The Monte Vista journal., 1898-04-02
THE MAINE BOARD OF INQUIRY.

divers and are in fair condition.
On the night OF the destruction of
the Maine nll Ind been reported secure
for the night. nt p. M. by reliable
persons. through the proper nuthori-
ties. to the commanding officer. At the
time the Maine was destroyed the ship
was quiet. and therefore the least lin
blc to accident caused by movements
from those on board.
Explosions:
Fifth-DestructIon Of the Maine oc-
CURED at O:4O p. m, on the 18th day
Of February, 1893. In the harbor Of
Havana. Cuba. being at the time
moored In the same buoy to which she
had been taken upon her arrival
There were two explosions Of a dis
tlnctly different character. very short.
but with q distinct interval between
them. and the forward part Of the ship
was lifted to marked degree at the
time Of the first explosion.
The first explosion was more In the
nature OF n report. like that Of gun.
while the second explosion was more
open. prolonged and Of greater volume.
This second explosion was. In the
opinion OF the court. caused by the par
tial explosion Of two or more Of the
forward magazines Of $he Maine.
Condition Of the wreck:
| Fourth-Thc evidence bearing on
this. being principally obtained from
divers, did not enable the court TO
form q definite conclusion as TO the
condition OF the wreck. although II was
established that the after part Of the
ship was practically intact. and sank
In that condition 4 very few minutes
after the destruction Of the forward
part.
The following facts In regard to the
forward part Of the ship arr, however.
established by the testimony:
That portion Of the short side OF the
protective deck which extends from
about frame 10 TO about frame Il wss
blown up aft and over 10 porf. The
main deck from about frame ~ 10
about frame II was blown up aft, and
slightly over TO the starboari. folding
the forward part Of the middle super.
structure over and on top Of door part.
This was. In the opinion Of the court.
caused by the partial explosion OF two
OF more OF the forward magazines Of
the Maine.
Fif,h-At frame 10. the outer shell Of
the ship. from q point eleven and ONE
hnif feet from The middle line Of the
ship and six feet above the keel when
In Its normal position. has been forced
up 10 ms TO bc now about four feet
above the surface Of the water, hcre:o-
fore about thiriy-four feet above where
II would liz had the ship sunk unin.
1urcd. The outside bottom plating Is
bcnt into IA reversed V shape. the af.
ter wing Of which. about dfteen feet
broad and ,hirty.two feet Ia length
from frame IL 10 frame ~ 10 doubled
back upon Itself against the con;inua.
lion OF the saus plating extending
forward.
AZ frame 50 the vertical keel II
broken In two and the dat keel bent
Into an angle similar 10 the angle
formed by the outside bottom plating.
This break In now about SIX feet below
the surface Of the water and about
thirty feet above ita normal poslsLou.
In the opinion Of the court this effect
could hnve been produced only by the
explosion Of mine situated under the
bottom Of the ship at about frame ~
and somewhat oa the port side Of the
ship.
Sixth-Thc court ands that the ioas
OF the Maine. on the occasion named.
was not In any respect due 10 the fault
or negligence on the part Of any Of the
officers or mcmtsfs Of the crow Of said
vessel.
Scvcn,h-ln the opinion Of tho court
the Maine WIS destroyed by the explo.
sion OF n submarine mine. which
caused the partial explosion Of two Or
more Of her forward magazines.
| Eighth-rhc court has ie~n unable
TO obtnIn evidence fixing tho respousi.
bIlity Of the destruction of the Maine
upon any pcrron or persons.
W. =. kAMrNON.
| Captain U. 3. ~. rrrslsicut.
| A. A. MARK.
| I1eutennnt Commander u. 3. ~.
Judrc Adv0cate.
U. .. Flagship New vork. March n
| nAf1m an kn~ N&~ae ests,sA.aa