La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-04-02

To the Congress OF the United STATES.
For some time prior to the visit OF the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular
representatives pointed out the ndvan-
fages to follow visits of national ships
TO the Cuban waters. In nccustoming
the people to the presence Of our nag
as the symbol OF good will and OF our
ships in the fulhllment OF the mission
OF protection to American interests,
even though no immediate need there
for might exist.
Accordingly. on the 9th Of Janu-
ary last. after conference with the
Spanish minister, In which the renewal
Of visits OF our war vessels to Spanish
waters was discussed and accepted.
the peninsular authorities at Madrid
and Havana were advised OF the pur-
pose Of this government to resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports.
and that In that view the Maine would
forthwith call at the port OF Havana.
This announcement was received by
the Spanish government with appreci-
afion OF the friendly character OF the
ton OF intention to return the cour-
tcsy by sending Spanish ships to the
principal ports Of the United States.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
of Havana on the 18th Of January.
her arrival being marked with no
Of customary saluies and ceremonial
visits.
The Maine continued In the harbor
OF Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciable
excitement attended her stay: on the
dence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
SO noticeable was the Immediate ef-
feet Of her visit that the consul gen.
eral strongly urged that the presence
OF our ships In Cuban waters should
be kept up by retaining the Maine at
Havana. or In the event OF her recall,
by sending another vessel there to take
her place.
At forty minutes past . In the even
ing OF the 18th OF February. the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion, by
which the entire forward part OF the
ship WINS utterly wrecked. In this ca
tnstrophe two officers and aGO OF her
crew perished. those who were not
killed outright by her explosion being
penned between decks by the tangle
OF wreckage and drowned by the i'm
mediate sinking OF the hull. Prompt
assistance was rendered by the neigh
boring vessels anchored in the harbor.
aid being especially given by the boats
OF the Spanish cruiser Alphonso MI.
and the Ward line steamer City of
Washington. which lay not far distant.
The wounded were generously cared
for by the authorities OF Havana. the
hospitals being freely opened to them,
while the earliest recovered bodies OF
the dead We're Inferred by tile muni.
cipality In the public cemetery In the
city. Tributes OF grief and sympathy
were offered from all Official quarters
Of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people OF our country with crushing
force and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed. which In n com
munity less just and self-controllet
than ours must have led to hasty acts
OF blind resentment. This spirit. how
ever. soon gave way to the ca!mer pro
cesses of reason and to the resolve Il
investigate the facts and await the
material proof before forming judg
ment ms to the cause. the responsibilit,
and. II the facts warranted the rene
dy due. This course necessarily rec
commended itself from the outset to ths
executive. for only In the light Of a
dispassionntely ascertained certaint,
could 1t determine the nature and
measure OF Its full duty In the matter
The usual Procedure was followed
ms In all cases Of casualty or disaster
to national vessels OF any maritime
state. A naval court of inquiry was
at once organized, composed Of officer,
well qualified by rank and practica
experience to discharge the onerou,
duty imposed upon them. Aided by
strong force of wreckers and divers
the court proceeded to make q thor
ough investigation on the spot, EN-
ploying every available means for ths
impartial and exact determination ol
the causes Of the explosion. Its opera
lions have been conducted with tn.
utmost deliberation and Judgment. ana
While Independently pursued. M
source Of Information was neglected
and the fullest opportunity was al
lowed for u simultaneous investigation
by the Spanish authorities.
The finding Of the court Of inquir,
was reached after twenty-three day,
Of continuous labor, On the 21st O
March. instant, and naving been ap
proved on the 22d by the. commander
in-chief Of the United states nava
force ON the North Atlantic station