The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-04-01

PRESIDENT WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
of Havana This announcement was received
by the Spanish government by appreciation of
the friendly character OF the visit Of the Maine
and with notification OF intention TO return the
courtesy by sending Spanish ships to the prin-
Cipal ports Of the United States Meanwhile
the Maine entered the port OF Havana on the
18th OF Ja--.ary. her arrival being marked with
no Speci; -cident besides the exchange Of
customary SaluteS and ceremonial visits
The Maine continued in the harbOr OF Ha-
vana during the three weeks following her ar
rival No appreclabIe excitement attended
her stay: on the contrary. a feeling Of relief
and confidence followed the resumption OF the
lOug-interrupted friendly intercourse. 50 no
ticcable was this immediate effect OF her visit
that the consul general strongly urged that the
presence OF our ship in Cuban waters should be
kept up by retaining IL at Havana or. in the
event of her recall. by sending another vessel
there % take her place. AT forty minutes past
nine in the evening OF the 18th OF February. the
Maine was destroyed by an explosion by which
the entire forward part OF the ship was
utterly wrecked In this catastrophe two
officers and sCO Of her crew periShed. those who
were not killed outright by her explosion being
pcuRcd betwe de ks by the tangle Of wreck
age and drowned by the immediate sinking Of
the hull Prompt assistance was rendered by
the neiEhboriu- vessels anchored in the harbOr
aid being especially given by the boats of the
Spanish cruiser AlphOnSe XII. and the Ward
far distant The wounded were generously
cared for by the authorities Of Havana. the hos
pitfalls being freely opened to them. while the
earliest recovered bodies of the dead were in
TERED by the municipality in public cemetery
in the city. Tributes OF grief and sympathy
were offered from all Official quarters OF the is
land
The appalling calamity fell on our people
with crushing force, and for brief time an IN
tense excitement prevailed which, in COM
mCnity less just and Self-cOntrOlled than ours,
might have led to haSty acts Of blind resent
ment. This spirit. however. soon gave way to
Calmer processes OF reason and the resolve to in
veStIgate the facts and await the material proof
before forming judgment aS TO the cause,
the responsibility and. il the facts warranted,
the remedy due This course necessarily recon-
mcuded itself from the outset to the executive,
for only in the light OF a diSplSSiOnately aScer-
tanned certainty could IL determine the nature
and measure Of its full duty in the matter The
usual procedure was followed. as in all cases Of
casualty or disaster to national vessels Of any
maritime state. \ naval court OF inquiry was
at once organized, composed Of officers well
qualified by rank and practical ex-
perience TO discharge the onerous
duty imposed upon them. Aided
BY a strong force of wreCzers and divers. the
court proceeded 10 make thorough investiga-
TfJn on the spot, employing every available
means for the impartial and exact determine
tiOn Of the cause Of the explosion. Its opera
tions have been conducted with the utmost de-
liberation and judgment. and. while indepen-
IDENTITY pursued. no source OF information was
neglected. and the fullest opportunity was al
lowed for a Sim@ltaneouS investigation by the
Spanish authorities
The finding of the court of inquiry was
reached. after twenty-three days of continuous
labor. On the 2lSt of March. instant. and having
been approved on the 22d by the commander-ln-
chief OF the United States naval fOIse on the
North Atlantic station, was transmitted TO the
executive.
1t is herewith laid before the congress to-day
with the vOluuninous testimony taken before
the court. Its pUrport Is, in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived al Havana she was
conducted by the regular government pilot to
buoy No. l. TO which she was mOored in from
i've and one-half to six fathomS Of water. The
state Of discipline on board and the condition
OF her magazines boilers, coal bunkerS and
storage compartments are passed in review,
with the conclusion that excellent order pre-
vailed. ana that no Indication Of any cause for
an internal explosion existed in any quarter
AT eight O'Clock in the evening OF February
Is everything had been reported secure and all
vas quiet.
At forty minutes past nine o'clock the vessel
was suddenly destroyed
There were two distinct explosions, with q
brief interval between them The first lifted
the forward part OF the ship very perceptibly;
the second. which was more prolonged, is at
tributed by the court 10 the partial explosion Of
two or more Of the forward magazines
The evidence Of the divers establishes that
the after part OF the ship was practically intact
and sank in that condition very few minutes
after the explosion. The forward part was
completely demolished.
Upon evidence Of concurrent external cause
the finding Of the court is as follows:
AT frame L. the outer shell Of The ship from
q point eleven and oEe-half feet from the mid
die line OF the ship and six feet above the keel.
when in its normal position, has been forced up
49, wr,
face OF the water, therefore. aoOur thirty-four
feet above where IL would be had the ship sunk
Uninjursd
The outside bottom plating is bent into q
reversed w. shape. the after wing OF which. |
about hfteen feet broad and thirty-two feet in