Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-02-23
Terrible Disaster in the
Harbor of Havana.
ONE OF THE FINEST VESSELS
In the United States Navy De-
stroyed, and Many of Her Men
Killed Or Wounded.

Maine in Havana harbor. Many
are killed or wounded. All the
boats of the Spanish cruiser Al
fonso XIII are assisting. AS yet
the cause of the explosion is not
apparent. The wounded sailors Of
the Maine are unable to explain it,
1t is believed that the cruiser is
totally destroyed.
The explosion shook the whole
city. The windows were, broken
in all the houses.
The correspondent Of the Asso-
ciated Press says he has ;nversed
with several of the wounded sail
ors, AID understands from them
that tie explosion took place
while they wtre asleep, so that
they can give no particulars as to
the cause.
The widest CONSERVATION pre-
walls in Havana. The wharoes are
crowded with thousands Of people.
It is believed the explosion o3cur-
red in small powder magazine.
Capt. Sigsbee and the other Off
GERS have been saved. 1T is esti-
mated that over 260 Of the crew
were killed, but il is impossible as
yet to give exact details.
Admiral Manterola has ordered
that boats OF all kinds should 60
% the assistance of the Maine and
her wounded.
The Havana fremen are giving
lid, tending carefully to the
wounded as they are brought on
shore.
tits terrible sight. Gen. So
lano and the other generals have
been ordered by Captain General
Blanco to take steps to help the
Names crew in every way possible.
The correspondent of the Asso-
ctateI- Press has been near the
Maine in one of the boats Of the
cruiser Alfonso and seen others of
the wounded, who corroborate the
statement of those first interviewed
that they were already asleep when
the explosion occurred.
Capt. Sigsbee says the explosion
occurred in the bow of the vessel.
He received a wound in the head.
Orders were given to the other Off
GERS TO save themselves as best
they could. The latter, who were
literally thrown from their hunks
in their night clothing, gave the
necessary orders with great SELF
possession and bravery.
The first theory was that there
had been a preliminary explosion |
in the Sanra Barbara (magazine)
with powder or dynamite below
the water.
Admiral Manterola believes the
first explosion was of grenade
she'll that was hurled over the
navy yard.
Secretary Long received Capt.
Sigsbee's dispatch but a few min
utes before the Associated Press
dispatches from Havana were
handed him. He received the
news with apparent calm, and his
first act was to comply with Capt.
Sigbees request that assistance
be sent from Key West. He i'm
mediately wired Capt. Forsythe, at
Key West, to proceed with the
naval tender Fern to Havana har-
Dor. Secretary Long then sent for
Capt. Dickens, and the two dis
cussed Capt. Sigsbee's brief tele-
gram. No other naval officers
were present, and besides the
Secretary and Capt. Dickens the
naval colony here is ignorant of
this disaster, the grGtest which
has befallen the American navy
since the disaster at Apia some
years ago. The Secretary is in
clined to believe that most of the
effcers were on shore at the time
Of the accident, rs it was still
early in the night. While nei' her
The Secretary nor Capt. Dickens
are inclined to discuss the probable !
cause of the accident, several sug-
yestions were ventured upon. 6
they believe that it may bave
oeen caused by fire in the bun =
lers, heating the bulk-head near {
or that All accident may a
lave occurred while inspecting !
high explosives for torpedoes. OF
course. this is mere speculati0n.