The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-29

regarding the precautions in force, es-
pecially in relation to quarter watches,
which he said had never been rescind-
ed. The Maine at the time of the ex-
plosion was heading approximately
northwest, pointing toward the shears
He was writing at his port cabin table
at the time of the explosion, and was
dressed. He then went into a descrip-
ton of the explosion when he felt the
crash. He characterized it as a burst
ing. rending and crashing sound or
roar of immense volume, metallic In its
character. 1t was succeeded by me-
tallic sound, probably of falling debris.
a trembling and lurching motion of the
vessel, then an impression of SubSi-
dence, attended by an eclipse of cleo
trio lights and intense darkness within
the cabin. He thought Immediately
that the Maine had been blown up,
and she was sinking.
He hurried to the starboard cabin
port, but changed his course to the
passage leading to the superstructure.
Then he detailed the manner of meet
ing Private Anthony, which is much
the same as has been published.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
was on deck when Capt. Sigsbee
emerged from the passage. and turn
ing to the orderly he asked for the
o'clock.
Sentries were ordered placed about
the ship and the forward magazine
flooded if practicable. He called for
perfect silence. The surviving officers
were about him at the time on the
poop. He was Informed that both for
ward and after magazines were under
the water.
Faint Cries.
Then came faint cries and he saw
dimly white floating bodies in the
water. Boats were at once ordered
lowered. but only two were found
available, the gig and the whaleboat
They were lowered and manned by Off
GERS and men, and by the captains di-
rections they left the ship and assisted
in saving the wounded jointly with the
ether boats that had arrived on the
scene. Fire amidShip by this time was
burning fiercely and the spare ammuni-
ton in the pilot house was exploding
in detail.
At this time Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright whispered to the captain
that he thought the ten-inch magazine
forward had been thrown up into the
burning mass and might explode in
time.
Everybody was then directed to get
into the boat over the stern. which was
done, the captain getting into the gig
and then proceeded to the City OF
Washington, where he found the
wounded in the dining salon being
carefully attended by the officers and
crew of the vessel. He then went on
deck and observed the wreck for few
minutes and gave directions to have a
muster taken on board the City of
Washington and other vessels and sat
down in the captains cabin and dictat-
ed a dispatch to the navy department.
Various persons came on board and
expressed sympathy and sorrow for the
accident.
By the time Capt. Sigsbee reached the
quarter deck. it was his impression that
an overwhelming explosion had occur
red. When he came from the cabin he
was practically blinded for a few Sec
onds. His only thought was for the
vessel, and he took no note Of the
phenomena of the explosion.
In reply to a direct question as to
whether any of the magazines or shell
rooms were blown up the captain said
it was extremely difficult to come to
any conclusion.
Zone of Explosion.
The center of the explosion was be-
meath anI a little forward of the con-
ming tower on the port side. In the re-
gion of the center Of the explosion was
the six-inch reserve magazine. which
contained very little powder, about 200
pounds. The ten-inch magazine was
in the same general region, but on the
starboard side. Over the ten-inch mag
aZine, in the loading room of the
turret and in the adjoining passage. a
number of ten-inch shells were perma-
nently placed.
According to Capt. Sigsbee it would be
difficult to conceive that the eXploS' on
involved the ten-inch magazine bee use
of the location Of the explosion, and
that no reports show that any ten-inch
shells were hurled into the air because
of the explosion
The captain went into details as
to the location of the small ammuni-
ton. He said that he did not believe
that the forward six-inch magazine
blew up.
He stated that he had examined the
wreck himself, conVerSed with other Of
ficers and men, but as the Spanish au-
thorities were very much adverse to
an investigation, except officially, on
the grounds as stated by the Spanish
admiral that the honor of Spain was
involved, he forebore to examine the
submarine portion of the wreck for the
cause of the explosion until the day the
court convened.
He said the discipline of the ship was
excellent. The marine guard was in
excellent condition.
On his examination by the court,
Capt. Sigsbee said that the highest
temperature he could remember was
112, but that was in the after magazine,
the temperature In the forward maya
zine being considerably lower.
There was no loose powder kept in
the magazine. All the coal bunkers
were ventilated through air tubes ex-
amined weekly by the chief engineer,
and were connected electrically to the
annunciator near his cabin door.