Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-20

Inns OWN ACCOUNT or rHE BLowIxo
UP or THE NAME.

ms own ACCOUNT or rHE BLOWING
UP or THE MAINE.
Captain Charles G. Sigsbce u con-
trlbuting to the Century Magazine biz
personal narrative OF the Maine. 10 the
beCembor Century his second paper de-
scribse the blowing up Of the Maine and
the scenes that followed Il. Captain
Sigsboe says:
IAbout an hour before tho explosion
had completed = report called for BY Nj.
Theodore Roosevelt, assistant secretafy
OF the navy, on the sdvisability OF CON.
tinuing 70 place torpedo-tubes on board
cruisers and battleships. then wrote Z
letter homo In which I struggled 70
apologize for having carried In my peck
ct for ten months . letter to my wife
from one Of her friends OF long standing.
The cabin attendant, James Pinck-
ney, had brought me, about An hour be.
fore, u civilians thin coat, because OF
the prevailing heat; had taken of my
blouse, and was wearing this coat for
the only time during the cruise. Ia the
pocket / had found the unopened and
undellvered letter. Pinckney, light
hearted colored man, who spent much OF
his spare time In singing, playing the
banjo, and dancing jigs, Was for some
reason In an especially happy frame OF
mind that night. Poor fellow! he was
killed, as was also good old John X.
Bell, the colored cabin steward, who had
- L. h. ,exy-a caa
At taps (''turn 10 and keep quietly J,
ten minutes after nine O'Clock, 1 laid
down my pen to listen to the notes Of
the bugle, which were slngulsrly beautl-
full In the oppressive stiffness OF the
night. The marine bugler, Newton,
who was rather given to fanciful effects,
was evidently doing his best. During
his pauses the echoes fiosted back to the
ship with singular distinctness, repeat
Ing the strains Of the busle fully and
exactly. A half hour later Newton was
dead.
was enclosing my letter Ia Its en-
velope when the explosion csme. The
Impression made on different people on
board the Maine varied somewhst. Te
me, 10 my position, we'll aft, aud within
the superstructure, IL was u bursting,
rendipg and crashing sound or roar OF
immense volume, largely metallic Ia
character. Il Was followed by . sue
cession Of heavy, ominous, metallic
sounds, probably caused by the over
turning of the central superstructure
and by falling debris. There was =
trembling and lurchiog motion OF the
vessel, = list to port, and movement OF
subsistence.
The electric liShts, Of which there
we're eight Ia the cabin where | was sit
ting, vent out. Then there was intense
blackuess and smoke.
The situation could not be mistaken,
the Maine Was blown up and ainking
For moment the instinct Of self-preser-
walton took charge Of me, but this was
Immediately dominated by the habit OF
command. | went up the inclined deck
into the stxrbosri cabin, toward the
etxrboard air-ports. which were relieved
some~ hat against the background OF the
sky.
The sashes were out, and the openings
were large. Ny first intention was an
escape through IN airport, but this was
aba ndoned In favor Of the more dignifi-d
way Of m king m exit through the pss-
saxewsy leading forward through the
superstructure. | CROPPED my way
through the cabin into the passage, and
along the passage 10 the outer door
The passage turned to the right or star
board, near the forward part Of the
superstructure.
When the turn Was reached, some one
ran into me violently. Ii WAS Private
william Anthony, the orderly at the
cabin door. He said something apollo
getic aud reported that the ship had
been blown up and was sinking. lie
WAS directed TO go out on the Quarter'
deck aud followed him. Anthony has
been pictured ~ making an exceedingly
formal salute on that occasion. The
dramatic effect Of salute cannot add u
his heroism. IL he had made salute II
could not h.ve been seen Ia the black.
ness Of that compartment. Anthony
did his whole duty, 1t great personal
risk, at time when he might have evad'
ed the danger without question, aud de-
serves the commentator thst he receiv'
ed for his act. He hung near me with
UNI igging zeal aud wstchfulness that
night until the ship WAS abandoned.
stood for moment on the starboard
side Of the msin-deck, forward OF the
superstructure, looking toward the In
menke dark mass that loomed up amid.
ships, but could see nothing distinctly
There remained for q few seconds Ii
Nh effort to grasp the situation, and then
asked Anthony for the exact time. He
replied: 'rrhe explosion took place II
uine-forty, cir" IL WAS soon necessary
to retire from the main. deck, for that
part OF the ship Was sinking rapidly.
then went up on the poop deck. BY
this time Lieutensnt-C Commander Vain.
wright and others were near me. Every
body was impressed by the solemnity Of
the disaster, but there was no excite
ment apparent, perfect discipline pre-
vailed.
The question has been asked many
times II believed then that the Maine
was blown up from the outside. My
answer 10 this has been that my frs!
order on reaching the deck wss 10 post
sentries about the ship. | knew that
the Maine hsd been blown up from the
outside. Therefore, ordered measure
which was intended to guard against at.
tack. There vas no need for the order
bat | sm writing OF first Impressions
There was the sound OF many voice.
from the shore. suggestive Of cheers.