The times., 1898-10-30

VI Harshtph.
one OF the most interesting papers bear
ing the war with Spain that has
been published Is that of Capt. Charles
d. Sigsbee-"A Personal Narrative of the
Maine'-written for the Century's new
war series. 1t deals with the visit of
the Inflated battleship from the time of
her arrival in Havana harbor until the
day of her destruction. Capt. Sigsbee, in
introducing his narrative, assures his
readers that in command of the Maine at
- Havana he had but one wish, which was
TO be friendly with the Spanish authori-
ties. He says:
Until the night of the explosion MOTH
ing whatever was developed to show that
there was any special need for extreme
vigilance. Many people visited the snip,
chiefly in parties 1t is probable that
nearly all were Cubans. These were chief
~ representatives of the refined class in
Havana; who took great pride in visiting
the ship-more, perhaps, than l could
have wished, in view of the situation.
There must have been three or four hun
dred of them on board from time to time.
They were warmly demonstrative toward
US and at first were inclined to ask us
10 return their visits. / believe some of
the Names officers TOOK advantage of
their invitations, but / always explained
that my position in Havana was a deli
cate one, that / desired TO know socially
both the Spaniards and the cubans, but
that / should not feel free to accept hos
pitalities until the Spanish people first
showed willingness to accept the hos
pitalities of the ship. l often made in
quiries in a rather jocular way as to the
politics of the ladies who visited the ship
The ladies pointed out to me visitors of
doubts whether any of them were really
in sympathy with the Spaniards. ! let it
be known everywhere that Ii wou d please
me greatly to entertain the Spanish peo-
pie on board. and madG considerable eff
fort to bring about the desired result. but
without success. II was evident that the
Spsniards would not visit us socially;
they would do their official duty, but
would not go beyond it.
81 finally decided to make a very spe-
cial effort 1 knew two charming young
Spanish ladies of American descent on
their mothers side. Both were engaged
to be married to Spanish army officers.
Their father had been Spanish officer
All their associations had been in Spanish
military circles. They assured me that
1t was mistake to suppose that the
Spaniards would not visit us in friendly
way. To demonstrate their view. they
offered to bring aboard the Maine, on a
certain day, party of Spanish officers.
The ladies' came at the appointed time
their mother being one of the party but
with them there was only one Spanish Of
ficer. and he was in what we might call
a civil branch of the army. Each lady
gave a somewhat different excuse for the
absence of the officers, which only served
10 make it clear that the officers would
not come at all, and that there was a
general understanding that the ship
should not be visited by Spanish officers.
except officially.
Every precaution that could be taken
against injury or treachery was taken or
board the Maine, so far as could be per-
mitted under the restrictions of my Or
ders requiring me to make friendly
visit. The harbor could not be dragged
without giving offense: it could not be
patroled by our own picket boats at
night, nor could the searchlights be kept
going; but every internal precaution was
exercised that the situation suggested
There were sentries on the forecastle and
poop, all of whom were charged with the
necessity for a careful lookout. The cor
poral Of the guard was specially instruct
ed as TO the port gangway, and the
officer of the deck and the quartermaster
to the starboard gangway.
Instead of the usual anchor-watch a
quarter-watch was kept on deck at night
The sentries were supplied with ammuni-
ammunition were kept in the pilot-house
and in the spare captains pantry inside
the ter-superstructure. An additional
supply of shells kept at hand for
the siX-inch guns. In order TO be pre-
pared more completely TO work the
hydraulic mechanism of the turrets
steam was kept up on two boilers instead
of one: special instructions were given
to watch all the details of the hydraulic
gear and to report defects. The officer of
the dock was charged by me to make de-
tailed reports. even in minor matters,
acting on the suspicion that we might be
in an unfriendly harbor. personally in
structed the master-at-arms and the
orderly sergeant to keep a careful eye
on every visitor that came on board, and
TO charge their own subordinates to the
same purpose. / instructed them to fol-
low visitors about at a proper distance
whenever the ship was visited below;
they were carefully TO watch for any
packages that might be laid down or
left by visitors. on the supposition that
dynamite or other high explosives might
be used. They were also required to in
spect the routes over which visitors had
passed The officer in charge of the ma
rine guard was required to make at
least two visits during the night to the
various posts of the vessel. The purport
of my own orders and instructions was
that we should consider the Maine in a
position demanding extreme vigilance,
and requiring a well-sustained routine
both day and night.
II have been taken to task on some
sides in the United States for going to a
bull fight on Sunday. Perhaps | should
confess that l attended two bull fights in
Havana, on successive Sundays. that be-
ing the only day. l believe. on which bull
fights take place. On the second occa-
sion | went with an American friend and
a PARTY of Cuban gentlemen.
las we emerged from the train and
passed out of the station on our arrival
at Havana, 1 was handed by somebody
q think by one of the newspaper corre-
spondentsl the belIicose circular which
has since been published in the newspa-
pers. 1t was small printed slip contain
ing a protest to the public against sub
mission to a visit from the Maine, and
translated. reads as follows:
''- sPANIARDS!
Long Live Spain With Honor!
What are YOU doing that you allow yourselves
TO he insulted in this way? DO you not see what
thew have done to US in withdrawing our brave
and beloved weyler, who at this very time would
have finished with this unworthy, rebeIlious rab
bic who are trampling our flag and on oul
honor?
Autonomy is imposed us to cast US aside
and give places of honor and authority to thos'
who initiated this rebellion, these low-bred au
fonomists ungrateful sons OF our beloved country
And. finally these Yankee pigs who NEEDLE II