The times., 1898-02-20
SPAIN OWNED THE TORPED0ES.
The Cruiser Alfonso XII Took Them
to Havana.

Albany y. V, Feb. lg.-A man named
William Ewing a war veteran, who stat
ed that he had been a brigadier general
in the Cuban army, arrived in this city
about noon yesterday. Mr.. Ewing is full
of his Cuban experiences. He told very
interesting story. When asked what the
ory he had as to the cause of the Maine
disaster he said
"The Maine was sent to the bottom of
the harbor of Havana by torpedo sent
out by the Spanish authorities. l would
stake my life upon it."
What reason have you for saying by
the Spanish authorities" was asked.
Well there were when | left in the
whole island of Cuba only two torpedoes
that were capable of sending such a mag
nificent ship into the air These torpe-
does were brought over from Spain or
the cruiser ,Alphonso XII when she
brought 10000 troops over a few months
ago. They were taken to Moro Castle
and moored in the water in a little arch
way under the castle, directly opposite
the spot where the Maine had her an
chorage.
Both of these machines We're made in
Glasgow. Scotland. They weren't moored
Garcia, of the Cuban army, had full de-
scription of them. They are numbered,
and the numbers are now in my possess
sion. When I heard of the disaster, the
morning after il occurred, 1 wrote the
Secretary of War, giving him the infor-
nation and asking him to telegraph me
at the Western Union office in this city
tonight or tomorrow.
But is it not possible that. supposing
hn st
dent. some Spanish sympathizers may
have done the job without the knowledge
or consent of the Spanish authorities p
There were no other torpedoes in Cuba
that could do it," repeated Lieut.. Ewing.
Besides. it is not probable that any per-
sons acting without official consent or or
ders did it, because there are so many
merchant ships that would have been
struck before the torpedo reached the
Maine, owing to the latters position.
81 tell you. he continued. lit was done
by Spanish officials, wlloialOne knew the
situation of these two torsedoes. and done
by the order of the Spanish government.
know this TO be true, and I'll stake my
life on it.
What were these torpedoes like?'' was
asked .
"They are cigar-shaped sharp at both
ends. At the hind end is a rudder. and
propeller, 2 IL feet in diameter. which
sends the thing along and holds it in po-
sition until the time to which the time
clock within it is SET! TIE forward half
from one-quarter to one ton of
ro-glycerine. In he forward point is a
percussion shell which contains from 800
to 400 pounds of dynamite. When the
hands of the clock reach the hour to
which it is set a hammer is released
falling the nitro-gfycerine. This eS
plodeS. sending the dyna mite shell out
with force enough to penetrate fifteen
inches of steel armor. The bottom of the
torpedo is taken up with air chambers
which can be filled with water. sinking
he machine TO any desired depth
My theory is this: The Maine lay at
anchorage almost directly opposite the
archway under Moro Castle. One of
these torpedoes was set for a certain
time, sunk just below the surface, and
sent out toward the Maine. Nothing was
there to impede its passage and the re-
tolving propeller held its point to the !
Names bow. The hammer fell. the nitro /
sycerine exploded. making the first eX-
olosion; the dynamite she'll penetrated /
he Names armor sheathinS. ard explo- +
sion No followed almost within an In
slant after the first with the direful re-
suits. The divers will find che remains of
he torpedo very soon. and my theory
will be found 10 be correct. If they don't.
hen, Of course. my theory falls through.
But I'm almost as sure I'm right in this