Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-04-01
taken before the court. Its purport Is
brief a 5 follows:
IuxestjvatiOn md Findings.

When the Maine arrived at Havana she
was conducted by the regular government
pilot TO buoy No. 4, to which she was
moored. in from five and one-half to SIN
fathoms Of water.
The state of discipline on board and the
condition OF her magazines, boilers, coal
bunkers and storage compartments are
passed in review, with the conclusion that
excellent order prevailed and with no IN
dcution that any cause for internal en-
plo-ion existed in any quarter.
At s o'clock in the evening of February
Is everything had been reported secure
and all was quiet. At 40 minutes past y
O'Clock the vessel was suddenly destroyed
There We're two distinct explosions WITH
a brief interval between them. The first
lifted the forward part Of the ship very
perceptibly: the second, which was more
prolonged is attributed by the court to
the partial explosion OF two on more of the
forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after part of the ship was prac-
tically intact, and sank in that condition
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part was completely demolished,
Upon the evidence of concurrent eNter-
nal cause, the finding OF the court is as
follows:
At frame II the outer shell Of the
ship. from point liz feet from the mid
die line of the ship and six feet above the
keel. when in normal position. had been
forced up so as to be about four feet above
the surface of the water, therefore about
"a feet above where it would be had she
sunk uninjurcd. The outside bottom plat
ing is bent into reversed "" shape, the
after wing of which, about - feet broad
and 80 feet in length from frame II to
frame 25), is doubled back upon itself
against the continuation of the same plat
ing extending forward.
At frame IS the vertical keel is broken
and bent into the singular angle formed
for outside plates This break is about
six feet below the surface of the water and
abe.lt 30 feet above its normal position.
In the opinion of the court this effect
could have been produced only by the ex
plosion of mine situated under the bot
tom of the ship at about frame Is and
somewhat on the port side of the ship.
The conclusions of the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not in
any respect due to the fault or negligence
on the part of any officer OF member of
her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the ex-
plosion of submarine mine, which caused
the partial explosion of two or more of
her forward magazines; and that no evil
dence has been obtainable fixing the re-
sponsibility for the destruction of the
Maine upon any person or persons.
| have directed that the finding of the
court OF inquiry and the views of this gov
eminent thereon be communicated to the
government of her majesty the queen of
Spain, and | do not permit myself to
doubt that the sense of justice of the
Spanish nation will dictate Il course of ac.
ton suggested by honor and the friendly
relations of the two governments.
1t is the duty of the executive to advise
congress Of the result, and in the mean
time deliberate consideration is invoked.
WILLIAM MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, March %, 1898.