The herald., 1898-04-09
GIBBONS IS CONVINCED
ONE OF HIS MINES DESTROYED
ZHE MAINE
THE ACT DONE MALICI0USLY
Consul General Lee Expects to Fur
nish the Missing Link in the
Chain Of Evidence
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, April S.-Joseph Paul Glib
bons, the electrician who supplied sub
marine mines to the Spanish government,
cables from London to the World:
The only submarine mines which have
been supplied to the Spanish government
since 1867 were manufactured under my
own patents. l then supplied them with
Sc ground mines, 25 buoyant mines, each
with a charge of 500 pounds of gun-cotton,
and 10 electro-contact mines, exploded
either by contact or by service from shore,
each containing charge of 100 pounds Of
gun-cotton.
The mines sent to Havana would still
retain full effectiveness. They will last
under water for an indefinite period.
In 1867 the Spanish government or
dered fresh supply of my patent mines.
Whether they went to Havana or not is
immaterial. One of the mines supplied in
1886 is still fully capable Of causing the
destruction of the Maine.
In fact, am convinced, from all sur
rounding circumstances, that no other
agency could have caused it.
In direct contradiction of the assertions
Of the Secretary of the Spanish Legation
at Washington and of Genera! Weyler
that there are no submarine mines in Ha-
vana harbor, 1 absolutely affirm that
shipped the above mines for Havana and
Ferrol in a Spanish ship, the property of
the Spanish government and officered by
Spanish naval officers, with two captains,
at the West India dock, London.
My mines are in electrical connection
klo e1o o,,1 ss,< IL
that they could be exploded except by de-
sign. I am convinced also that the ex-
plosion of the mine which destroyed the
Maine was the work Of one or two men,
for these reasons: First, vessel swing
ing, either anchored or moored, upon
striking the circuit closer case would
merely drop shutter on the keyboard on
shore, warning the officer in charge that
she was in contact with the mine.
Second, before the officer is in position
to fire the mine he must obtain one of two
keys. One is generally kept by the COM
mandant and the other by the officer in
charge of the firing station. He then must
unlock the glass door over which the shut
ter has fallen and insert a red danger
plug in the insulated switch.
Third, he must insert plug in the
switch of the firing battery earthplate.
Fourth, the firing key hammer must be
pressed on the contact anvil to complete
the circuit that exploded the detonator,
by which the mine in turn is exploded.
have not the slightest hesitation in
saying that the Maine was deliberately
destroyed with 5OO-pound ground mine
as invented and supplied by me.
There is a consensus of opinion that the
first explosion was not internal. This was
established on the following grounds:
The forward magazine contained 200
pounds Of gunpowder, which might blow
up the decks. but it is problematical
whether it would be capable of igniting
the $500 pounds of powder in the middle
magazine Even If it did the explosion
of both would be quite incapable of de-
tonating the 5000 pounds Of wet gun-cot-
ton in the after magazine. Had that guam
tity Of gun-cotton been detonated not a
vestige of the Maine would remain.
The only practical way of discovering
the mine that sunk the Maine is by under
running the cable from shore to the juno
tion box and from thence understanding
each Individual cable to the mine, until
one was found without mine attached.
am satisfied that the explosion was
caused by ground mine-not by a buoy
ant mine--for Havana harbor Is too shal.
| low to admit of the use of the latter.
| I am prepared to satisfy my demonstra-
| ton before any jury of reasonable men