The Advocate and news., 1898-03-30
A MINE DID THE WORK.
Court Of Inquiry Says that the Maine
Was Blown Up from the Outside.

companied by a message, on Monday.
In the message 1t Is stated that the
Maine was sent to Cuba January 25 on q
friendly visit, that 1t was 80 received
and was given the customary salutation
and honors in the Havana harbor. The
effect was so good that the Consul Gem
eral recommended that war vessel be
kept at Havana AT 9:40 p. M, Feb
ruary Is, the Maine was destroyed by an
explosion. In this catastrophe two ofh-
GERS and 260 Of the crew perished.
Prompt assistance was given by the
nelghboring vessels and especially by
the Spanish cruiser Alphonso XIII and
the American steamer City Of Washing
ton. The wounded were generously cared
for by the authorities at Havana and
tributes of grief and sympathy were Of
fered in all Official quarters OF the island.
The President then refers to the feeling
of resentment which perVaded the coun-
try, which was followed by desire for
investigation. A naval court OF inquiry
was at once organized. 1t was made up
of well qualified officers Of practical ex-
perience. Material aid was rendered by
wreckers and divers. Every available
means for impartial investigation was
employed. The court continued its work
with the utmost deliberation and iudg-
ment for twenty-three days. The Presi-
dent then reviews the findings Of the
court, and the message Is concluded with
a statement that the findings, together
with the views OF this government
thereon, have been transmitted to the
Queen Of Spain, and deliberate consider
alton of the report Is invoked.
The report in full is as follows:
United States Ship Iowa, First Rate.
Key West, Fla, March 81, 189S.-After
full and mature consideration of all the
testimony before it, the court finds as
follows:
1. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived in the harbor Of Havana,
Cuba, on the 25th day Of January, 1898,
and was taken to buoy No. 4, in from
five and a half to six fathoms Of water,
by the regular government pilot. The
United States Consul General at Havana
had notified the authorities at that place
the previous evening Of the intended ar"
rival Of the Maine.
2. The state of discipline on board the
Maine was excellent, and all orders and
regulations in regard to the care and
safety of the ship were strictly carried
out.
All ammunition was slowed away In
accordance with instruction, and proper
care was taken whenever ammunition
was handled.
Nothing was slowed away in any one
Of the magazines or shell rooms which
was not permitted to be slowed there.
The magazines and shell rooms were
always locked after having been opened;
and after the destruction Of the Maine
the keys were found in their proper
place, in the captains cabin, everything
having been reported secure that even
ing at 8 p. m.
The temperature of the magazines and
shell rooms were taken daily and re-
ported, The only magazine which had
an undue amount Of heat was the after
ten inch magazine, and that did not ex-
plode at the time the Maine was de-
stroyed.
The torpedo war heads were all slowed
in the after part OF the ship under the
ward room, and neither caused nor par
ticipated in the destruction of the Maine
The dry gun cotton primers and deto-
natOrs were slowed In the cabin aft and
remote from the scene of the explosion.
The waste was carefully looked after
ON board the Maine to obviate danger.
Special orders in regard to this had been
given by the commanding officers.
Varnishes, dryers, alcohol and other
c0mbustibles of this nature were slowed
on or above the main deck and could not
have had anything to do with the de-
structiOn of the Maine.
The medical stores were slowed aft
under the ward room and remote from
the scene Of the explosion.
No dangerous stores Of any kind were
slowed below in any Of the other store