The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-17
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
An Undetermined Mass Was Seen
10 Shoot High Into the Air.
A BOARD OF INQUIRY ORDERED,
Secretary Long and Naval Experts Believe
the Explosion Was Accidental

nm, the Cause or the Disaster Has Not Yes
peep Ascertained-A Theory That snanta-
,.ou, Combustion from q Coal Bunker
couuupicnte ted to q Magazine. BASED Upon .
Tsr,l,,ns RxperIenco or the Cincinnati-N1any
surrestisns or Treachery in Spanish Waters
Init No Bacts Vet Learned to Sustain
rn.u-spain Sends her Condolences and
Ir-truc,s Havana Omcials to Give All
Possible Aid-The Administrntion Desires
the People to Suspend Judgment Until
the Facts Arc Recommendations Said
nnovt the Catastrophe on the Floor or Gen.
sre,,-Th, List or tho Men who Wore saved.
HAVANA, Feb. 16., 4 p. M.-witnesses Of the
s,p,o,ion that destroyed the Maine sayl that
at the moment OF conclusion q vast mass was
seen to rise to \ great height. In the sudden
and blinding light no one seems to have been
able to discern the nature Of this mass or
whether It rose from beside the battleship or in
side II.
Up to this time there are reported 251 killed
and ninety min wounded. Immediately after
the report mall boats hurryinE TO the spot from
all sides picked up twenty eight wounded men
struggling in the water. OF these, six were on
the point OF succumbing when pulled in. They
were taken on board the City Of Washington
and cared for, Gustave G. Dressler Of the
crew was completely and permanently blinded.
Andrew V. Erickson. - Andersen. n -
Thompson are wounded badly. Not one of
the Wounded In the military hospital has died
M to this hour, but the condition Of several is
precarious. The Mascotte will take to-day to
Key West some Of tho injured who arc in condi.
ton TO be moved. American vessels are ex-
pectod at any moment to arrive for the purpose
Of rendering any assistance possible.
From the nature Of the disaster and the testi-
mony OF the survivors 1t appears that the line Of
greatest force Of the explosion was q little for.
ward Of amidships. 1t is there that the worst
damage was done. The chief officers were either
well aft or ashore. Thus they escaped unhurt.
The seamen and marines by their position
were forced to bear the brunt of the dis
astsr, and tho frightful mortality was
almost wholly confined to them. One of the
junior officers should have been on duty On the
forward deck, and it may have been thus that
Lieut. jenkins, who is missing, lost his life. 1t
Is also probable that Engineer Merritt. another
missing man. was below on duty INT went down
with the shin. Lieutenant.C Commander Richard
Wainwright, who was at first reported lost, is
.safc.
fiVeo OF the crew Immediately after the explo-
sion ran to the main ammunition storage room
with the idea that they might save that from
explosion. None of them has since been heard
o" Ills almost certain that they went to the
cotton, ready at their posts for duty.
HAVANA. Feb. 1911 p. M.-Survivors include
'ap'' slg'bee. Lieut. Commander Wainwright,
heut' Holman. Lieut.. Hood. Lieut.. Blandin.
'h'el Engineer Howell. Surgeon Henerberger,
fa'maateF Ryan. Lieut.. Catliu. Passed Assis-
'4n' Engineer Bowers. Chaplain Chadwick, Ca
ues Holden. Bronson. and Boyde. Assistant
H"s'neer crenshaw. Engineer Washington.
NupheF Hill. Boatswaln Larbin, Carpenter
Aelnes, Pay Clerk Nicholas Careth.
e"p'' aigsoee is now on board the Ward linor
ivy VI Washington, and refuses to speak
w anybody. When the roar of the ex.
$50" announced to the people of Havana
'e maine WAS blown up the city
."e" were at once ordered to the ship,
-" was found that II was impossible for
wv :" render any assistance there. Twenty
L wounded were transferred TO tho
.N"'"p .lly OF Washington, where they
: ptppeFiy attended to. Many of tho Havana
m yS''ahs volunteered their services.
n''!'u'e other wounded sailors received
s'oal attendance at the Military Hospital.
a. 'pahisN theory Of the cause OF the acci-
-" ,hat Il boiler exploded. The Maine sank
"a lIttle over an hour.
"Ah! towbOats and other y.ssels were busy
,noa hnt trying to render all possible assist
Nv ~ ahe wounded were taken to the hospital
IS "'enieh. A large number of boats are
men. "ou'o' VI tho missing
a,~NA' FEB. l6-3 A. M.-Exactly what
b." 'he disastrous explosion on the United
-" oaeleship Maine has not yet been de-.
hon"eu' Neither is IL known TO a certainty
Il nan! OF the crew were killed or wounded.
crew "oTe'eF' believed that over $50 of the
10 ha ."o OF The officers OF the ship are believed
slVsh"s ons The victims of the explosion. Capt.
par,rs III Ills official despatch to the Navy Do.
M, anaI In Washington. places Engineer Mer.
.Iplosioa "eu'' jenkins among the missing. The
part N ~, y was said. occurred In tho forward
zine, AZ us WI. ana not in the principal maya
H. 10 was at first supposed.
which followed directly after the explosion,
c.n, was fearful in its violence.
by N" siEsoee himself was wounded slightly
hsSS explosion. lie received a wound in ms
bin. IT, II was not serious enough to disable
the remained perfectly cool throughout All
end Ssva meht which followed the explosion,
log directions for looking after the sink.
III. srss aud caring for the wounded.
- IA