Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-28

operations have been conducted with
the utmost deliberation and judgment
and while Independently pursued, no
source Of Information was neglected
and the fullest opportunity was allowed
for a simultaneous investigation by the
Spanish authorities.
FINDING OF COURT OF INQUIRY.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after Twenty-Five days Of
continuous labor. on the 2lst of March,
and having been approved on the 22d
by the commander-inchief of the naval
force ON the North Atlantic station was
transmitted to thei executive.
1t is herewith laid before the Con-
Eress together with the voluminous tes-
timony taken before the court. Its pur-
port Is in brief as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
eminent pilot to buoy No. 4, to which
she was moored In from five and one
half to six fathoms Of water.
The state Of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boilers
coal hunkers and storage compartments
are passed in review with the conclu-
sion that excellent order prvailed and
that no indication of any cause FOR an
internal explosion existed in any quar-
ter. .r....
At o'clock in the evening on Feb
Is, everything had ben reported secure
and all was Niiet,
AT forty minutes past nine o'clock
the vessel was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions
with n brief interval between them
The first lifted the forward part Of
the ship very perceptihly; the second.
which was more prolonged, Is attri-
buted by the court to the partial explo-
sion OF two or more of the forward
magazines.
The evidence of the divers estab-
fishes that the after part Of the ship
was practically intact, and sank In that
condition very few minutes after the
cSnloslon.
The forward part was completely
demolished
Upon the evidence OF concurrent ex-
ternal cause, the finding of the court
is as follows:
EVIDENCES OF EXTERNAL EX-
PLOSION.
At frame II the outer shell of the
ship, from IA point eleven and one half
feet from the middle line of the ship
and six feet above the keel when in
Its normal position, had been forced up
SO as to be about four feet above the
surface of the water; therefore, about
thirty -four feet above where IL would
be had she sunk uninJured.
The outside bottom plating is bent
into a reversed "V' shape, the after
WING VI winch, ubOut 10 lttl DTOau anu
y feet in length from frame II to
frame 2j) 1t doubled back upon itself
against the continuation OF the same
plating extending forward.
At frame II the vertical keel Is brok-
en- in two and keel bent into an angle
similar to the angle formed for the
outside plates. This break is about 6
feet below the surface of the water
and about 80 feet above its normal
position.
In the opinion OF the court this eff
feet could have been produced only by
the explosion of mine situated under
the bottom of the ship at about frame
Is, and somewhat on the port side of
the ship.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COURT.
The conclusions of the court are:
That the loss Of the Maine was not
In any respect due TO. fault or negli-
gence on the part of any Of the officers
or members of her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the
explosion of II submarine mine. which
caused the partial explosion OF two or
more of her forward magazines; and
That no evidence has been obtainable
fixing the responsibility for the des-
truction of the Maine upon any person
or persons.
NOTIFICATION TO SPAIN.
have directed that the finding Of the
| court of inquiry and the Views of this
government thereon be communicated
| to the government of her majesty, the
| queen, and do not permit myself to
! doubt that the sense OF justice of the
/ Spanish nation win dictate course OF
action suggested by honor and the
/ friendly relations Of the two govern
| ments.
1t Is the duty of the executive TO
! advise Congress OF the result and In the
! meantime deliberate consideration is
( invoked.
tSFned) WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
( Executive Mansion, March rs, 1898.