The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-29

on three Sides nj all times, and the
fourth side at this time on account of
bun<ers B and h being empty. This
bunker. A 16. had been inspected Mon
day By the engineer officer on duty
The fire alarms in the bunkers were
in working order. and there had never
been a case of spontaneous combustion
OF coal on board the Maine.
The two after boilers of the ship were
in use at the time of the disaster, but
for auxiliary purposes only, with a
comparatively low pressure of steam
and being tended by reliable watch.
These boilers could not have caused
the explosion of the ship. The four
forward boilers have since been found
by the divers and are in fair con-
dition.
on the night of the destruction of
the Maine everything had been re-
ported secure for the night at p. m.
by reliable persons, through the proper
authorities, to the commanding Of
flcer. At the time the Maine was de-
stroyed the ship was quiet, and there
fore least liable to accident caused by
movements from those on board.
3. The destruction of the Maine oo-
Cured at 9:40 p. m. on the 18th day of
February, 1898, in the harbor Of Ha-
vana, Cuba, she being at the time
moored to the same buoy to which she
had been taken upon her arrival.
There were two explosions of a dis
tinctly different character with very
short but distinct interval between
them, and the forward part of the
ship was lifted to marked degree at
the time of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more in the
nature of a report, like that of a gun,
while the second explosion was more
open, prolonged, and Of greater vol
ume. This second explosion was, in
the opinion of the court, caused by the
partial explosion of two or more of
the forward magazines of the Maine.
| 4. The evidence bearing upon this, be-
ing principally obtained from divers,
| did not enable the court to form a def
| lnite conclusion as to the condition OF
the wreck, although 1t was established
that the after part of the ship was
practically intact and sank in that
condition very few inmates after the
Destruction of Inc forward part.
The following facts in regard to the
forward part Of the ship are, however,
established by the testimony.
That portion of the port side of the
protective deck which extends from
about frame 30 to about frame Al was
h. Yn up aft, and over to port. The
main deck from about frame 80 to
about frame Al was blown up aft. and
slightly over to starboard, folding the
forward part of the middle superstruc-
ture over and on top of the after part.
This was, in the opinion of the court
caused by the partial explosion of two
or more of the forward magazines OF
the Maine.
5. At frame II the outer shell Of the
ship from a point eleven and one-hali
feet from the middle line of the shiI
and six feet above the keel when in its
normal position has been forced w sc
as to be now about four feet above the
surface of the water; therefore, about
"a feet above where 1t would be had the
ship sank uninjured. The outside bot
tom plating is bent into a reversed '
shape, the after wing Of which, about
15 feet broad and 80 feet in length
(from frame II to frame 25) is doubled
back upon itself against the continua.
ton of the same plating extending for.
ward.
At frame IS the vertical keel is
broken in two, and the fiat keel bent
into an angle similar to the angle
formed by the outside bottom plating
This break is now about six feet be-
about 30 feet above its normal posi-
ton.
In the opinion of the court this ef-
feet could have been produced only by
the explosion of mine situated under
the bottom of the ship at about franc
IS, and somewhat on the port side OF
the ship.
6. The court finds that the loss of the
Maine, on the occasion named, was
not in any respect due to fault ol
negligence on the part of any of tn,
officers or members of the crew of saiC
vessel.
Z. In the opinion of the court the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
Of a submarine mine. which caused tn,
partial explosion of two of her forward
magazines.
8. The court has been unable to OBJ
tain evidence fixing the responsibilit!
for the destruction of the Maine upoI
any person or persons.
w. II. SAMPSON,
Captain U. S. N, President.
A. MARK,
Lieutenant Commander, u. 8. N, Judg
Advocate.
The court, having finished the inquir,
1t was ordered to make, adjourned a
e II a. m. to await the action of tn
, convening authority.
, w. II. SAMPSON,
!. Captain u. S. NJ, President.
. ). A. MARK,
3 Lieutenant Commander, u. S. N, Judg
J, Advocate.
Z United States Flagship New York
!. March 22 1885, off Key West, Fla.
9 The proceedings and findings of tn
2 court Of inquiry in the above case ar
approved.
M. SICARD,
Rear Admiral, Commander-in-C Chief @