New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-17
DECIDED VIEWS As TO THE CAUSE.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR BowLEs SCOUTS
THE IDEA OF AN ACCIDENT, EXCEPT
THROUGH EXTREME AND GROSS
rApr-r r-ccNEGS

Probably no man now IN active service mas
greater intimate knowledge Of the Maine 'han
Naval Constructor Francis T. Bowles in whose
charge is the Construction Department OF TIE
Navy Yard. The Maine was built at the Nav!
Yrrd and although the greater part o. Inc
constructive work was done under the supeIN's-
ION OF Naval Constructor Frank c. ternalo' VINO
preceded Mr. Bowles IL was under inc 'h'''i
direction that the battle ship was hnlSh'" anu
nut In commission To Mr. Bowles. consequent
w. the news Of the destruction oI the Maihc
has brought particular distress ana ne docs
not hesitate 20 express some strong views upon
the probable source Of the disaster lie ls satlS-
fed that the explosion was due ~ some eNter-
nal and not to any internal force To Tribune
reporter he said: Il am convinced that the eN-
plosion which caused the destruction or the
Maine WAS the result OF some force outside OF
the ship What the nature OF this force was IS
n matter for conjecture only, but Il may have
been torpedo or submarine mine. How great
this force was IS demonstrated in the rapidly
with which the vessel sunk The wholesale de-
structive effects that were experienced undoubt-
ed]v could have been caused only from an *
ploslon either of magazine or torpedo but
whether from inside or outside can only he
determined by investigation.
1T is hard however. to believe that the eX-
plosion came from the inside OF the vessel. for
the reason that the Maine was one OF the
best-protected ships in the Navy. and unless
some extreme and gross negligence occurred
somewhere. It would be impossible for the
magazines to be exploded. Never before during
the long time that the Maine has been In COM
mission has there been any scmbance OF an
explosion. and although l insinuate nothing, yet
Il is unfortunate that soon after she anchors IN
Havana, where she was admittedly unWecome
she is sent 10 the bottom. Until definite report
Is forthcoming, imputations are out or place
but the COinClden @ inVOluntarNN occurs 10 ONE
In spite OF reports 10 the contrary, the Name
IS not supplied with torpedo tubes Moreover;
her magazines are well protected. and are placed
as far as possible in the centre OF the hull
There is absolutely nothing OF an explosive
nature within about sixty feet OF. her DOW,
where, according to dispatches, the explosion
happened
The determination Of The exact point where
the explosion happened is Of vital Importance,
and If the reports so far received o. the location
ere correct 1t seemngly proves that the eX-
pics came from the outside Personally
can only say that l do net believe that the
magazines exploded. In time Of peace they are
inaccessible 10 the crew. they are closely
guarded and the keys kept in the captains pos
session.
The possibility Of FIRE on board the Maine
has also been ventured az a possible solution.
This is out Of the question unless the fire started
directly H. one % The magazines. Every maya
zine is equipped with an apparatus that permits
Of its being flooded almost instantly. Again,
If fire started in any portion OF the ship, the
Water-tiCht compartments, into sections or
which the vessel Is divided. would be flooded. and
so prevent any danger Of the fire extending 10
the magazine This system would also be fol-
lowed in case OF q fire IN the coal bunkcrR
Further, none OF the magazines are near
enough 20 the hreroom TO allow Of the commu-
uicaton OF heat The Maine has been In COM
mission three years nearly, and If there We're
any dangers to be apprehcnded from the fire.
room or boilers they would have been mani
tested long before this. when everything IS con-
sidered. IL IS peculiar that the Maine should
have ever blown up, and the popularity is all
the greater because the disaster happened while
the Maine was resting IN the harb0r Of Havana.
Until the official report IS received. however We
can only guess at the cause, but ! am free 10
express the opinion that the explosion was not
inside the vessel