The western recorder., 1898-03-31

To the Congress of the United States:
For some time prior TO the visit OF the
Maine to Havana harbor our consular
representatives pointed out the advan-
tages to follow visits OF national ships
to the Cuban waters, In nccustoming
the people to the presence of our nag
MS the symbol OF good will and OF our
ships in the fulfllment Of the mission
Of protection to American interests,
even though no immediate need there
for might exist.
Accordingly. on the 25th Of Janu-
nry last, after conference with the
Spanish minister In which the renewal
Of visits of our war vessels to Spanish
waters was discussed and accepted
the peninsular authorities at Madrid
and Havana were advised of the pur-
pose OF this government to resume
friendly naval visits mt Cuban ports,
and that In that view the Maine would
forthwith call at the port of Havana
This announcement was received by
the Spanish government with appreci-
alton OF the friendly character OF the
visit OF the Maine and with notifica-
ton OF intention TO return the cour-
tesy by sending Spanish ships to the
principal ports of the United States.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port
OF Havana on the 25th of January,
her arrival being marked with no
special incident besides the exchange
OF customary salutes and ceremonial
visits.
The Maine continued In the harbor
OF Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival. No appreciable
excitement attended her stay: on the
contrary. n feeling of relief and conf
dcnce followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
SO noticeable was the immediate eff
feet OF her visit that the consul gen
eral strongly urged that the presence
of our ships in Cuban waters should
be kept up by retaining the Maine at
Havana. or In the event OF her recall,
by sending another vessel there to take
her place.
At forty minutes past o in the even
Ing OF the 18th of February, the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion, by
which the entire forward part of the
ship was utterly wrecked. In this ca
tastrophe two officers and 26O Of her
crew perished, those who We're not
killed outright by her explosion being
penned between decks by the tangle
of wreckage and drowned by the i'm
mediate sinking of the hull. Prompt
assistance was rendered by the neigh
boring vessels anchored in the harbor
MD being especially given by the boats
OF the Spanish cruiser Alphonso Mi.
and the Ward line steamer City of
Washington, which lay not far distant.
t"o ''v.''-'. ----------. ssaunrot>sly cared
for by the authorities OF Havana. the
hospitals being freely opened to them,
while the earliest recovered bodies of
the dead were inferred by the NUM-
cipality In the public cemetery in the
city. Tributes of grief and sympathy
were offered from all official quarters
OF the island
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed. which in COM
munity less Just and self-controlled
than ours must have led to hasty acts
Of blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever. soon gave way to the calmer pro-
cesses of reason and to the resolve to
investigate the facts and await the
material proof before forming u judg-
ment as TO the cause, the responsibility
and. if the facts warranted, the RENE
dy due. This course necessarily rec
commended itself from the outset to the
executive, for only in the light of
dlspassionately ascertained certainty
could II determine the nature and
measure of Its full duty In the matter.
The usual procedure was followed,
as In all cases OF casualty or disaster
TO national vessels OF any maritime
state. A naval court of inquiry was
at once organized. composed of officers
well qualified by rank and practical
experience to discharge the onerous
duty imposed upon them. Aided by
n strong force of wreckers and divers,
the court proceeded to make thor
ough investigation oil the spot, EN-
ploying every available means for the
Impartial and exact determination of
the causes Of the explosion. Its opera
tIons have been conducted with the
utmost deliberation and judgment, and
while Independently pursued, no
source Of information was neglected
and the fullest opportunity was al
lowed for simultaneous Investigation
by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after twenty-three days
OF continuous labor. on the 21st of
March. instant, and having been ap-
proved on the 22d by the commander
in-chlef OF the United States naval
force on the North Atlantic station,
was transmitted to the executive.
1t is herewith laid before the Con
gress, together with the voluminous
testimony taken before the court. Its
purport is. in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
ernment pilot boat to buoy No. 4, to
which she was moored in from five
and one-half to six fathoms of water.
The state of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boil
ers. coal bunkers and storage compart-
ments are passed In review, with the
conclusion that excellent order pre-
vailed and that no indication of any
cause for an internal explosion existed
in any quarter.
At s o'clock in the evening on Feb
ruary 18th, everything had been re-
ported secure and all was quiet.
Al forty minutes mast o o'clock the