The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-02-22
THE MAINE BLOWN UP IN HAVANA BAY.
253 MEN KILLED OR WOUNDED

Grave Suspicious That it Was No
an Accident.
The United States battieship Main
was blown up in The harbor of Hayan
on Tuesday night, 18th inst, and tn
wreck OF the vessel was complet
and total. The explosion took plac,
under the mems quarters, in the for
ward part of the snip, and the acciden
occurred when most of the men wer,
asleep, which accounts in some meas ur,
for the fearful loss of life. The nun
ber who are missing foots up 253, which
makes this catastrophe the creates
known in the history of the Unitet
States Navy.
The explosion, which shook the cit,
from one end to another, created tho
widest excitement. All the electri,
lights were put out by the shock. Fire
engines rushed madly from one direc
tion to another, and no one knew fol
certain from which direction the ex
plosion came. Some of the crew who
were able to supper. themselves by
swimming were saved by the boats.
James Rowe, the ships cook, was
the least injured of any that were res.
cued. When asked how it happened.
he said:
Il don't know. turned in my ham.
mock at 8 O'clock, and heard tt -
bells strike. | don't remember any-
thing more till felt myself turning
over and over, and falling heavily upon
the deck through a mass Of smoke.
got on my feet and worked M way on
deck. When | got there the super
structure deck was dipping under
water, and jumped overheard to
keep from being drawn into the sue
tion. | was picked up by boat from
the Spanish man-Of-war. Four more
were picked up by the same boat"
Co 1sul General Lee, who was at the
Hotel lnglaterra, received q telephone
message from General Blanco telling
him that the Maine had been blown
up. General Lee hastened to the
palace, where the cabinet quickly as
st mbled and orders were given the
fiji ;ers and crew Of the Spanish battle.
snip Alphonso KILL TO aid ia the
rescue OF the Names crew
All the officers were saved except
Jenkins and Merritt, who are missing.
Captain Sigsoee was on deck when
the explosion occurred. 1t was in the
bow of the vessel. n sentry stationed
at the bow was unhurt. He had seen
nothing supicious.
One oilicer whose name could not be
learned, said Of the explosions:
II was in my bunk. When got on
deck fire had started forward. There
WAS good strong breeze The cal!
for all hands on deck was promptly
obeyed and the men and officers were
perfectly cool. All possible efforts
were made TO check the fire, but with
out avail
the flames spread rapidly and
several explosions occurred. Maga-
zlnes were burst open and explosives
were thrown overheard. In half an
hour it was apparent that nothing
could save the ship
Spanish naval officer said that
Captain Sigsbec was the last man to
abandon the sinking ship and that be
remained alongside the wreck as long
as 1T was possible TO do anything in the
work OF rescue.
Joseph M. Mann, passenger on
board the City of Washington, of the
Ward line, which was mOored near the
Maine on Tuesday night, at the time
OF the disaster to the battleship, in
describing the catastrophe, said.
while we were c0nversing in the
cabin at about twenty minutes to 8 on
Tuesday night, loud report startled
the company. They rushed to the
port holes and saw an immense flash
shoot up in the air with a terrific re-
port. Debris OF all kinds and large
number of bodies we're thrown upward.
1t was at first believed that the Maine
was being being fired upon, but after
ward as the City OF Washington was
struck by what turned out to be falling
debris and she careened, it was thought
she was being fired upon. a second
explosion took place and, following it,
We heard groans and cries Of Help
Help. The boats OF the City of Wash.
ington and those oft Spanish cruiser
Alfonso XIII, were hurriedly launched
and went to the rescue. | went into
one OF the boats Of the City Of Wash
ingtOn and the scenes | witnessed were
heartrending beyond description.
1.-TWO Of the small boats on board the
City of Washington were stove in by
debris from the Maine. The battle
ship sank even with the water in
about three minutes after the explo-
sion. The City Of Washington was
converted into Veritable hospital.
Many OF the rescued men we're brought
on board almost nude, and the passen-
gers gave them clothing, etc. The
officers OF the City of Washington did
all In their power to make the rescued
men comfortable:"
Inc surviving crew and officers OF
the Maine sta'e that the ship at the ex.
plOsion was raised out OF the water and
then went partly to pieces. All but
the surgeon were in the ward room at
the moment OF the explosion. Then
came the stupendous shock. All the
officers below rushed on deck but could
get no further forw yard than the middle
superstructure on deck. Only very
pitiable few Of the $50 jackies ever got
from below. The water rushed over
them and many wore stunned and
drowned, but not mangled. 1t Is not
likely that more than 80 sailors we're
saved. The officers on deck narrowly
escaped. In the Junior officers mess
all had TO Chamber out through water
and wreckage waist deep. One ladder
from the after torpedo compartment
| was jammed with men struggling up
| for life. All agree that double ex-
| plosion occurred from natural result OF
an underwater explosion of the maga.
zines.
Brass pipe, angle iron, etc, fe.l in a
shower on the decks OF the City OF
Washington, 800 yards away, 80 injur,
| ing two boats that when lowered tney
were useless Out OF the dense smoke
came anguished cries for help. Stimuli
taneOusly with the cessation Of falling
fragments, searchl lights were thrown or
the wreck and its load Of agony. Span
ish boats from the shore joined those
OF the Washington alongside at once