The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-29

keep a careful eye on everybody that
came on board and to carefully observe
any packages that 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 them. He states that very few peo-
pie visited the ship. Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright being rather Sc
we're on visitors There were only two
or three of the Spanish military off,
GERS who came on board. but accord
ing to the captain, they were con-
strained and not desirous of accepting
much courtesy, This visit was during
the absence Of the captain. He said
he made every effort to have the Span
ish officers visit the ship to show good
WILL according to the spirit of the
few other exceptions. no military OFF,
GERS of Spain visited the ship So
cially.
Captain Sigsbee then went into fur
ther details regarding the precautions
In force and especially in relation to
quarter watches which. he said. had
never been rescinded. One of the cut
ters 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 the night was
quiet and warm and that he remember
ed hearing distinctly the echoes of the
bugle at tattoo. which was very pleas
ant. The sky was covered. being over
cast. The Maine at the time of the ex-
plosion was heading approximately
northwest. pointing towards the Shears.
He was writing at his port cabin table
at the time of the explosion and was
dressed.
He then went into description of the
explosion when he felt the crash. He
o.. f...r
and crashing sound. or roar. of inn
mense volume. largely metallic in its
character. Ii was succeeded by met
allie sound. probably of falling debris.
a trembling and lurching motion of the
vessel; then an impression of subsi-
dence. attended by an eclipse of the
electric lights and intense darkness
within his cabin. He thought that the
Maine had blown up and she was sink
ing. He hurried To the starboard cabin,
but changed his course to the passage
leading to the superstructure. Then he
detailed the manner of meeting Private
Anthony. which is much the same as
has been published. Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright was on deck when
Captain Sigsbee emerged from the pas
sageway and, turning to the orderly. he
asked for the time, which was given as
$40 p. m. Sentries were ordered placed
about the ship and the forward maga-
zine flooded. He called for perfect si-
lence. The surviving officers were
about him at the time on the poop He
was informed that both forward aL'i
after magazines were under water.
Then came faint cries and white float
ing bodies were seen in the water. Boats
were at once ordered lowered, but only
two were found available. the gig and
whale boat. They were lowered and
manned by officers and men. and by
I.f. ~
ship and helped to save the wounded.
jointly with other boats that had arrived
on the scene. Fire amidships by this
time was burning fiercely and the spare
ammunition i'm the pilot house was ex-
ploding. At this time Lieutenant Com
mander Wainwright said he thought
the 10-inch magazine forward had been
thrown up into the burning mass and
might explode i'm time. Everybody was
then directed to get into the boats over
the stern. which was done. the captain
getting into the gig and then proceeding
TO the City of Washington. where he
found the wounded in the dining saloon
being carefully attended by the officers
and crew of the vessel He then went
on deck and observed the wreck for
few INMATES and gave directions TO have
a muster taken on board the City of
Washington and other vessels, and sat
down in the captains cabin and die
tated "a telegram to the navy depart
ment Various Spanish officials came
on board and expressed sympathy and
sorrow for the accident. The represen-
tatives of General Blanco and the ad-
miral of the station were among the
Spanish officers who rendered their
sympathies. About four or five men
were found that night who survived.
An Overwhelming Explosion.
BY the time Captain Sigsbee reached
the quarter deck IL was his impression
that an overwhelming explosion had oc-
Cured. When he came from the cabin
he was practically blinded for a few
seconds. His only thought was for the
vessel and he took no note of the phe-
nomena of the explosion. In reply TO
the question OF whether any of the
magazines or shell rooms were blown
up. the captain said IL was extremely
difficult to come to any conclusion. The
center Of the explosion was beneath and
a little forward of the coming tower on
the port side. In the region of the GEN.
ter. or axis, Of the explosion was the
six-inch reserve magazine. which con-
tanned very little powder. about 300
pounds. The 10-inch magazine was in
the same general region. but on the
starboard side. over the 10-inch maga-
zine, in the loading room Of the tur-
ret and In the adjoining passage. a num-
ber OF 10-inch shells were permanently
kept. According to Captain Sigsbee. IL
would be difficult to conceive the explo-
sion involved the 10-inch magazine be-
cause OF the location Of the explosion.
ard that no report shows that any To-
inch shells were hurled into the air be-
cause OF the explosion. The captain
went into details as TO the location Of
small ammunition. He said that he did
not believe that the forward 10-inch
magazine blew up. The location of the
gun-cotton was aft. under the cabin.
The gun-cotton primers and the de-
donations were always kept in the
cabin. He stated that he has examined
the wreck himself. conversed with other
officers and men. but as the Spanish
authorities were very much averse to
an investigation. except officially. on the
grounds. as stated by the Spanish ai-
miralty. that the honor Of Spain was
involved. he forebore to examine the
submarine portion of the wreck for the
cause of the explosion until the day the