Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-16
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE.

sion took place on board the United
States battle ship Maine in Havana
harbor. Many of her crew were killed
or wounded. Some who were able to
support themselves by swimming were
picked up by boats. So far as can be
learned now the explosion took place
in the magazine used for the storage of
gun cotton for the torpedoes. The yes
sci lies with her bows wholly suit
merged aud only part of her stern
showing. The explosion, which shook
the city from one end to the other, Gre
ated the widest excitement. All the
electric lights were put out by tbs
shock and no one knew for certain
from which direction the explosion
came. Consul General Lee, who was
at the Hotel Irglaterra, received tie
ephone message from Gen. Blanco tell
ing him that the Maine had been
blown up. Gen. Lee fastened TO the
palace, where the cabinet is RoW as
semhllng.
All the officers were saved except
Jenkins and Merritt, both of whom are
missing. Vice Consul Springer says at
least three hundred lives were lost.
Captain Sigsbee was on deck when the
explosion came, but was uninjured. A
sentry stationed at the bow was I'M
hurt; in fact he had seen nothing sus
picious. One of the ships officers said
of the explosion: "When l got on deck
fire had started forward. The call for
all hands on deck was promptly obeyed
and the men and officers were perfectly
cool. All possible efforts were made to
check the fire, but the flames spread
rapidly and several explosions &C.
Cured. Magazines were burst open
and explosives were thrown overheard.
In half an hour it was apparent moth
ing could save the ship"
KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. 16.-The
lighthouse tender Mangrove sailed for
Havana at 8 o'clock this morning, hav-
ing on board several doctors. The
steamer Fern has also sailed for Ha-
vana and the torpedo boat Ericsson left
at midnight with dispatches for the
fleet. No details have been received
here regarding the disaster to the
Maine.
KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. 16-A later
dispatch from Havana put The loss OF
life by the disaster to the Maine at 100
dead and wounded. Nothing is known
ere concerning the cause OF the ex
plosion. Some naval officers think the
forward magazine ignited and that pos
sibly one or more torpedoes exploded.
AS the Maine had hard coal on board
the theory that the disaster was caused
by spontaneous combustion is not ten.
able. Every one here seems TO think
the disaster will in some way result in
ending the Cuban question.
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-.A dispatch
from Havana says the explosion was in
tie central magazine and that the ship
was raised out of the water and then
went partially to pieces. The dispatch
continues: Only very few OF the $50
sailors ever got from below. 1t is not
likely that more than 40 sailors were
saved. The officers on deck narrowly
escaped. Ia the junior officers mess
all had to Chamber out through water
and wreckage waist deep. Ali agree
that double explosion occurred from
the natural result of an underwater ex-
/. plosion of the magazines. Out of the
dense smoke came anguished cries for
help. With the cessation of falling
fragments, search lights were thrown
on the wreck and its load of agony,
Spanish boats from the shore joined
those of the vessels in harbor at once,
but the regular ferry boats did not stop
ty offer aid."
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The news
of the Maine disaster was learned
at the Spanish Legation with horror
and was the occasion for many expres-
sions Of the most profound regret and
coincidence. Senior DnBosc, the Span
ish charge d'aflaires, received mes
sage from Captain General Blanco
which had been filed at Havana at 2
o'clock this morning. 1t read as fol-
lows;
"With profound roget l have to in.
form you that the American ship
Maine in this harbor blew up by an
undoubtedly CHANGED accident, believed
to result from an explosion of the
boiler of the dynamo. Immediately
following the accident, all the dispos-
able elements of the capital fastened to
to the spot to extend every aid possible.
These included the force of the marine
fire brigade and all the generals in
Havana, among them my chief of staff
There have been deaths and wounded.
l have sent an aide-de-camp to offer
every assistance to the North Amer
can consul that he may wish for
Senior DuBosc expressed the most
profound regret at the occurrence and
said: "Of course look upon the horror
as due in every respect and solely and
simply to an accident. That is the
clear and unequivocal statement of the
authorities at Havana and all the
evidence thus far available goes 10 sus.
tain it, Asked if the disaster possibly
could have any adverse effect upon the
relations between Spain and the United
States, he responded with o decided
negative and the statement that the
affair was wholly an accident. Senior
DuBosc FASTENED to the State Depart
ment soon after receiving the Blauco
cablegram for the purpose of express
ing his deep coincidence to the authori-
ties and OF communicating the Captain
Generals dispatch.
The greatest interest prevailed among
Senators and Representatives as to the
extent of the Maine disaster.
Senator Platt of Connecticut express
ed the opinion that the explosion
would be found to be the result of an
acci6ent from within and ne donhted