Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-29

war Alphonso XII was moored in posi-
tion now occupied by the Fern. about
$50 yards to the northward and west
ward Of the Maine. The German ship
Griesenau was anchored at the berth
now occupied by the Spanish man-of-
war Legaspe, which is about 400 yards
about due north from the Maine. He
then located the German nan-of-war
Charlotte. which came into the har-
Dor a day or two later. which was
anchored to the southwark Of the
Names berth, about 400 or 500 yards.
In describing the surroundings at the
time of the explosion. Captain Sigsbee
stated that the night was calm and
still. The Alphonso XII was at the same
berth. The small Spanish dispatch
boat Legaspe had come out the day
before and taken the berth occupied
by the German man-of-war, the Grie-
senau. which had left. The steamer
City OF Washington was anchored about
200 yards to the south and east of the
Names stern, slightly on the port
quarter.
He had no recollection Of any work
going on in the magazine or shell
rooms on the day of the explosion. The
keys were called for in the usual way
erly returned. At the time OF the dis
aster the two after boilers in the after
fire room were in use because the hy-
Graulic system was somewhat leaking.
Testimony Of General Lee.
Consul General Fitzhush Lee ap-
peared before the court on March s.
His testimony related to the official
formal;ties preceding the Names ar
firival. On JAN "a he received a mes
sage from the state department saying
that the Maine would be sent to Ha-
vana on friendly visit to resume the
regular status of naval relations be-
tween the two countries, and ne was
ordered to make arrangements at the
palace for the interchange of official
courtesies. After call at the palace
he sent the state department a cipher,
saying:
Authorities profess to think the
| United States has Interior purpose in
sending the ship. Say it will obstruct
autonomy and produce excitement and
most probably a demonstration. ASK
| that it not be done till they can get
| instructions from Madrid. Say that if
for friendly purpose. as claimed, delay
| is unimportant.'
1t was too late. however. the Maine
| had already sailed. She arrived next
| day and Lee reported her arrival to the
state department.
wainwright's Testimony.
Lieutenant Commander Richard
| Wainwright testified that the regula-
tons in regard to paints and inflamma-
bles and all other precautions were
strictly carried out on board ship. Ev-
cry possible care was taken to avoid
accident. All visitors were scrutinized
before being allowed to come on board
the ship. Nobody was allowed unac-
companied. Special lookouts were re-
quired at night. No unauthorized boats
| were allowed to approach the ship.
Tn re was fine discipline. obedient
crew. quiet men. He was in the cap
tain's Office at the time of the explosion;
| felt very heavy shock. and heard noise
| Of falling objects on deck. Thought the
ship was being fired upon. Was told by
the captain to see the boats were low
cred. He saw few men coming. most.
ly officers. He saw no reason to flood
the magazines because water was COM
ing up He saw fire forward. r. at:
began to crowd around the wreck.
| He induced boats to take the wounded
| to different vessels. He ordered a list
taken of the saved and wounded. There
was excellent discipline after the ex'
| plosion Orders were followed with
promptness of a drill. The only Ordel
not obeyed was the one to leave ship.
He first examined the wreck at day
light the following morning. He took
a gig. with Lieutenant Hood and few
men. and attempted to board the wreck
He was warned off by an armed boat:
around the wreck. There were sti!
some burning fragments.
| Testimony Of Chief Gunncrs Mate.
Chief Gunner's Mate Olsen of the u
S. S. Iowa. told how he had been SEN
to Havana for the purpose of dcins
| diving duty on the wreck. He had de
scended four times, making about eigh
or nine hours of total examination. OIL
sen told how on his first descent HI
went over the forward part of the ship
To use his own expression. he said: e.
found the wreck all blowed up. i found
a lot of CRATE bars down there" Thu
second time he went down further for
ward and there located n lot of 10-incl
shells Forward of these the plates
were bent inboard over them.
Asked if he imagined himself lookin.
forward he stated that he did. Coin:
over the plates he struck into 10: o
6-inch shells with the sings on them
Going to the right witness stated h
found a lot of wreckaSe. 1t seemed 4
have been blown over the starhoard
| Olsen stated That he put MS nanu int
the cranks and brought out several 6
FOUNDER shells
The next time he went down. Olsel
testified. he went outside the ship. for
ward of the crane on the port side. II
followed the bottom along and foun'
that the ships side was blown out
board and alongside the crane it cOul'
be walked on.
AT the part where she is blown VI
completely" witness said, part of he
bottom plates are turned up. Thei
you follow the bottom from there VI
and the plates are blown Outboard. A
the top and underneath the bottom the.
are blown inboard and bent in. Abou
three feet forward of that spot there i
a piece of iron laid along the bulkhead
The skin Of the inside of the double
bottoms is curled like a sheet of pape
! inboard from stem to stern.
Amidships on the same place there Il
an armor plate. one plate complete. tn
top of the plate standing up. The plat
is inclined over the starboard complete
ly. 1t stands up with the thick par
| nj hn rat S1r.,s-