The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-17

tho Spanish charge, called at the State
Department to express his profound regret,
and the entire Spanish staff lett their cards
at the Navy Department as a mark of per-
sonal coincidence. At all OF the foreign
establishments there was the deepest inter-
est and solicitude over the affair, and dur
ing the day Ambassador Cambon of France,
Sir Julian Pauncefote of the British en-
hassy, and other foreign representatives
called on the President or at the State De-
partment 10 express their regrets.
Tie message from Captain General
Blanco to Senior Du Bose was filed at Ha-
Nana at a. m. 1t reads: with profound
regret / have to inform you that the Amer
lean ship Maine i'm this harbor, blew up
by an undoubtedly chance accident believed
TO result from an explosion of the boiler
of the dynamo. Immediately following the
accident all the disposable elements of the
capital FASTENED to the spot to extend every
aid possible. These included the force of
the marine fire brigade and all the gen
erals in Havana, among them my chief of
stan. There have been deaths and wounds.
have sent an aid-de-camp TO offer every
assistance TO the American consul that he
may wish for 1 will forward further de-
tails as they become available
Senor Du Bose expressed the most pro-
found regret at the occurrence to a reporter
TO whom he gave a copy of the foregoing
cable from General Blanco. He said: "Of
course, ] look on the horror as due in every
respect and solely and simply TO an acct
dent. That is the clear and unequivocal
statement of the authorities at Havana,
and all the evidence thus far available goes
TO sustain it, Asked if the disaster possi-
bly, could have any adverse effect on the re-
ations between Spain and the United
States. he responded with a decided mega
tive and the statement that the affair was
wholly an accident.
Senior Du Bose FASTENED to the State De-
partment soon after receiving the Blanco
cabegram for the purpose of expressing
his deep coincidence to the authorities and
Of communicating the captain generals dis
patch to Secretary Sherman and Mr. Day,
the assistant secretary. To both Of them
he expressed personally and officially the
most profound regret. The Spanish naval
attache. Senior Sobral, who is in New York.
sent a telegram to the secretary of the
navy expressing his profound regret at the
news of the loss of SO many naval COM
panions.
4 Spanish official of long residence at
Havana stated that the hour of the acct
dent was the one when excitement at Ha-
vana was at its height. Up to midnight the
theaters, cafes and clubs are crowded, and
strangers find their greatest interest in see
ing the city at the time. For this reason,
he said, it was the time when naval officers
usually secured their shore leave, the leave
running from 8 to II o'clock. This he
thought. would account for the absence of
the officers of the Maine and the consequent
small death list among the officers. At the
same time, the leave to the sailors was
usually curtailed between s and II for the
reason that hours of excitement at Havana
We're those in which it was desired the sea-
men should not participate.