The bee., 1898-03-31
II Was A MINE
The Maine Court OF In
y quiry So Reports to
the President.
SPAIN is NOT MENTIONED
Captain Sigsbec and the Vessels
Crew Are Completely
Ex0neratcd.
THE PLATES BENT UPWARDS
Presidents Message 10 Congress
Docs Not Mention Possi-
bliity Of War.
THE PLATES BENT UPWARDS
Transmits the Report 20 Congress
with No Startling Statement ms TO
TITS intention-Asks for De-
Hibernate Consideration.

Washington. March 2s.-Thc president
Monday sent tho following message ie
congress;
To the Congress OF the United States:
For some time prior 10 the visit OF the
Maine 81 Havana harbor our consular rep
reseniatlves pointed out the advantages TO
li0w from the visit OF national ships 10 the
cubg waters, In accustoming the people &c
the ssencc OF our flag as tho symbol OF
GOD S,lil and OF our ships IN tho fulnllmeni
or<t mi9sion Of protection 70 American in.
tetesge. even though no Immediate need
therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on tho sith OF January last.
after conference with the Spanish minister
IN which The renewal OF visits OF our wal
vessels TO Spanish waters was discussed
and accepted. the penlnsular authorities al
Madrid and Havana were advised OF the
purpose Of this government 10 resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports, ara
that IN that view the Maine would forth
. with call at the port Of Havana.
n The Maine nj Havana.
This announcement was received by the
soanIsh government with Appreciation OF
The friendly character OF the visit OF the
Maine and with pofIfcation OF Intention
10 return the courtesy by sending span
ish ships 10 the principal ports OF the
United ctatea. Meanwhile the Maine en-
tered the peri OF Havana on the a9th OF
no spacial Incident besides the exchange OF
customary salules and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued IN the harbor OF
Havana during the three weeks follow
inc her arrival No appreciable excite
mcnt attended her stay: on the contrary.
a feeling OF relief and confidence followea
The resumption OF the long interrupted
friendly intercourse. SO noticeable was
ihls Immediate effect OF her visit that the
consul general strongly urged that the
prsecnco OF our ships in Cuban waters
ahould be kept up by retaining the Maine
al Havana, or IN the event OF her recall
by sending there a vessel to take her place.
The Fatal Evening.
Al 20 minutes past nine on the evening
OF the 18th OF February tho Maine was
destroyed by an explosion, by whleh me
entire forward part OF the ship was ut
t1rly wrecked. In this catastrophe two
officers and eco Of her crew persisted. those
who were not killed outright by her eN-
ploslon being penned between decks by
The tangie OF wreckage and drowned by
the immediate sinking of the hui. Prompt
assistance WIS rendered by the neighbor-
ing vessels anchored in the harbor. aid
being especially given by the boats Of
the Spanish cruiser Aiphonso XII. and the
Ward line steamer CITY OF Washington.
which lay not far distant. The wounded
were generously cared for by the suthori-
ties OF Havana, the hospitals being freely
opened 10 them, while the earliest recoV-
cred bodies OF the dead were Inferred by
the municipality In public cemetery In
The city. Tributes OF grief and sympathy
were offered from all official quarters OF
the island.
Caused Intense Excitement.
The appalling Gala nifty fell upon the peo.
nile OF our country with crushing force and
for a brief time an intense excitement pre-
In n
self-conirolled than ours might have led to
hasty acts OF blind resentment This spir-
n, however soon gave way TO the calmer
processes of reason and to the resolve TO In.
yestigate the facts and await the material
proof before forming a Judgment as TO the
cause, the responsibility and. II the facts
warranted, the remedy due. This course
necessarily recommended Itself from the
outset TO the executive, for only In the light
Of a dispa ssionately ascertained certainty
could II determine the nature and measure
OF It's full duty In the matter.
The usual procedure was followed, as In
all cases OF casualty or disaster TO netional
vessels OF any maritime state. naval
court OF inquiry was at once organized,
composed of officers well qualified by rank
and practical experience TO discharge the
onerous duty imposed upon them
Aided by a strong force of wreckers and
divers the court proceeded to make thor.
cugh investigation on the spot. employing
every available means for the impartial
snd exact determination OF the causes OF
the explosion. Its operations have been
conducted with the utmost deliberation and
Judgment. and while Independently pur'
sued no source of Information was neglect.
ed and the fullest opportunity was allowed
for a simultaneous investigation by the
Spanish authorities.
The Finding of the Court.
The finding OF the court OF Inquiry was
reached, after 23 days of continuous labor,
on the 2lst OF March inst, and having
been approved on the 22d by the COM
mander in chief Of the United States naval
force OF the North Atlantic station. was
transmitted to the executive.
II Is herewith laid before congress, to-
gether with the voluminous testimony
taken before the court. Its purport Is. In
brief. as follows:
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 ~ TO fathoms Of water.
The state Of discipline on board. and the
condition OF her magazines, boilers. coal
bunkers and storage compartments. are
excellent order prevailed and that 40 IN
dication Of any cause for an internal explo-
sion existed In any quarter.
At eight O'clock in the evening of Feb
ruary IS, everything had been reported Sc
.ure and all was quiet.
At 40 minutes past nine o'clock the vessel
vas suddenly destroyed.
Two Explosions.
There were two distinct explosions. with
brief interval between them. The first
i,sted Ne forward part OF the ship very
l.kr[Rtih,y; the second. which was more
,orrad ia attributed by the court to the
ar,,si xplosion OF two or more OF the for