The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-03-31

To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior to the visit of the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular re-
ports pointed out the advantages to fol-
low from the visit of national ships to
the Cuban waters in accustominls the
people to the presence of our flag as the
symbol of good will and of our ships in
the fulfilment of the mission of protec-
ton to American interests, even though
no immediate need therefor might exist.
Accordingly, on the oath of January
last, after conf crence with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal of visits
of our war vessels to Spanish waters was
discussed and accepted, the peninsular
authorities at Madrid and Havana were
advised of the purpose of this govern
ment 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 appreciation of the friendly charac-
ter 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 18th of January, her ar
rival being marked with no special Incl
dent, besides the exchange of customary
salutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor dur
ing the three weeks following her arrival
No appreciate excitement attended her
stay. On the contrary, a feeling of relief
and confidence followed the resumption
of the long interrupted friendly inter-
course. So noticeable was this Immediate
effect of her visit that the consul-general
strongly urged that the presence of our
ships in Cuban waters should be kept up
by retaining the men at Havana. or, in
the event of her recall by sending other
vessels there to take her place,
At forty minutes past nine in the even
ing of the 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 200 of her crew persisted,
these who were not killed outright by her
explosion being penned between decks by
the tangle of wreckase and drowned by
the immediate sinking of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by the
neighbOring vessels anchored in the har-
bor aid being especially given by the
boats of the Spanish cruiser Alphonso
XII. and the Ward line steamer City of
Washington, which lay not far distant.
The wounded were generously cared for
by the authorities of Havana, the hospi-
tails being freely opened to them while
the earliest recovered bodies of the dead
were inferred by the municipality in a
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 coutry with
crushing force, and for brief time an in
tense excitment prevailed, which in a
community less jus: and self-c ontrolled
than ours might have led to hasty acts
in resentment. This spirit, however, soon
gave way to the calmer processes of rea-
son, and to the resolve to investigate the
facts and await the material proof before
forming
responsibility, and if the facts warrant
ell. the remedy due. This course neces-
sarily recommended itself from the out
set to the executive for only in the light
Of a dispassionately ascertained certain
tv could it determine the nature and
measure Of it's full duty in the matter.
The usual procedure 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 we'll qualified by
rank and practical experience to dis
charge the onerous duty imposed upon
them. Aided by a strong force Of wreck
ers ard divers the court proceeded to
make a thorough Investigation on the
spot. employing every available means for
the impartial and exact determination OF
their uses OF the explosion. Its opera
tons have been conducted with the ut
most elaboration and judgment, and
while Independently pursued no source
OF Information was neglected and the
fullest opportunity was allowed for a
simultaneous investigation by the Span
ish authorities
The finding of the court Of inquiry was
reached after twenty three days of con-
tinuouS la bor on the 21st of March inst,
and having been approved on the 22d by
the commander-in-chief of the United
States naval force OR the North Atlantic
station, was transmitted to the eXecu-
tive.
It is herewith laid before the congress-
together with the voluminous testimony
taken before the court, its Durport is in
brief as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
eminent pilot to buoy No. 4, to which she
was moored X: from five and one-half to
six fathoms OF water.
The state OF discipline on board and
the condition of her magazine. boilers
coal bunkers and storage compartments
are passed in review, with the conclu-
sion that excellent order prevailed and
that no indication of any cause for an
internal explosion existed in any quarter
At o'clock in the evening Of Feb. 1:
everything had been reported secure and
all was quiet.
At forty minutes past nine o'clock the
vessel was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions
with brief interval between them. The
nrSt Hfted the forward part of the ship
very perceDtibly; the second, which was
more prolonged, is attributed by the court
to the partial explosion of two or more
of the forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after part of the ship was prac-
tically intact AID sank in that condition
a very few minutes after the explosion
The forward part was completely de.
molished.
Blown Up by a Mine.
Upon the evidence of concurrent ex.
ternal cause the finding of the court is as
follows:
At frame II the outer shell Of the shiI
from a point 11E feet from the middle
line of the ship and 6 feet above the
keel, when in it's normal position, has
been forced up so as to be now about 4
feet above the surface of the water
therefore about "a feet above where il
would be had the ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating Is bent into
reversed ''V'' shape, the after wing OF
which. about Is feet broad and 80 fee
in length (from frame II to frame 25) il
doubled back upon itself against the con.
tinuation of the same plating extending