Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-02-19

above water. NO one lau otner clOlneS
than those upon them. Public opinion
should be suspended until further report.
All officers believed to he saved. Jenkins
and Merritt not yet accounted for. Many
Spanish officers, including representa-
tives of General Blanco, now with me
and express sympathy"
The secretary of the navy at once
sent instructions for the carrying out
of Sigsbee's suggestions, and the pres
ident telegraphed the sympathy of the
people of the United States along
with instructions not to spare any ex-
pepse in looking after the comfort of
the wounded officers and sailors.
The first theory as to the cause Of
the explosion was to the effect that d
hand grenade shell had been hurled
across the navy yard on to the vessel.
This was suggested by Admiral MAN.
erola; but if it were true, then to de-
stroy war vessel representing cost
of million dollars, is wonderfully
easy matter.
General Lee telegraphed the fact of
the catastrophe to the state depart
ment on Wednesday morning, and said
that the matter was to be investigated.
AS to whether the explosion was the
work of enemies or an accident, he
did not intimate an opinion.
Among the known facts are that there
was steam in one of the boilers of the
Maine. The principal object of this
steam was to operate the electric lights
abroad the ship. A London paper,
which could not refrain from express
ing suspicious, at once suggested
that possibly Spanish conspirators
managed to smuggle an Internal ma
chine into the Names coal bunkers,
that the machine was thrown into the
boiler, which caused the explosion of
the magazine; but all this, of course,
is only matter of theory, not based
on any known facts.
At last accounts, the Maine was ly-
ing with her bow entirely under water,
and only portion of her stern show.
ing above the surface.
STORY OF THE PURsER.
The Olivette, with 62 survivors of
the Maine, arrived at Key West, Fla,
at 1890 o'clock Wednesday night,
having left Havana seven hours be-
fore. Of the number of survivors on
board, 20 were wounded-10 seriously
and l fatally. Captain Mervill, with
company of artillery, took possession
of the dock before the arrival and
kept back the excited crowd, including
half the population of Key West, ma
iority Cubans and mulattos. No one
not in uniform was allowed on board.
The Associated Press correspondent
saw Purser Denison, of the Olivette,
who gave the following brief account ::
The explosion is an absolute mystic
ry to every one. 1t occurred in the
forward magazine, which is just for
ward of amidships and below the wa
ter line. The coal bunkers were out
side; but separated by two feet air
space. According to custom the mag
azine was inspected at s o'clock in the
evening. The temperature was found
to be SO. The magazine was locked
and keys given to Sigsbee. The men
went to hammocks in the forward part
of ship soon after 9 o'clock. The ex-
plosion occurred at $40, and so great
and overwhelming that no one can yet
give connected account. About
10 in the forward part of ship were
saved, and of these several had ham,
mocks slung on lower deck. Explo-
sion split the big ship in two and
threw these and one marine sleep
ing on superstructure forty feet in
the air and into the water. In the
magazine was 25 tons coarse pow
der, used for charging big guns. No
dynamite, detonating powder nor tor
pedo heads-nothing that could be
exploded by concussion. In the main
magazine aft high explosives were
stored. This magazine did not ex-
plode. There are no electric wires
connecting with or near the magazine.
1t is not believed the Maine was de-
stroyed by a torpedo underneath, as if
so hole would have been torn in her
bottom and the ship would not have
been driven to atoms as was the case.
The after part of the ship sank in
three minutes and officers and sur
viving crew escaped half clothed.
Pieces of wreckage flew distance of
500 yards, one large piece of cement
striking the quarter deck of the City Of
Washington, Ward Line, that anchor
ed ahead of the Maine 20 minutes
before the explosion.
TORPEDO REPORTED.
The Associated Press correspondent
at Havana, reported on Thursday that
divers had found an eight-inch per-
cussion hole in one of the plates of
the sunken vessel, indicating that a
torpedo was the cause of the disaster.
A Washington dispatch describes the
situation in Washington as follows:
"The public mind is in a most danger
Gus condition. Should any of the re-
ports now coming from Havana to the
effect that the Maine YVES blown up
by torpedo, prove true, and should
the president issue proclamation Of
war, he would be sustained in both the
house and the senate without dis
.on,;,o ,,ota II will he most lInfOr-