The herald., 1898-02-17

terrell IN lSSs Sne was iyihe ~ ouSho. va
puen,a Arenas In the straits of Magellan.
An explosion occurred and left almost none
OF her crew alive. This was another case
OF a magazine explosion. though II may
have originated In the coal bunkers or
boilers.
REAR ADMIRAL BROWN
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Feb. 1s.-Rear
Admiral George Brown. who was the high
est office: In the navy until mis- retirement
last year, when informed OF the naval
casualty in Havana's harbor, said:
II can offer nothing but vague conjecture
as to the probable cause OF the destruction
of the Maine. although 1t would seem to me
at this time that when an investigation Is
made 1t will be found that an explosion oc-
Cured on the vessel."
The admiral was asked II It were possible
that torpedo lying in the harbor could
have been accidentally exploded under the
ship. He did not think this could have
been possible. II torpedo caused the ex-
plosion. 1t must have been sent from the
shore. for torpedoes are not lying around
loose in Havana harbor. where hundreds OF
ships pass In and out. There are no sub
merged mines in the harbor.
II don't recall any similar affair Of this
kind in the history Of the United States
navy" he added. 'either In time OF peace
or in time of war"
AN Ex-coNFEDERATE
CHICAGO Feb. 16.-Commander ]. f.
Montgomery, once Of the United States
navy, a commanding officer OF confed-
crate fleet during the civil war. and the man
who raised the frigate, afterwards the ram,
Merrimac. was very emphatic today In de-
claring the sinking of the Maine to be the
result of treachery. and an act without
parallel in the worlds history.
| lin his opinion, war must inevitably fol-
| low. flt&
,.When the divers 20 down and examine
the huh OF the vessel said Commander
Montgomery. ut win be found that It was
stove in by a ) torpedo exploded under
| the boat with a diabolical intent. To be
sure, an accident may occur on shipboard.
a magazine or battery may explode. But
consider all the circumstances. and you
will not entertain the theory OF an acci-
dent. Why should the first one occur In
so perfectly equipped vessel as the Maine,
and under so capable q commanding omcer
| as Sigsbee? Why should 1t occur In Ha-
vana harbor, where the vessel was at the
mercy of an enemy capable OF treachery
as we know the Spaniard is. and has been.
and will be as long as he figures in his
| tory? why should 1t happen so close on
the heels of the exposure of Minister sa-
gasta's miserable time-server. who. with
an affable demeanor, In washington, was
giving vent to expressions of hatred to-
ward our chief executive and people In
|
"The combination of facts is too strong
] to leave a doubt. miss my guess II re-
tribution will not be felt"
Commander Montgomery Is familiar
with Havana harbor. 1t would be
| comparatively easy he says. with small
boats or otherwise to set torpedo. HIS
theory as to how the Maine was wrecked
is that a torpedo was thus set under her
hull and exploded.
! MARE ISLAND MEN
VALLEJO, CAL. Feb. 16.-The news OF
the disaster to the cruiser Maine created
a decided sensation among the naval Of
ficers at Mare Island. Shortly after the
! arrival OF the San Francisco papers an
Associated Press reporter interviewed the
most prominent of men, among whom were
Rear-Admiral kirkland. Captain Henry
Glass and other officials Of the navy yard.
Admiral Kirkland said:
II am just reading about 1t now. Inere
has been no official correspondence what
ever They cannot tell anything until the
divers get to work. If the plates In the
main hull are bent out, the explosion oc-
CURED on board. II they are bent IN, tnen
IL came from the outside cannot teil
| ANYTHING about 1t until learn further de-
Captain Henry Glass, U. s. NJ. Of the
Mare Island Navy yard said:
II know nothing except what nave read
in the papers. 1t may have been caused
Inv spontaneous combustion In the coal
bnrkers. which were located next to the
magazine A leak from the hre room
n, soht have caused It. These warships use
hituminous coal, and 1t is very dangerous.
! Inst such al, accident was narrowly avert
ed on board the cruiser Cincinnati TWO
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