The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-24
by WAX OF KEY WEST.
Divers Reported TO Have Found Cas-,
es of ~n"xagonni Powder Unex.
DIOIcd

prOdcd.
Havana. Feb. 23-(Via Key West,
Fla.), Feb. 23-The situation, which
may be changed at IL moment by
fresh discoveries, may be summed up,
when this dispatch is sent this after
noon. substantially as follows:
The divers hoving discovered cases
OF brown HeNagonal powder for the
ten inch guns UNEMPLOYED, and be-
iieV1ng also that others unexpIoded will
be found in the ten inch magazine on
the starboard side forward, the con-
viction grows that this magazine did
not blow up. If this be so, and many
have insisted from the first tina 1t is,
the further conviction is forced that
he explosion which wrecked the Maine
came from the outside on the port bow.
AS previously wired, the main por-
ton of the wreck. as seen from above
and noted below, was blown to star
board. The highest American officials
mere are confident that General Blanco
and the other high Spanish officials had
no knowledge, direct or Indirect, OF the
conception or execution of n plot to
blow up the Maine, if such n plot eS-
listed, but they believe the junior Span
ish officers, who from the nature of
things. are more conversant with mod
ern explosives than their elders and
superiors, were at the bottom of the
disaster, If there were any outside
agency.
1t is pointed out that 1t would not be
impossible to plant a mine of wet and
dry gun cotton near where q foreign
war vessel WIS dimcted ito anchor,
such n mine communicating with an
electric battery on the shore. 1t is re-
'Sarded as an Interesting point that the
Aiaine. for the first time during her STAY
In the harlpor. lay at the particular spot
where was at the time of the ca
t~astrophe. and, 1t is said. though not
officially verified, that the Maine was
the first foreign war vessel moored to
this particular buoy since the troubles
IN Cuba grew acute.
All stories as to lax discipline on the
Maine are without a shadow Of truth.
On the contrary Captain Sigsbee was
complained of by some for the riCiditv
OF MS rules and the s%triu:ness with
which he enforced them. Moreover. tho
Maine has been in commission for
ysans and never had a serious accident
until anchored in this quiet harbor.
WAR WITHOUT FIGHTING.
In reply to n question put by this cor
respondent to a high American onicia,
as 10 what the outcome would be n II
We're proved that the disaster was due
" an OUTSIDE agency, the official in
question said: ;"
Sir, the American people could nc,
he restrained. I mean war. Sill
doubt whether it would bcnecessorv ~
IRE a gun. Admiral Sicard could an
cnor thc Iowa, the Indiana, the Naeso-
chusentS and the New York Loutsido Ia
'ana haibor to prevent the incrgss of
me 1000 supplies, without which the
ettS could not exist a fortnight.
Cuna Is a waste of ashes and desoIu-
lion. l,N.1n ,h4 i1Y,
IN havana live from hand TO month on
supplies brought from the Unitcd
States. oH'teu
II Admiral Sicard demanded tho
surrender of Havana, giving twenty
lonr hours for the rcmoval nf no
women and children. surrender wouId
loiio". The forts are old structures
Hhu could be demolished by n six
FOUNDER. Such new guns as have hoon
mounted are short of ammunition AVA
ave never been tried. If C.encIDi
l'Ianco should decline to surrender III.
spanish merchants here, who rcnrn-
sent ~ per cent. Of the property and
pay % per cent. of the taxes of tho
Island, would compel him to accede 10
AuIniral Sicards terms. AS for the
volunteers, the men are for tho most
part the employees Of these ~onts
ana the volunteers officers are Iarrelv
'hcir sons or their junior partners
1t Is we'll TO look these tbincs In
rue iuce. Al the same time ii is we'll
ior the Americans to restrain thnm.
serves until there Is some proof of an
outside agency of explosion. We can
hllpr" 10 wait a little longer. seeing
ina we have waited 50 long. we could
not wait after it had once been proven
mat the Maine disaster was the rrsul.
OF Il dastardly plot. Spanish officers
from the old country hold to the nm
accountable belief that their arms
would overcome us in a few weeks, hut
the Cuban merchants have no such do
luSlon, and they would control the sit-
nh'i"h. iichce ] believe that no shot
rom n big American gun will be
necessary"
These sentiments really rcnrssent
Those of the best Informed Americans
mere. Any moment, however, NAV
chronicle discoveries at the wreck Ina
would chang. all this. a member of
the court of inquiry who convcrsed with
inns correspondent to-day, strongly dc.
precated any premature expression or
evidence of res rtiment on the part Of
the people OF the United States until i,
was proven that the disaster resulted
from some other cause than accident
carelcssncss. or the visitation Of provi.
enc Certainly the members Of abe
court OF inquiry. cool, experienced and
judicial. Will not lose their heads
one thlnS seems certain, If the Maine
was blown up by an outside agency.
the agent was a mine and not n tor.
pcdo, as no torpedo known could have
produced such tremendous results.
FAST WORK ON MLNNEApOI1s
Philadelphia. Feb. 23.-Impera;jyc or
dsrS were issued to-day 10 the painters
working on the cruiser MINNEAPOLIS. In