The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-03-31

covered visits to Havana for five or six
years, a man-of-war to be anchored at
that buoy: that he had rarely known
merchant vessels to be anchored there, and
that it was the least used buoy in the har-
Dor. In describing the surroundings when
first moored to this buoy Capt Sigsbee
stated that the Spanish man-of-war AL
phonso XII. was moored in the position
now occupied by the Fern, about $50 yards
TO the northward and westward of the
Maine. The German ship Griesenau was
anchored at the berth now occupied by
the Spanish man-of-war Legaspe, which is
about 400 yards about due north from the
Maine. He then located the German man
of-war Charlotte, which came into the
harbor a day or two later. which was an
chored to the southwark of the Names
berth about 400 or 500 yards.
In describing the surroundings at the
time of the explosion, Capt. Sigsbee stated
that the night was calm and still. The
Alphonso XII. was at the same berth
The small Spanish dispatch boat Legaspe
had come out the day before and taken the
berth occupied by the German man-of-war
Griesenau, which had left. The steam
er CITY of Washington was anchored about
Zoo yards to the south and east of the
Names stern slightly on the port quarter
The Maine coaled at Key West, taking on
about $50 tons. the coal being regularly
inspected and taken from the government
coal Pile. This coal was placed generally
In the forward bunkers. No report was re-
celHed from the chief engineer that any
coal had been too long in the bunkers, and
mat the lire alarms in the bunkerS were
sensitive.
Regulations Strictly Carried Out.
In so far as the regulations regarding in
fammables and paints on board, Capt Sigs-
bee testified that the regulations were
strictly carried out in regard to storag e
and that the waste also was subject to
the same careful disposition. AS to the sit
uation of the paint room, he fixed 1t as in
the "eyes of the ship" just below the berth
Geek, the extreme forward compartment
AS for the disposition of inf1ammab les, they
W ere slowed in chests according to the reg
ulations. and when infiammables were il.
excess of chest capacity they were allowet!
TO be kept iR the bathroom of the admiral 5
cabin. Regarding the electric plant of the
Maine, Capt. SigSbee stated that there was
no serious grounding nor sudden faring
up or the lights before the explosion, but
q sudden and total eclipse. AS for regu-
lations affecting the taking of tempera ture
or the magazines, etc, Capt. SigSbee said
there were no special regulations other
than the usual regulations required by the
department. He examined the temperature
himself and conversed with the ordnance
ollcer as to the various temperatures and
the contents of the magazines, and accord
ing to the opinion of this officer, as well as
Sigsbee. the temperatures were never at the
danger point. Il do not think there was
any laxity in this direction said the cap
tain. in reply to q question of Judge Advo-
cate Mark
He had no recollection Of any work 60
ing on in the magazine or shell rooms on
the day of the explosion. The keys were
called for in the usual way on the day in
question and were properly returned A,
the time OF the disaster the two after boil
ers in the after fire room were in use be-
cause the hydraulic system was somewh a I
leaking. Speaking generally OF his rela-