Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-02-19
VARSHIP BLOWN Up
The Batticship Maine Destroyed
in Havana Harbor.
ONLY NINETY SIX SAVED
Out of a Total Of 554 on Board the
Inflated War Vessel.
TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE.

of the Wrecked Vessel-NIeantime
1t Is Assumed by Our Naval 0fficers
That the Explosion Was Caused by
Accident, Though Some Statesmen
Express Contrary Opinion-The Ex-
plosion Shook the Whole City, VIM
dowsfn All the Houses Being Broken.
Havana, Feb. 17.-The disaster which
befel the United States battleship
Maine on Tuesday was much more ap-
palling than first reports indicated. 1t
is now announced, and was so tele-
graphed to Washington by Captain
Sigsbee, that of the S54 sailors on board
the Maine at the time of the disaster,
only 96 escaped with their lives, and of
these many are frightfully wounded.
The large number of deaths reported
among the crew of the Maine is said
to be due to the fact that most of them
were alseep below at the time of the
explosion. Most of the officers saved
were dining on board the City of Wash
ington. Three sailors who escaped fell
senseless just as they reached a place
of safety.
1t is reported here that the disaster
was due to the explosion of the boiler
of the dynamo machine on board the
Maine.
The Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII was
for some time after the explosion in
great peril, and her mooring tackles
were Stacked away and she was an
chored at a great distance from the
burning warship being assisted by
other Spanish vessels. She then lower
ed her boats and took part in the work
of rescue.
The Maine at the time of the explo-
sion was anchored about 500 yards
from the arsenal and some 200 yards
from the floating dock. The explosion
put out the street lights near the wharf,
and blew down telephone and telegraph
wires in that vicinity. The first ex-
plosion is said to have been caused by
over 900 pounds of gun cotton, and the
subsequent explosion is alleged to have
been caused by shells and cartridges.
Captain Sigsbee yesterday sent a
message to Commandant Forsyth, of
the naval station at Key West, Fla,
which read: advise sending American
vessel at once. The Maine is submerg-
ed except the debris. Mostly work for
divers. Jenkins and Merritt are still
missing, and there is but little hope for
their safety. Those known to have
been saved are the officers and "a I'M
injured of the crew. Eighteen wounded
men are now on board the Ward line
steamer, in the city hospital and at the
Mascotte hotel, So so far as known. All
the others went down on board or near
the Maine. The total lost or missing is
258. With several exceptions, no of
ficer or man has more than part of
suit of clothing"
Captain Sigsbee, interviewed last
evening with reference to the cause of
the explosion, said:
II cannot yet determine the cause,
but competent investigators will decide
whether the explosion was produced
from an interior or exterior cause. I
cannot say anything until after such
an investigation has been made. I will
not and connot conscientiously antici-
pate the decision, nor do 1 wish to make
any unjust estimate of the reason for
the disaster"
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright,
of the Maine, was half undressed at
9:45 .. m, and was smoking in his
cabin, next to that of Captain Sigsbee,
1t is said, when the explosion occurred
and put out the electric lights. Lieu
tenant Commander Wainwright then lit
a match and went to Captain Sigsbee's
cabin. The captain, it appears, had
been thrown from his bed but was I'M
injured. They both went on deck and
ordered some of the men to flood $500
pounds of gun cotton which was on
board. The order was carried out but
the men never returned. Havana, how
ever, was saved from a still more ter
rible explosion.
A correspondent of American news
papers has just telegraphed as fol-
lows:
81 have just seen 20 sailors of the
Maine silently enduring the torture
caused by powder skinned faces and
bodies, broken bones and mangled
flesh. They are being well cared for in
the military hospital of San Ambrosio
here. The less severely injured men
will have the best of attention also
from the men and women of the Amer
lean colony. All the injured men show
great grit. You cannot hear a whimper
from one of the 20 swathed forms in
San Ambrosio hospital nor from those
anywhere else.
"Out in the bay lies the wreck of the
once proud Maine. Her steel upper deck
forward has ben completely lifted and
turned over ON her starboard side, and
none of the big guns in the turrets are
visible The big funels lie fiat upon the
twisted and gnarled iron braces and
pieces of steel deck. From the tunnels
aft the ship seems to be intact. She
has settled until the water has covered
the top of her superstructure and the
stern searchlight and the rapid fire gun
look over the water just below them.
A vigilant lookout is being kept for
bodies. Out of SO injured not over four
are likely to die. All but five officers
went yesterday to Key West. All the
slightly wounded and all the able bod
led went also, with the exception of
few, who are kept here to identify bod
les when thew are secured by the
divers"
The following cablegram was sent to
the Washington authorities last night
by Consul General Lee:
Profound sorrow expressed by the
government and municipal authorities,
consuls of foreign nations, organized
bodies of all sorts and citizens gener-
ally. Flags at half mast on governor
generals palace. on shipping in har-
Dor and in city.
Of1cers' quarters being in rear,
and seamen's forward, where explosion
took place, accounts for greater pro-
portional loss of sailors. Suppose you
ask that naval court of inquiry be held
to ascertain cause of explosion. Hope
our people viii repress excitement and
calmly await decision"
VIEWED AS AN ACCIDENT.