Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-04-06
TELLS Of THE MAINE HORROR
President Mckinley Sends a Mes
sage to Congress.
SYNOPSIS OF BOARDS REPORT
Complete Details Given from the Time
of the Order to Send the warship to
Havana Harbor to the Time of the
Explosion.

Washington, March 29.-The presi
dent today sent the following message
to congress-:
ITO the Congress of the United
States: For some time prior to the visit
of the Maine to Havana harbor our con-
sular representatives pointed out the
advantages to flow from the visit of ma
tional ships to Cuban waters, in accus-
toming the people to the presence Of
our flag as the symbol Of good will and
Of our ships in the fulfillment of the
mission Of protection to American in
terests, even though no immediate need
therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on the cath of January
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters
was discussed and accepted, the penin-
sular authorities at Madrid and Havana
were advised Of the purpose of this
government to resume friendly naval
visits at Cuban ports and that in that
view the Maine would forthwith call
at the port Of Havana.
This announcement was received by
the Spanish government with apprecia-
ton of the friendly character of the
visit of the Maine and with notification
Of intention to return the courtesy by
sending Spanish ships to the principal
ports Of the United States. Meanwhile
the Maine entered the port Of Havana
on the 25th of January, her arrival be-
Ing marked with no special incident be-
sides the exchange Of customary salutes
and ceremonial visits.
1.-THE Maine continued in the harbor
Of Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciable
excitement attended her stay. On the
contrary, a feeling of relief and conf
dence followed the resumption CT the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was this immediate relief
of her visit that the consul-general
strongly urged that the presence Of our
up by retaining the Maine at Havana,
or in the event of her recall, by send
ing their vessel there to take her
place.
"At forty minutes past in the ev-
ening of tie 18th of February the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion,
by which the entire forward part of the
ship was utterly wrecked. In this
catastrophe two officers and 260 of her
crew persisted, those who were not
killed outright by her explosion being
penned between decks by the tangie Of
wreckage and drowned by the imme-
date sinking of the hull. Prompt as
sistance was rendered by the neighbor-
ing vessels anchored in the harbor, aid
being especially given by the boats Of
the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XII and
the Ward line steamer City of Wash
ington, which lay not far distant.
1.-THE wounded were generally cared
for by the authorities of Havana, the
hospitals being freely opened to them,
while the earliest recovered bodies OF
the dead were inferred by the munich
pality in public cemetery in the city.
Tributes Of grief and sympathy were
offered from all official quarters of the
island.
"The appalling calamity fell upon
the people Of our country with crush
ing force and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed, which in a COM
unity less just and seif-controi;ed
nan ours might have led to hasty acts
.blind resentment
s"This spirit, however, soon gave way
to the calmer processes of reason and
to the resolve to investigate the facts
and await the material proof before
forming a judgment as to the cause.
the responsibility, and If the facts war
ranted, the remedy due.
This course necessarily recon-
mended itself from the outset to the
executive, for only in the light of a
dispassionately ascertained certainty
could 1t determine the nature and
measure of its full duty in the matter.
"The usual procedure was followed
as in all cases of casualty or disaster
to national vessels of any maritime
state. A 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 wreck
ers and divers the court proceeded to
make a thorough investigation on the
spot, employing every available means
for the impartial and exact determin-
alton of the causes of the explosion. It's
operations have been conducted with
the utmost elaboration and judgment
and, while Independently pursued, no
source of information was neglected
and the fullest opportunity was al
lowed for a simultaneous investigation
by the Spanish authorities.
''The finding of the court Of inquiry
was reached, after twenty-three days Of
continuous labor, on the 21st OF March,
and having been approved on the 22d
by the commander-in-chief of the
United States naval force on the North
Atlantic station was transmitted to the
executive.
"It is herewith laid before congress,
together with the voluminous testi-
mony taken before the court. Its pur-
l. - f~1l