grew of $50 but 33 Are
Known 10 Have Been
Saved.
THEORIES AS TO THE CAUSE
No one Is Certain as TO what
Caused the Explosion - Moth
ing but the Awful Re-
suit L. in Evidence.

New York, Feb. l6.-A Havana spe-
cial to the Evening Telegram says:
OF the crew of $50 men II officers Oh
the Maine only thirtythree are known
10 have been saved.
N~aShington, Feb. 1.-THE navy de-
partmcnt was the scene of intense eN-
element this morning. The first news
was from C~ommandant Forsythe at
Key West. who wired that he had been
noti6cdpy Captain Sigsbcc oi,thc Maine
to inform Admiral Sicard In command
Of the North Atlantic squadron, that
the Maine has been blown up and de-
stroyed. lie requested that n light
house tender be sent TO Havana and
added that there were many killed and
~ov~a~a. Comunnarnt rorsytne fur
Their said the lighthouse tender Man
grove left Key West AT 3 o'clock this
morning for Havana and the tug Perm
would promptly follow her.
4 second dispatch said he had sent
the torpedo boat Ericsson to Admiral
Sicard at Dry Tortgus with a message
concerning the disaster 10 the Maine.
Captain Dickins chief of the navigation
bureau. expressed the opinion that the
explosion took place in the magazine
Of the Maine. This is evident for the
reason the ship was afoat an hour af-
ter the explosion. Had a torpedo been
fired under the hattleship she would
have sunk almost Immediately.
Two of the members Of the cabinet
who spent some time with the presi-
dent state that everything received
indicates the loss Of the Maine was due
to accident. Captain Sigsbce dtc'in S
10 express an opinion.
President sends IA Telegram.
Washington, Feb. 1G.-ibout noon
Secretary Long received the following
unsigned telegram from Havana: "On-
" W officers were u~naccounted for.
The explosion was forward and with
all indications that it was in the maya
zine. but il cannot be told until inves-
tigation. The sentry on the poop deck
reports that no boats were in the Vi
entity when the explosion occurred.
4 telegram from G.. Ii. Rea, said TO
be a newspaper correspondent. said:
"No excitement, all quiet. Only feel
ings Of sympathy and sorrow for the
accident
Another stated the missing would
probably number 210. Secretary
Long sent the following: The prcsi-
dent directs me TO express for himself
and the people Of the United States
his profound sympathy with the Off
GERS and crew of the Maine. and desires
no expense to be spared in providing
for the survivors, and care OF the
dead
Word From Sigsbee.
While with the president Secretary
Long received the following from
at once. The Maine is submerged ex-
ccpt the debris. IL is mostly the work
for divers now. Jenkins and Merritt
arc still missing. There is little hope
for their safety. Those known 10 be
saved are: Officers, pa; uninjured
crew, Is: wounded now on board the
Ward line steamer and i'm city hospi-
tai and at the hotel 50, so far as known.
All others went down on board or nesr
the Maine. The total loss or missing
is 2j3. With several exceptions no Off
Ger or man has more than a part of q
suit of clothing, and that is wet with
harbor water. The Ward leaves for
Mexico at > o'clock this afternoon with
the officers saved and uninjured. The
damage was in the compartments of
the crew. ! am preparing a telegraph
list Of the wounded and saved. The
Oliver leaves for Key West at ! p. m.
Will send by her TO Key West the Off
GERS saved, except wainwright, Holman,
~IIenneberger. Ray and Holden, and
will turn Owe the three uninjured
boats to the captain of the port with
a request for safe keeping. Will see
all wounded u the hospital at Ha-
vana. Sigsbec."
Among Congressman.
Washington, Feb. 16.-The greatest
interest prevailed among the senator's
and representatives as TO the extent
OF the Maine disaster. With only the
first reports before them and the rec
ignition OF the gravity of any utter
ances, there is a hesitancy 10 express
opinions. The immense gravity Of the
situation in case later advices should
show the disaster was not accidental
was admitted by all.
Chairman Hit of the foreign affairs
committee and Chairman Dingley of
the ways n means committee and
members of the naval committee of
the house all said they preferred to
await fuller information before ey-
pressing themselves. Hitt said it
would be well for the public to wait
for a II given by Captain Sigsbee and
suspend Judgment until the cause of
the disaster is ascertained.
Ex-senator Butler Of South Carolina,
member OF the committee of foreign
relations during his service, was of
the opinion that some bold man had
gone aboard among the many doubt
less allowed to visit the ship and had
placed n grenade with q slow match
where it would explode the magazine.
The members of both houses, as a
rule expressed no opinions for publ
cation on the catastrophe or result Of