The state herald., 1898-04-01

I divers and are in fair condition.
ON the night Of the destruction of
| the Maine all had been reported secure
for the night, at s p. M, by reliable
| persons, through the proper authori-
ties, TO the comnnndin. officer. At the
time the Maine was destroyed the ship
was quiet. and therefore the least la-
bic TO accident caused by movements
from those on board.
Explosions:
CURED Mt 9I0 y. m. on the 18th day
OF February, 1sas, in the harbor of
Havana. Cuba, being at the time
moorcd in the same buoy to which she
had been taken upon her arrival.
There were two explosions of dis
tinctly different character. very short.
hut with a ;iisNAcr Interval between
them, and the forward part of the ship
was lifted to n marked degree nt the
time of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more In the
nature OF n report. like that of gun.
while the second explosion was more
open, prolonged and of greater volume.
This second explosion was. In the
opinion % the court. caused by the par
tial explosion of two or more of ,he
forward magazines OF the Maine.
Condition Of the wreck:
Fourth-Thc evidence hearing ON
this, being principally obtnlncd from
divers, did not enable the court 10
form definite conclusion as to the
condition Of the wfUck, although II WINS
established that the after part %. the
ship was practically intact. and sank
In that condition a very few minutes
after the destruction OF the forward
part.
The following fncts In regard to the
forward part of the ship ARE, however,
established by the testimony:
That portion OF the short side of the
protective deck which extends from
about frame 30 TO about frame II WINS
blown up aft and over To port. The
main deck from about frame 10 TO
about frame n was blown up aft. and
slightly over to the stnrboard, folding
the forward part Of the middle super.
structure over and on top Of floor pnrt.
This was, In III" opinion of the court.
caused by the partial explosion OF two
Of more of the forward magazines OF
the Maine.
fif,h-A, frame ~. the outer shell of
the ship. from n point eleven and one
/ nnlf latI IraNn tho flllIt.. I'm. ..g 1...
ship and siX feet above the Keel when
In its normal position. has been forced
up ~ ns TO he now about four feet
above the surface OF the water, hereto.
Tore abuGi ihlriy-fuur feet above where
II would hc had The ship sunk unln.
Jurcd. The outside bottom plating Is
bent Into n reversed V shape, the nf.
tor wing of which. about hficcn feet
broad aud thlriy.two feet Ia length
iron frame IL to frame 81 is doubled
hnck upon Itself against the coniinua.
non OF the same plating extending
forward.
~ frame 81 the vertical keel Il
broken In two and the Hat keel bent
Into an angle similar i0 the angle
formed by the out sidc bottom plating.
This break Is now about six feet below
| ''hh'f w Nh' NN'l Nhh hlN'hA
thirty feet nhoye It's normal position
In the opinion n the court this effect
could have been produced only by the
explosion of mine situated under The
bottom ~ the ship NJ about frame l>
nnd somewhat on the port side of III,
ship.
SlNih-rhc court fnds that The loss
OF the Mnlnc, On III" occasion nnmcd
wns not In nny respect due 10 the fault
; or negligence On the part Uf amy Of tho
officers or members OF the crew OF said
vessel.
Scyenih-ln tho opinion Of the cour'
the Maine WITS destroyed by the cNrio
sion OF n submarine mine, whicl
caused tho partial explosion of two ol
/ more Of her forward magazines.
, Eighth The court Inns been mnbl,
10 obinin evidence fixing the rcspDnsi
bllity Of the destruction uf the Main,
upon any person or persons.
W. I. SAMPSON,
1 Captain u. y. ~, President
4, A. MARIN,
/, Lieutenant Commander Y. <, ",
Judge Advocate.
y. =. Flagship New York, March q