Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-31

The Maine continued 10 the harbor of
Havana during the three weeks follow
ing her arrival No appreciable excite.
ment attended her stay on the con
trary, a feeling OF relief and confidence
followed the resumption OF the long in
terrupted friendly intercourse. So
noticeable was this immediate effect of
her visit that the Consul General
strongly urged that the presence Of our
lips in Cuban waters should he kept
up by retaining the Maine at Havana,
or 10 the event of her recall, by send
ing another vessel there TO take her
place.
THE MAINE DESTROYED.
At 40 minutes past in the evening
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 catastrophe
two officers and 26i of her crew per
ished, thuss who were not killsd out
right by her explosion being penned
between decks by the tangle of wreckage
and drowned by the immediate sinking
Of the hull.
PROMPT assistance was rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored in
the harbor, aid being especially given
by the boats of the Spanish cruiser Al.
phonso XII. and tine Ward line steamer
City Of Washington, which lay not far
diHtant. The wounded were generously
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
municipality in the public cemetery in
the city. Tributes OF grief and sym
pathy were offered from all official quar-
ters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people OF our country with crushing
force, and for brief time an inteuHe
excitement prevailed, which IN COM
munity lasa Just and self controlled
than ours might have led to haBty acts
of blind resentment. This apirit, how-
ever, soon gave way to the calmer pro
cesses OF reason, and to the resolve 10
investigate the facts and await material
proof before forming q Judgment as to
the cause, the responsibility and, il the
facts warranted, tho remedy. This
course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset TO the executive, for
only in the light Of a dispassionately
ascertained certainty could it determine
the nature and measure of its full duty
in the matter.
THE INVESTIGATION.
The usual procedure WIS followed, as
in all caass Of casualty or disaster to
national vessels of any maritime state.
A naval court OF inquiry was at once
organized, composed of officers we'll
qualified by rank and practical expert
ence to discharge the duty imposed
RI I,,, or rs
wrecgeFs and divers. the court pro-
ceedsd to make thorough investiga-
tion on the spot, employing every
availabls means for the impartial and
exact determination of the causes of
tho explosion. Its operations have been
conducted with the utmost deliheration
and Judgment, and while independently
pursued, no source Of information was
neglected and the fullest Opportunity
was allowed for simultaneous investi-
CATION by the Spanish authorities.
The finding OF the court of inquiry
was reached aitor % days of continuous
labor, on the 2lst of March instant, and
having been approved on the 22d by
the commander of the chief of the
United States naval force on the North
Atlantic Station, was transmitted to
the Executive.
II 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 to Buoy No. D., TO which
she was Inoored in from five and one
half to six fathoms Of water.
no CAUSE ron INTERNAL EXPLOSION.
The state of discipline on board, and
thu condition Of her magazines. hoilera,
coal bunkers and siorags compartments
are passed in review, with the con
clusion that excellent order prevailed
and that no indication of any cause for
an internal explosion existed in any
quarter.
At 8 O'Clock in the evening of Fsbru-
sry 18th everything had hesn reported
| secure and all was quiet. At 40