The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-03-16
SPANISH OFFICERS DID IT.
SUCH WILL BE TIE DECISION OF The
COURT.
appointed to Investigate the Causes that
Lsd to the Blowing Up OF tao E.rtlsship
Maine IN tho Ha:bor 0: aavapa Last
e
E<orua-y.

The board Of inquiry appointed to
investigate the cause that brought
about the destruction of the United
Sta.es battleshio Msioe in the harbor
OF Havana has about concluded it's
work and is now getting ready to
MAKE its report to the proper authori-
ties. Adyic:s from Washington say
that there need be no doubt about the
character OF this report.
It will state uneq quivocally that the
opinion of the Court that the Maine
was blown I'D from the outside, and
that from the character of the damage
done the explosive force used could
have teen furnished only by Spanish
officers, or parsons given exceptional
opportunities by some Spanish official
in important place. The report will
be carried to Washington personally
by Judge Advocate Mark, who will
submit it TO Secretary Lo1g. Then it
will be made public. The disaster to
the Maine has now reached the stage
Of being regarded as merely a tragic
incident, which may Or may not have
direct bearing on prospsctiye cause
for war, which is regarded as inevita-
bic if Spain's present attitude contin-
uas. Several salient points have been
established By the court:
First-A piece OF cement found only
within the 'outer skin" Of the Maine
was blown high in tie air and landed
not only on the after deck Of the
Maine. but on the deck of the City Of
Washington, many feet away.
Second-The outer sheathing of the
Maine was found within two feet Of
the surface of Havana harbor-some-
thing that could not possibly have oc.
CURED had the explosion been inter-
nal in character.
Third-The fact that a certain sea-
man who was in the bowels OF the
ship at the time of the explosion was
blown into the air and subsequently,
picked up in the water.
This mans story, when it is made
public, will live in history as probably
one of,the most hairbreadth escapes on
record. According to the testimony
be gave, corroborated by others, he
was not more than three feet above
the keel when the Maine went W.
OF necessity ne was below the mega-
zines. He IS living document that
the explosion came from the outside.
Had the explosion occurred in any.
OF the magazines he would have been
blown downward. This mans testi-
mony will occupy several pages Of the
report, and will furnish the most
convincing evidence that the disaster
was due to an external cause to those
who refuse 10 accepta scientific deduc.
tons from physical conditions. For
tie benef. OF those persons
who want peace and nothing but
peace, and who may be inclined to
criticise even the finding OF such a
reliable Court of Inquiry as Captain
SIMPSONS, it may De explained that
the character of the explosion has
been determined to a mathematical
certainty.
Not only will the report state that a
hole was found just above the keel on
the port side; that a palt of the port
side and a greater portion Of the for
ward deck were blown off; that her
ten inch guns are lying twenty feet
away in the mud on the star board
side; that all her plates from the keel
to the waters edge at the deck are
pushed up; that the powder maya.
zines and shell rooms are intact; that
her bottom is all gone, and that the
boilers did not explode, but it will also
contain the folio wing statemsnts:
F'irst-The disaster in Havana har-
boz was due to the explosion CT sub
marine mine.
Second that this mine vas planted
oy officials OF the Spanish Government
ard exploded by Spanish officials in
Havana.
Tnird-That the Maine was pur-
posely moored in the vicinity OF this
mine, and the explosion was evident
~ timed when the Maine should,
through the influence OF wind and
tide, lay directly over it.
Fourth-That traces OF g sub marine
nina were discovered.
F,ifth-That Lieutenant T. W. Jen-
kins, VINO was killed in the disaster,
had discovered q shore connection with
mine located in the harbor.
II may now authoritatively be stated
that the recent hasty preparations for
war, including the appropriation OF
the S50, eco, coo national defence fund,
were not inspired by SPANS desire to
have Consul General Lee recalled nor
by Spain's desire to have merchant
vessels transport the relief supplies,
but because President Mckinley had
been informed officially by Captains
Sigsbee and Sampson and Lieutenant
Commander Mark Of al the damning
evidence.
Every diver before ne went below
was carefully instructed as to the con-
s.cUclion Of the Maine. Diagrams
and blua prints were utilized in i'm
parting ibis information. The Maine
was bull. with a certain number Of
irames ex:endingin an ellip!ical shape
fcou. the keel. The ellipses varied IN
SIZE from ice Prov and stern to the
point where the ship has its gratest
beam. Gne sheathing was in plates Of
known dimensions. The diver, by
measuring the size Of the plate with
whica his hand came in contact, could
tel! 70 an a ABSOLUTE certainty where this
pla:e asd originally belonged. Thus,
desCise G1e mud covering the bottom
i Havana aarbor, and the darkness Of
ths wa;eG which prevented any ocular
ia.p con, the SaiZ9 OF the hole blown
IL the So OF the Maine and its loca.
l;oa ha9c oeen accurately determined.
= Murderer Confesses