The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-19


had given them permission to go down.
The men said they had business with
persons aboard the Vizcaya but neither
they nor anyone at the Office of Consul
WaldezanO would say what their mis-
sion was.
New York, Feb. 19.@The police have
provided the Spanish consul general in
this city with a special guard. A har-
Dor policeman today sat in the outer
room of the consulate, in the hall a po-
Hceman in full uniform and on the
street extra precautions were taken.
In response to a, request of Rear Ad-
miral Bunce, commandant of the navy
yard, Chief of Police McCuIlagh today
notified that officer that a detail of one
rOundsman and four patrolmen had
been assigned to each tug boat which
Admiral Bunce would employ to guard
the Vizcaya while in these waters.
Key West, Fla, Feb 19.-Frank
q. Thompson, a petty officer of the
Maine, now under treatment at the Ma
rlne hospital, says that shortly before
the explosion he was on the port gang
way with 25 or 80 others, who like him
ser, mad gone there to get a whin Of
fresh air, as it was too warm below
They all turned in at 8 o'clock Short
ly afterward he heard the sentinePs call
Of AH'S Well'' from the Spanish war
ship Alfonso XII, which was answered
by an echo by the fortifications on eth
er side of the harbor. Just as he fell
asleep he felt shock like an earth
quake.
Opening his eyes he saw what appear
ed like hurricane of flame by which
he was hurled into the air, falling into
the water, whence he was rescued and
taken aboard the Spanish war vessel.
He is firm in the belief that there We're
two distinct explosions and that the
first, which lifted the boat of the Maine,
did not occur in the magazine.
He says the magazine had been visit
ed but a short while previous and that
its temperature was cool He had never
felt the slightest danger menaced the
magazine, as he had previously seen it
so warm during target practice that he
could scarcely place his hand on it.
What appears to have made the deep
est impression on all, is the fact the
explosion should have occurred after
the o'clock tattoo" when every man
was in his hammock asleep and the
lamps put out.
An official examination of the Maine
has been ordered. Six divers with out
fits have been sent to Havana by the
Olivette.
Washington. Feb. 19-The request of
the Spanish government for permission
to examine the wreck of the Maine
reached the state department through
the following message from General
Consul Lee:
Havana, Feb. IS, 1898.
Assistant Secretary Day, Washington:
Sigsbee begins tomorrow with divers
cover all bodies still left in wreck of
Maine as well as personal effects of Of
ficerS and men and whatever else can
be obtained that way. After that is
would like to unite with US in having
the bottom of the ship and harbor in
vicinity jointly examined. LEE.
The following is the answer sent:
Washington, Feb. 19, 1888.
Lee, Consul General, Havana:
The government of the United States
has already begun an investigation as
to the cause of the disaster to the Maine
through officers of the navy specially
appointed for that purpose which will
proceed Indefinitely.
This government will afford every IA
cility it can to the Spanish authorities
in whatever investigation they may see
fit to make upon their part.
DAY, Assistant Secretary.
The apparent difficulty attending the
sending down of the divers to the Maine
was relieved if not entirely removed
by a statement today by Senor De
Bose, charge d affaireS of the Spanish
legation that a complete and harmOni-
Gus understanding between Captain
Sigsbee and the authorities at Havana
had been reached on the matter of div
ers and that the Spanish authorities
viewed the Maine as extra territorial,
that is, a part of the sovereign territory
of the United States, the same as a
United States legation situation in for
eign territory. With the Maine holding
as to the work on the wreck were re-
moved.
The waters of Havana harbor are of
course Spanish territory and some con-
fusion has been aroused by the idea
that this jurisdiction over the waters
attached also to the wreck in its pres
ent hapless condition at the bottom of
the bay. 1t appears, however, that
there is no disposition to extend this
Jurisdiction to the ship and that the
Spanish authorities freely assent to the
Names being extra territorial and be-
ing under the immediate direction of
Captain Sigsbee as the representative
of the United States.
According to the view taken by the
Spanish authorities there can be no
trouble attending the work of the div
ers. Captain Sigsbee will be recognized
as the one to direct opera ations and to
send down the government divers for
such inspection as he sees proper to
make. Mr.Du Bose feels assured how
| ever that Captain Sigsbee will extend
equal facilities to the Spanish divers, so
that the inspections may proceed to-
| gether. AS to what divers Captain
Sigsbee will employ the feeling among
| the Spanish officials here is that this
| will be wholly a matter of discretion
with Captain Sigsbee as the one in
| charge of a piece of property having
| the attributes of American soil. But at
| the same time the feeling is expressed
| that this discretion will lead to the
| choice of authorized divers Of the navy
| department, rather than those repre-
| Senting newspapers.