Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-30
REPORT OF COURT OF |NQU||
THERE WERE TWO ExPLosI0
Result of the InveAtigation of !
Wrecking of the Dattlesl
Maine in Havana Harbor-No q
ON Hoard to blame.

Washington. March 2T.--The rel
"f the court OF inquiry which investis
ed the wrecking OF the battleship Ma
is made up of eight parts as follows:
First-The court finds that at the (
of the explosion the battleship Ma
was lying in five and one hall 10 six 4.
oms of water.
Second-The discipline aboard the
was excellent; everything stored ace,
ing to ammunition, guns, sto
etc. The temperature OF the magazi
at 3 p. M. was nominal, except in
after l0-inch magazine, and that did
explode.
Third-The explosion occurred at o
o'clock on the evening of February
There were two explosions, with n sh
interval between them. The ship lifted
the first explosion.
Fourth--Thec ourt can form no defir
opinion of the condition of the wr,
from the divers evidence except as to
technical details of the wreckage, fl
which the court deduces that q mine
exploded under the ship on the port 81
Sixth-The explosion was due TO
fault of those on board.
Sevcnth-The opinion of the co
states that the explosion of the m
caused the explosion of two magazines
Ei2hth--The court declares that ii
not find evidence to fix responsibility.
Report In Unanimous.
The report is unanimous, and ia sig,
by all the members of the court. It d
not refer to the existence or non -existe.
Of the mine in the harbor of Havana,
cept in the specific findings that a IN
was exploded under the ship and
opinion that the explosion OF the
magazines was caused by the explosion
q mine.
The report as a whole is a formal,
passionate recital of facts and bears
stamp OF that strict oiIicialism VIII
marks naval procedure. II is brief, !
exceeding 1900 words, and among
eight points goes to the greatest leni
under the second heading, which de
with the discipline and order OF the 81
This the court specifies with extreme
niteness, the smallest detail of the
isfactory condition of everything
board being given. The normal tempe
ture Of the large forward magazines a
o'clock--only an hour and 40 minutes
fore the explosion -dispOscs of the gu
ton Of accidental combustion from
ternal causes, they are nevertheless
the opinion that the explosion of {
mine under the port side Of the ship cn
ed the explosion of the two magazir
This will explain the remarkable destr
tion wrought, the explosion thus bel
shown 10 have combined the force
mine without and the two magazi
within. The two explosions, which
court finds TO have occurred with a sh
interval between them, il an additio
detail showing that two forces opera
in causing the destruction. The lndi
that the ship lifted on the first expl
ion indicates an external source, and
( tremendous power, to be able to lii
of thousands OF tons 7
character Of the wreckage, technically
scribcd In the fifth part Of the rept
from which the court deduces that IN
was exploded under the ship on the p
side. sustains the view taken by 10
experts shortly after the disaster. u
the force Of the explosion was cxerted fr
port TO starboard.
Captain siGsbee Exonerated.
The feature OF the report Of deepest
terest 10 the navy is the complete ex'
Grafton of Captain Sigsbee and all
board contained in the second flndi
setting forth the perfect order and
cipline prevailing on the ship. and m
stated in the sixth finding, VIII
declares the disaster 10 be due To no fa
Of those on board.
The inability of the court to find
dence to fix the responsibility, as sta
in the eighth part, makes the report
guarded in expression of blame u
neither Spain nor the Spanish are M
toned throughout.