The San Francisco call., 1898-02-25

Die 10 ODtaln, put III tIllS case, II Is lOt difficult to draw conclusions. 1 will say this, however, unhesitatingly and un- rescrvedly. II this same court should lind that the disaster was due to an ac- cident will, knowing the character of the men composing the court, accept that verdict without question. and will believe that my informants have been nisled themselves, and have, in turn, 1lisled me. That I do not believe this to be the case is evidenced by the fact that l am sending you the story.
 "You American correspondents" Ievel-headed naval officer and one of high rank said to me yesterday, have tremendous responsibility on your shoulders just now"
 l assured him that one, at least, was fully conscious of the fact
 'To make myself clearer" the officer continued, "the American correspond ants in Havana can exert tremendous influence on popular feeling at home, a dangerous power to hold when the ten sion is so great, and especially at this moment when official mouths are closed But here IS the main point 1 wish to make It Is that all of you should sub ordinate your loyalty to your papers during this crisis to your spirit of pa .riotis1n Don't you see that the longer the general public is kept in doubt, the longer we will have to prepare ta meet the trouble that must come when the truth IS known"
 Were I permitted to tell you the name Df this officer, you would appreciate the startling significance of his words at Dnce.
 ~ 1 had conversation with another off ter whose opinion would also carry weight were 1 permitted to use his name It was about the Maine and her disaster.
 "Supposing," I asked him. "tlnat it is found that the vessel was destroyed by an outside explosion, will that. think you, be itself casus belli?"
 @ |: the Maine was destroyed by an ex plosion coming from the outside" this officer said to me, you can depend upon 1t that a mine did the work No torpedo could have made such a wreck. Now, if mine was under the Maine, it was placed there before her arrival in port 1t is not to be expected 1t was not placed there by persons in authority, and upon these devolved the responsi- bility of seeing that 1t could not be ex- ploded by an accident, and that no one except duly authorized persons were in formed of its location and connections Ii 1t Is once proved that there was mine, can see no difficulty in placing the responsibility.
 II there was mine beneath the Maine there is no likelihood that any traces of 1t will ever be discovered, as the wreck in going down must have crushed under foot any fragments of mine that might have been left The mud is very soft in the harbor and the wreck is settling in 1t at the rate of foo. day. The hull IS now imbedded in the mud to the depth of eight feet The divers sink to their armpits in the mud ard have the greatest difficulty ill prose cutting their work Those engaged on the forward part of the ship are under charge of Gunner Charles Morgan. an officer specially detailed from the flag ship New York for the purpose, and whc has the reputation of being the most efficient of his rank
 h Havana there is belief, which has been nurtured to the point ot ooavic- ton, that the Maine came to he, un- doing by reason of some internal ex- plosion. Many, therefore, have been led or misled into the belief that so far as Spain is concerned the matter is at an end. II all signs fail and the Court of Inquiry reports that the Maine was de- stroyed by an inside explosion. there is, from the standpoint in Havana. possibility that this crisis in the affairs of nations may be tided over. But ii the court finds otherwise, the pendulum of belief having been allowed to swing so far ill one direction, must swing as far in the other Investigations in this direction which have made lead me to believe that such decision of the court after the first surprise of it will be re- garded by the masses here as a Yankee trick" looking to indemnity. and what may result from this no man can say.
 Accompanied by an American resi- dent here for number of years. I vis- tied several cafes yesterday frequented by the Spanish naval and military off cers and attempted to talk with these gentlemen. They are all very mysterious ard :ctice1t regarding the disaster. and