The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-02-26
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
ON BAITLESHlP MAINE
The Magnificent Warship Is lot
ally Destroyed in the Har-
Dor Of Havana.
.MAaY ARE KILLED AND WOUNDED
Disaster Believed to Have Been
Caused Ivy an Accident Ia One
OF thu Mngazincs-..
e, Sigsbce Escaped.

Havana, Feb. 17.-At 4 quarter of 10
o'clock last evening a terrible explo-
sion took place on board the United
States cruiser Maine in Havana harbor.
Many were killed or wounded. All the
boats of the Spanish cruiser Alfonso
XII assisted.
As yet the cause of the explosion is
not apparent.
The wounded sailors of the Maine
are unable to explain it. 1t is believed
that the cruiser is totally destroyed.
The explosion shook the whole city
and windows were broken in almost
every building in the town.
The correspondent Of the Associated
Press says he has conversed with sew
eral of the wounded sailors, and under
stands from them that the explosion
took place while they yer asleep, SO
that they a give no particulars as
to the Gauge.
May BE 100 Dead.
Havana, Feb. 1.-THE widest con-
sternation prevails in Havana. The
wharves are crowded with thousands
Of people. It is believed the explosion
on the Mime occurred in q small pow
der magazine.
At 1o:i5 last night what remained
of the Maine was still burning.
Commander Sigsbee and the other
officers have been saved. 1t is esti-
matcdsthat over 100 people were killed,
but it is impossible as yet to give eS-
act details. e
Admiral Manterolla has ordered that
boats of all kinds should go to the as
%sistance of the Maine aud her wound
ed. The Havana firemen gave uid and
attended carefully to the wound
ed us they were brought ashore. 1t is
q terrible sight. General Solano and
the other generals have been ordered
by Captain General Blanco to take
steps to help the Names crew in every
way possible. The correspondent OF
the Associated Press has been near the
Maine in one of the boats of the cruis-
er Alfonso XII, and seen others of the
wounded, who corroboratc the state
ment of those first interviewed that
they were already asleep when the ex-
plosion occurred.
Captain Sigsbee says the explosion
occurred in the bow of the vessel. He
received a wound in the head. Orders
were given to the other officers to save
themselves as best they could. The
latter, who were literally thrown from
their hunks in their night clothing,
gave the necessary orders with great
self possession and bravery.
At 1880 the Maine continued burn
ing. The first theory was that there
had been a preliminary explosion in
the Santa Barbara (magnzine) with
powder or dynamite below the water.
Admiral Manterola believes that the
first explosion was of n grenade shell
that was hurled over the navy yard.
Commander Sigsbee Heard From.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE secre:
tary of the navy received the follow
ing telegram from Commander Sigs-
bee:
Maine blown up in Havana harbor
ut $40 and destroyed. Many wounded
and doubtless more killed and
drowned. Wounded and others on
board Spanish man of war and Ward
line steamer. Send lighthouse tenders
from Key West for crew and few pieces
of equipment still above water.
public opinion should be suspended
till further report. All officers be-
lieved to be saved. Jenkins and Mer-
rift not yet accounted for. Many
Spanish officers, including representa-
tives of General Blanco, low with me
and express sympathy. Sigsbee."
The officers referred to in the
above are:
Lieutenant Friend w. Jenkins and
Assistant Engineer Darwin w. Merritt.
From the wording of the dispatch
the navy department thinks it possible
that they were on shore Mt the time of
the accident. The secretary of the
navy received another dispatch from
Key West at the same time with the
above, but it's contents was not made
public.
The orders for the lighthouse ten
ders were ut once sent to Key West in
plain language, thus avoiding the de-
lay that would have arisen from the
use of cipher.
Secretary Long received Captain
Sigsbee's dispatch but a few minutes
before the Associated Press dispatches
from Havana were handed to him. He
received the news with apparent
calmness, and his first act was to com
ply with Captain Sigsbee's request
that assistance be sen from Key West.
He Immediately wired Captain For
sythe, ut Key West, to proceed with
the nava. tender Fern to Hayann har-
Dor.
Secretary Long then sent for Cap
tain Dickens and the two discussed
Captain Sigsbee's brief telegram. No
other naval officers We're present and
beside the secretary md Captain Dick
ems, the naval colony is ignorant Of the
disaster, the greatest which has be-
fallen the American navy since the dis
aster at Apia many years ago. The
secretary is inclined to believe that
most of the officers of the Maine were
OF shore at the time of the accident,
ms it was still early in the night.
While neither the secretary O Cap
tain Dickens is inclined to discuss the
probable cause Of the accident, several
suggestions were ventured upon. They
believe that it may have been caused
by q fire in the bunkers heating the
bulkhead near q magazine, or that an
accident may have occurred while in
specting high explosives for torpedoes.
OF course this is mere speculation and
the secretary is a~nxiously waiting a
more detailed report from Captain
Sigsbec.
Later the secretary sent another
telegram to Key West directing that
the tender Mangroye also be sent to
Havana.
President Sends II Telegram.
Washington, Feb. 16.-About noon
Secretary Long received the following
unsigned telegram from Havana: con
ly " officers were un%accounted for.
The explosion was forward and with
all indications that it was in the magu-
zine. but it cannot be told until inyes-
tigation. The sentry on the poop deck
reports that no boats were III the Vi
entity when the explosion occurred
A telegram from q. y. Rea, said to
be n newspaper correspondent, said:
mo excitement, all quiet. Only feel
ings OF sympathy and sorrow for the
accident"
Another stated the missing would
probably number 27O. Secretary
Long sent the following: aThe presi-
dent directs INC to express for himself
and the people of tic United States
his profound sympathy with the Off
GERS and crew Of the Maine, and desires
no expense TO be spared in providing
for the scrviyors, and care of the