New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-29
THE EVIDENCE CONCLUSIVE
MAINE EXPLOSION EXTERNAL
TESTIMONY TAKEN BY THE COURT OF
INQUIRY.
THE FACTS RELATED By CAPTAIN srSsBEE. HU
OFFICERS AND THE DIVERS SHOW THAT
THE DISASTER COULD NOT HAVE
BEEN DUE TO ANY INTERVAL
CAUSE.-THE POSITION
OF THE SHIP NOT
CHANGED.

Washington March 2s-The immense mass of
testimony taken by the Maine Court of inquiry
was sent to the Senate to-day with the Presi-
dents Message and. with he findings Of the Court
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Re-
latlons. The testimony was taken or eighteen
different days. the fourteenth day. however be-
ing devoted 10 viewing the wreck. Every wit
who was known to have any Information
that could throw light upon the great disaster
was called TO give his testimony. The story Of
the destruction Of the vessel Is told, not graphi-
cally. but in manner which gives all the OBJ
tainable facts 40 technical detail IL omitted.
Every movement and Incident connected with
the Maine from the time she left Key West until
the last diver examined the wreck. slowly sink
Ing in the mud of Havana Harbor. is given.
1t is story intensely interesting to the Amer5-
can people. Those who read II can have little
doubt as TO whether there was an Internal or ex-
ternal explosion Perhaps the mcst Significant
testimony is that showing the bottom plates on
the port side Of the Inflated Maine 70 be bent
inward and upward result that hardly could
have followed anything save an explosion nom
the outside A mass Of testimony Is submitted
showing the care exercised on board the ship
by Captain Sigsbee and his officers and the ap-
Jarent mpossibility Of the accident occurring
by any internal cause, such as the heating OK
the bunkers spontaneous combustion. or from
other causes upon which so many theories were
based.
The testimony Of Captain Sigsbee Is OF the
greatest Importance. and is perhaps. Of more gen.
eral interest than that OF any other man called De-
fore the Board With great care and minute
ness he gives an account Of the management OK
the ship how she was handled. what was done
from day to day on board how she sailed into
Havana her anchorage and what he knew about
it, and in fact every point upon which the ioV-
ernment and the country desires TO be informed
Nothing in Captain Sgsbee's testimony shows
that the anchorage was changed or that IL waS
considered dangerous by any one
Second TO the Importance Of the testimony OK
Captain Sgsbee is that OF Ensign Poweisoh' WI"
had charge Of the divers. and knew from day 10
day what these divers found. This ofncer wa"
minutely informed as TO the construction OK
the Maine and everything about her his tesu-
mony was to a certain extent, technical pear
ing upon the construction Of the ship her pia'es'
etc but It was from these plates and TINS tech'
nical knowledge that he was able to declare 'ha'
the explosion took place from the OUTSIDE.
The divers Morgan, Olsen and smith, all con-
tributed important evidence. They testiheo
that the plates were bent inward on the bottom
cort side and outward on the starboard side
The story Of the explosion is told by dinerent
witnesses and adds little to what Captain eies-
hoo and Commander Wainwright related.
Nothing in the testimony fixes responsibility
M conspiracy is apparent. no knowledge or the
nIanting Of mine is shown. Captain sigsoes
states that a somewhat bitter feeling eHis'eo
against the American ships and Americans gen
orally. and a witness, whose name Is suppressed
tolls Of overhearing a conversation between
snanish officers and citizen indicating fore-
knowledge Of the destruction OF the Maine ana
an intention to blow her up. An official OF ehe
American Consulate tells OF Information received
ANONYMOUSLY tending to show that conspta',
existed. But nothing is definitely stated "h'cn
fixes any responsibility upon Spain or heF su''
iectS.