El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-02-16

WASHINGTON, February 16.-The
government is intensely interested
this morning over the news from He-
vana that the battleship Maine blew
up at $40 last night, destroying the
vessel and killing over 100 sailors. All
manner Of rumors are current and the
declaration is openly made that the
disaster was not an accident. A dis
patch boat was ordered to eteam from
Kew West to Havana att O'Clock this
morning. The arnOred cruisers Fern
and Maugrove sailed a. 3 o'clock. Cap
tain Sigsbee cabied Secretary Long
this morning asking especially that no
wsrship be sent.
The secretary of the. navy received
last night the following telegram from
Captain Sigsbee.
'iThe Maine WIS blown up in Havana
h.rbor at $40 o'clock and destroyed J.
MANY are killed aud drowned. The
wounded and others are on board
q Spanish man-of-war and Ward
inc steamer. Send ligh' house tender
from Kew West for crew an, few
pieces of equ pment still above va'er.
N, one as other clothes than those
upon him.
"Public opinion should be suspended
till further report. All officers are be-
lieved to be save d. jenkins and Mer-
ritt are not vet accounted for. Many
Spanish officers, including representa-
tives of General BlancO are now with
me and express sympathy"
At IL 80 O'Clock the pr sident sum
m,ned by telephone special cabinet
meeting to consider the destruction of
the Name. AS the first cabinet officer
arrived, the following telegram was
handed TO the president, dated Havana,
1O:45 m. 1t read:
"Only few officers are unaccounted
for. The explosion, from all indica-
tions. was in the magazine. The SEN
try reports there were no vessels In
the vicinity when the explosion occur
red.''
After the cabinet meeting today Sc
cretsry Long sent the f. flowing cable
dispatch to Captain Sigsbee, At Hs-
vaua:
"The president directs me to ex-
press for himself and the people of the
United Stat "a their pro'o nd sympa' by
with TIE officers and crew Of the
Maine, az ID desires that no expense be
spared in providing for the survivors
and in the care of the wounded.'
Judge Day received the following
dispatch from General Lee At Havana:
sAll quiet. Great sorrow is express
ed by the authorities. Captain Si0s-
bee has telegraphed the details to the
navy department He is not yet pre-
pared to report on the cause of the ex-
plo.i
Consul General Lees dispatch in
forming the state departing Mt OF the los
from Captain Sigstee's report. Gen
eral L. says the explosion occurred
we'll forward under the m"n squarters,
which accounted for the large loss of
life. There are probably 200 sailors
missing. All officers are accounted
for except Jenkins and Merritt.
Secretary Long, of the navy. receiv-
ed this dispatch from Captain Sigsbee
at noon:
"Adviss sending wreckers at oncs.
The Maine is submerged all except the
debris. There is mostly work for
divers now. Jenkins and Merritt are
still missing. There is hope for their
safety.
sThose known to be saved are 25 Of
6ce~s, uninjur. q; and 18 of the crew
The wounded now aboard stea
in the city hospital Mascstte and hotel
mum Der 79 All others went down or
board the Maine.
Total lot and missing are 253
With two exceptions no officer nor mar
| has more than part of a suit of cloth.
| ing.
| "All officers saved are unirjured
| Damage is in the compartment of the
crew.
"Am preparing to telegraph list o.
the wounded ard saved.
sThe Olivette leaves for Key West q,
D. m. ser by her to Key West the
officers saved expect myself, Waln-
wright, Holman, Heneberker, Rey aud
Holden.
| hospital in Havana"
Naval Off ,:ers this afternoon bluntly
ssert that it was impossible for the
Mai e's magazine t. explode with ou,
an ou ,side Cause. They ara projected
| in every way. Thermometers are at
tached with automatic alarms to give
warming of any rise in the temp .rature
The suspicion of treachery therefore
gains firmer hold. The cabinet Off
GERS are silent, but are preparing fol
any emerg 'ncy. There is a growing
uneasiness in official circles.
| The Maine is the first irOn-clad in tht
An accident of less disaster has occur
red in European warships, but nj
magazines have been annihi'ated.
til stated that bill will be intro
duced in congress today for new bat
tlesbip to replace the Maine.
The disposition in congress at
o'clock was to await d~fnite inform
alton from the navy department as t.
cause of the Maine disaster. NOthin
was done in either house.
The impressio is spreading anon
higher officials of the administratio
that the Spanish had hand in the ea
Ulosion.
The coast survey steamer Bache ha
also been ordered from Key West t
Havana. The navy department hs
evidently decided not t. rick any NOR
warships in that barbor at presen