The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-21
THE WRECK OF THE MAINE
DESTRUCTION OF THE SHIP DE-
SCRIEED By JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
How Peace and RepOse Was Turned
Into Chaos, Ruin and Death
Scene of the Great Tragedy.

NEW YORK. Feb. N.--In q copyrighted
letter, printed in the New York Journal
and Advertiser this morning. Julian Haw
thorne des cribes the destruction of the
battle ship Maine in Havana harbor. Like
his employer, Mr.. Hearst. the writer thinks
the disaster was due to u Spanish plot.
Mr.. Hawthorne says:
Naval history records many calamities,
but of them all the destruction of the Maine
last Tuesday night will, in some respects,
take precedence of all others. She did not
go down in battle; her disaster was not
due, like that Of the Royal George. to ac-
cident or negligence on board; her fate was
not brought about by a hurricane like that
in the Samoan harbor; but she was the vic
tim OF what seems to have been secret
plot Matched in the town in whose harbor
she was u friendly visitor. Whether this
plot was worked out in the chambers of the
palace or in the slums of the city, where
are cOngregated ScoundrelS ready for any
evil act, is a question which Investigations
now afoot will determine But l may say
with confidence, even now, that villainy was
at work; that the destruction had been long
premeditated, and that although 1t was
carried out in advance of anticipation, and
seemingly prematurely, it must neverthe-
less receive. in one way or another, the
punishment due to one of the darkest
crimes of history.
scene which the harbor of Havana normally
presents: 1t is body of water a mile and
a half in diameter, protected toward the
trance in MORO Castle, while opposite lies
the closely built city, shining with light
hued buildings and graced with the gray
towers of historic and ancient churches.
The shore here is but little elevated above
the high-water mark, as also are the mar
gins to the south and southeast.
1.-The space of blue water is crowded with
shipping of various nations. the flag of our
own country being as often seen as any.
The mercantile vessels lie close to the
wharves: the men-of-war and the steamers
of the passenger lines lie out in the harbor.
When ] entered the other day, on the yacht
L1rnn hnf rht
moored there, the Spaniard, King Alfonso,
toward the west standing high in water,
but having an unkempt appearance; near
her a French school frigate of the old style,
black and powerful looking, and further
south the Maine, with everything in and
about her in perfect order, looking like an
athlete ready for any foe Her great masts
with their fighting tops rose straight and
strong aloft; her steel sides glistened white
and smooth in the afternoon sum- and the
enormous ten-inch guns in her two turrets
thrust their long necks from their port
holes, with grim effect of resistless power.
CREW ALWAYS IN EVIDENCE.
"TIer crew-as fine body of fighting men
as ever gathered on a ships deck-were al
ways IN evidence, going through their cal
isthenic drill Cat which the men on the
Spanish ship were wont to jeer as being
in their opinion sheer waste of time
which might better be devoted to lounging
in their quarters), or performing the i'm
preSsive evolutiOnS of preparing for action
and fighting the ship There was no
doubt in the mind of any one who knew
her resources and observed her practical
efficiency that Havana was at her mercy
should cause arise for her to put her
strength to the test. And yet, at that very
time, known to but few. but diInly sus-
pected by many, there lay under her hull
or was ready to be launched upon her, q
machine which could in a moment shatter
her into u mass OF useless iron and man
gled bodies
1T would be a towards blow, for it would
he dpliVPrad XUbilo = IL scanned OaaQnfnI and
no effort was being made to guard against
it, but it would be all the more fatal
that account. This possibility, which was
soon to become an accomplished fact was
hidden by the muddy waters of the harbor,
and in the minds of the miscreants.
Il say rumOrS to this effect were cur
rent. There is in Havana an undercurrent
of intrigue in which both SpaniardS and
Cubans are involved, and from which are
constantly coming to the surface hints and
inuendos which are believed or discred
tied according to the temperament of the
nearer But the air vibrates with them;
and in the long run they affect the feel
ings of the least sensitive. This story of
the existence Of Internal machines in the
bottom of the harbor was very persistent
and was always cropping out in the gener-
al conversation. Captain Sigsbee himself
was known to have received an intimation
that his ship was in danger; and there
were many persons who professed to have
information amply confirming this warn
ing. But though these rumors created un-
easiness, there was no possibility of bring
ing their truth to the test. 1t was impos-
sible to search the harbor of q professed
friendly power for evidence of diabolical
treachery.
'The persons who spoke with most con-
viction on the subject could not be quoted
without endangering their liberties or lives.
And it was really difficult to believe that,
whatever preparations the Spaniards might
have made, they would carry them into
execution until war had been openly de-
clared When that time came, If come 1t
did, the Maine must be trusted to take care
of herself So we referred to the matter
NIL n n
us. / thnk, seriously believed that the
calamity limited at in our talk would ac-
tually come to pass.
THE EXPLOSION.
The night Of Tuesday came on as calm
and peaceful as the rest. do not know
whether any premonitions of their fate Wis
tied the minds of the $50 men who were to
die before daylight; all we can ever know
now is that most of them were alseep in
their hunks by $3.50. At that hour blow
struck on the deck by a sentrys weapon
could have been distinctly heard two hun
dred yards away, such was the stiffness.
sides of the ship; the moon had not yet
risen and 1T was difficult to distinguish arr
small object at a distance. The constel a.
ton OF Orion hung overhead, with tire
Pleiades hard by they seemed to give as,-
Surance of eternal peace, and the sleeping
earth Was to all appearance as peaceful
as they The air was soft and there was
no breeze. There is nothing to compare with
the utter reposefulneSS of these tropic
nights on the water.
AT twenty minutes before 10 one Of the
larboard watch, looking down at the dark
cleaning surface below the side of the
ship, fancied he saw q black object APP
preaching silently toward her. 1t seemed
to him that smoke issued from one end OF
this object and that there was a glow as
of flame. 1t was already so near that there
was no opportunity to examine it closely,
but the mans mind probably had been set
on edge by the gossip of his mates and he
was quick to scent danger He Immediate
ly turned to give warning to his officer, but
the time for warning had gone by. Before
he could voice his apprehension the calam-
ity had taken place. Whether this dimly-
seen black object in truth the cause
of what happened we may never know;
it is incompatible with the theory that the
Maine was deliberately moored over Il mine
or torpedo. AT all events the result was
the same.
THE heaven of peace and reposa was
suddenly transformed into a hell of de-
struction and human agony. There was
dull, resonant roar, partly muffied. as
though coming through heavy veil of in
terVening substance. simultaneously the
whole forward part of the ponderous ship
was partly lifted from the water Then
followed a sharper explosion, with out-fam-
iGgS of fire. The crash was so pOrtentous
as to deprive some who heard 1t of their
reason; but for two hundred and fifty sea-
men ii was, if they heard ii at all, the last
sound that was to ring in their ears La this
smashed IN, as were the windows of houses
facing the harbor; the lights on the water
front We're extingushed, the water Of the
haFbOr itself WAS rent as bv the lIpheavai