The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-23
THE WRECK OF
TIE MAINE.
Lieut.. Jno. J. Blandln Tells
the Story.

Key West, Feb. l7-Lieutenant
John j Blandin of Baltimore, one of
the Names survivors, who is at the
Key West hotel, gave the cores
pondent of the Associated Press this
evening succinct account of the
disaster, saying that not until now
has he been able to recollect the Sc
quence of events in the awful 10
minutes following the explosion Tues
day evening. Lieutenant Blandin
says
81 was on watch. and when the
men had piped below looked down
the Maine matches and over the side
of ship walked aft to the quarter
deck, behind the rear turret, as it
was after 8 o'clock in the evening,
aud sat down on the portside, where
l remained for while For some
reason cannot explain to myself
now, | moved to starboard and sat
down there | was feeling bit
gIum. and in fact, was SO quiet that
Lieutenant Hood came up and asked
laughingly if | was asleep
81 said No, sir am on watch
..Scarcely had | spoken when
there came dull, sullen roar Would
to God that could blot out the
sound and scenes that followed
Then came sharp explosion, come
say, numerous detonations. | re-
member only one. It seemed to me
that the sound came from the port
side forward Then came a perfect
rain of missiles of all kinds, from
huge pieces of cement to blocks of
wood, steel ratings, fragments of
gratings and all the debris that would
be detachable in an explosion
II was struck on the head by
piece of cement and knocked down.
but | was not hurt and got on my feet
in moment. Lieutenant Hood had
run to the poop and l followed He
was dazed by the shock, and was
about to jump overheard hailed
him. and be answered that he bad
run to the poop to help lower the
boats When | got there. though
scarce minute could have elapsed.
l had to wade in water to my knees,
and almost instantly the quarterback
was awash On the poop found
Capt Sigsbee, as cool as If at a ball.
and soon all the officers except Jen-
kins and Merritt joined us The
poop was above water after the
Maine settled to the bottom Cap
tain Slgsbee ordered the launch and
barge lowered, aud the officers and
men. VIII, had by this time assem-;
hled, got the boats ont and showed
number in the water. Lieutenant
Wainwright went forward to see the
extent OF the damage, or to extin-
guish the flames which followed
closely upon the explosion and burn
ed fercely as long as there was any
combnstibles above water to feed
them
"Lieutanant Commander Vain
wright ON his return reported the
total aud awful character of the Ca
lami,y, aud Captain Sigsbee gave
the last sad order Abandon ship
to men overwhelmed with grief. in
deed, bnt calm and apparently unex-
cited Meantime four boats from the
Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII arrived,
to be followed soon by two from the
Ward line steamer City of Washing
ton The two boats lowered from
the City of Washington were found
to be ridd:ed with flying debris from
the Maine, and unfit for use Cap
tain Sigsbee was the last man to
leave the vessel, and left in his own
gig
II have no theories as to the cause
of the explosion. l cannot form any.
An examination by divers may tell
something to court of inquiry l.
with others, had heard that the Ha
bana harbor was foil of torpedos. bu-
The officers whose duty it was to ext
anime into that reported that they
found no sigps of any Personally,
| don't believe the Spanish had any
thing to do with the disaster Time
NAV tell hope 80.