Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-24
court of inquiry as to the raising of the

court of inquiry as to the raising Of the
| wreck.
| Various interpretations We're put OF
| the expression Forward half com
rlctelv destroyed" This was regarded
as partial confirmation of the theory
| that the forward magazine had cN-
| plodcd a, that is one of The most i,n-
portant portions Of the Harvard half OF
| the ship. At the same time it wax
held by some naval authorities that the
destruction of the forward half of the
ship did not necessarily mean that the
forward magazine had exploded. as this
might still be intact. although Il part
of the general Wreckage. In the ab-
scuce Of an explicit statement as to the
forward magazine there was a DISPOSE
tion not to accept implied statements
as To its destruction.
capt SIMPSONS recommendation that
Il contract be made with the best To-
equipped wr"cking company to r. n"N"
material ANA life the ship Without DELAY.
was in line with IA" action already taken
in closing Il contract with the TWO largest
wrecking concerns IN the country. The
contract contains clause bindin- me
WrcckcrS to use their utmost efforts to
expedite the work. 50 that the depart
m"nt feels that everything has been don"
to carry out the views expressed by capt.
Sampson.
Evidently the president of the court of
inquiry is fearful of the effect upon the
public Of ill-iudGrtl attempts To account
for The destruction of tn" Maine. for.
this afternoon, n" t"l"graphcd Secretary
Long. doubtless having in mind certain
publications Of ths morning. as follows:
"Havaua. Feb. 2@.-Nny reported inter
Wow with divers untrue. Every prccau-
"a
present.
This statement dispuScs Of all the ale
cations that have been made pro and con
rs to the blowing M Of IN" forward mag
+ dZiutS.
The officers here are SUN thinking of
Ctpl SigSbp,t'S request of Yesterday. to
he furnished with the plans of the
Names section through the magazines
and coal bunker pockets. The reference
to the latter lead to desire to be in
formed on the exact quantity and quality
of coal supply at the time of tn" cXplo-
sion. 1t is said That these pocket hunktiS
ar" rarely emptitd. being designed as
much for the protection OF the ship
against gunshotS as capacity to hold Goa
one expert said that one of these bunk
ers in his own experience had not been
emptied in months. All of this has to do
with the spontaneous combustion theory.
as the bunllers abut ON the magazines and
might have set off even tn" safe brown
powder if the latter were exposed to Il
degree of heat above 600 degrees for some
time. The request besides may show that
capt. Sigsbee is not Yet satisfied as to
the cause of the explosion. notWithstand-
ing the expressions that have been attri-
buted to him by unauthorized persons.
one private letter received here today.
in speaking al the disaster, says it was
all over in FIVE minutes. The writer was
ashore and heard the noise. He hastily
took boat and started for the Maine,
arriving there in about p minutes. Then
all was quiet and smooth and in fact. in
five minutes after the blast the Maine
was in about her present condition.
Some sollcuudc was expressed at the
navy department over the report of Adj
mirIl Sicard' 5 health 1t was said. how
ever. that there was no occasion for re-
licVinS him now: that the flagship New
York is not to leave Key West, and even
if she should. capt Sampson or Capt
Taylor can assume charge of the squad
ron while the admiral takes the two
weeks leave to recuperate from his ma
larial fever. which he was about to enjoy
when he voluntarily returned to his place
a formal order WAS made out, this
afternoon directing Lieut. Commander
Wainwright to take station at Havana
and look after the governments interests
progresses. 1t has been arranged that he
shall hc suDsisted on board ON" of the
wreckinS steamers.
The monitor Terror remains under or
derS to stay in Hampton Roads until fur
Their notice. 1T is likely that she viii be
sent to take the place Of the Maine in tie
North Atlantic squadron it uui needed
rlS"Whrr" Immediately. Th" officials are.
however. luHth tu rn",Imh,r TIA" battle
Ships Jud SprVdicr craft with tn" Terror.
aS She might rctaId the execution of
mHnocuyres.