Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-29
simultaneous investigation by the Spanish

authorities.
''The finding of the court Of inquiry was
reached after twenty-three days OF con-
slant, and having been approved on the
22d by the Commander-ln-Chef of the
United States naval force of the North
Atlantic Station. was transmitted TO the
Executive. II is herewith laid before the
Congress- together with the voiumnous
testimony taken before the court. It's
purport Is, in brief. as follows:
THE COURTS REPORT.
when the Maine arrived at Habana
she was conducted by the regular gov
ernment pilot to Buoy No 4. to which
she was moored in from FIVE and one
half to six fathoms OF water.
''The state OF discipline on board and
the condition OF her magazines, boilers.
oal.Punkers. and Storage compartments
are passed in review, with the conclu-
sion that excellent order prevailed, and
that no indication of any cause for an
internal explosion existed in any guar
ter.
AT s o'clock in the evening Of Febru-
airy 10Th everything had been reported Sc
cure and all was well. At forty minutes
past o'clock the vessel was suddenly de-
stroyed
There were two distinct explosions,
with brief interval between them. The
first lifted the forward part Of the ship
very perceptibly; the second. which was
more open, prolonged, and of greater vol
ume, is attributed by the court to the par
tial explosion OF two or more of the for
ward magazines.
"The evidence Of the divers establishes
that the afterpart OF the ship was practi-
cally intact, and sank in that condition
very few minutes after the explosion. The
forward part was completely demolished.
Upon the evidence of concurrent exter.
nal cause the finding of the court is as
follows:
EFFECTS SHOWING OUTSIDE CAUSE.
AT frame 49, the outer shell of the ship,
from a point eleven and One-half feet
from the middle line of the ship and six
position, had been forced up so as to be
now about four feet above the surface OF
the water; therefore, about thirty-four
feet above where it would be had the
ship sunk uninjured. The outside bottom
plating is bent into a reversed V shape,
the after-wing of which, about fifteen feet
broad and thirty-two feet in length Qrom
frame II to frame 25), lis doubled back
upon itself against the continuation of
the same plating extending forward.
'At frame IS the vertical keel is broken
in two and the fiat keel bent into an angle
similar TO the angle formed by the out
side bottom plates. This break is now
about six feet below the surface of the
water, and about thirty feet above its
normal position. In the opinion of the
court, this effect could have been pro-
duced only by the explosion of a mine; To-
Gated under the bottom of the ship at
port-side of the ship.
THE COURTS CONCLUSIONS.
"That the loss of the Maine was not In
any way or respect due to fault or negI-
gence on the part of any of the officers
or members of her crew.
THAT the ship was destroyed by the
explosion of a submarine mine, which
caused the partial explosion of two or
more of her forward magazines. and that
no evidence has been obtainable fixing
the responsibility for the destruction Of
the Maine upon any person or persons.
II have directed that the finding Of the
court of inquiry and the views of this
government thereupOn be communicated
to the government Of her Majesty, the
Queen Regent, and do not permit myself
to doubt that the sense of justice of the
Spanish nation will dictate a course Of
action suggested by honor and the friendly
relations of the two governments.
1T will be the duty of the Executive
to advise the Congress Of the result, and
in the mean time deliberate consideration
is invoked.
(Signed) WILLIAM MKINLEY.
Executive Mansion March 2S 1885,
The following is the report Of the court
of inquiry:
THE REPORT IN FULL.
"In re, explosion of the United States
battleship Maine.
Before a court of inquiry, Key West,
Fla, United States steamship Iowa, first
rate. Key West, Fla. Monday, March
p, 1SsS.-After full and mature considera-
tion Of all the testimony before it, the
court finds as follows:
81. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived in the harbor of Habana,
Cuba, on the 25th day of January, lS9S
and was taken to Buoy No. 4, in from
five and half to six fathoms OF water,
by the regular government pilot. The
United States Consul-General at Habana
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 snip were strictly carried
out. All ammunition was slowed in ac-
cordance with prescribed instructions,
and proper care was taken whenever am
munition was handled. Nothing was
slowed in any one OF the magazines or
shell-rooms which was not permitted TO
be slowed there. The magazines and
shel-rooms were always locked, after
having been opened; and after the de-
struction OF the Maine the keys were
found in their proper place in the cap
tains cabin everything having been re-