Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-04-01
The MAINE REPORT
An Abstract Of the Famous Document
Secured,
NINE DESTROYED TIE SHIP
The Discipline on Board Was Excellent in
Every Particular.


Washington, March rs. The follow
ing is a complete abstract Of the report
of the court of inquiry which inyestiga-
ted the wrecking of the battleship Maine
This abstract is made from the report
itself. access to which was obtained
Yesterday, despite official secrecy I'M
paralleled in the handling OF Official
papers. The report is mads up OF eight
parts, as follows:
First-The court finds that at the time
Of the explosion the battleship Maine
was lying in five aud one-half or SIX
fathoms Of water.
SecOnd-The discipline aboard the
thip was excellent; everything slowed
according to orders -ammunition, guns
stores etc. The temperature OF the
magazines al S p. m. was normal excep
in the after ten inch magazine, and thai
did not explode.
Third-The explosion occurred al
8. 40 O'Clock on the evening Of Feb. 10
There were two explosions, with very
short interval between them; tile shil
lifted on the first explosion.
Fourth-phs court can form no def
nite opinion OF the condition OF the
wreck from the divers evidence.
Fifth-Technica details OF wreckage
from which the court deduces that a
mine was exploded under the ship on the
port side.
Sixth-The explosion was due to nc
fault Of those on board.
Seventh-Opiuion OF the court stating
that the explosion OF the mine caused
the explosion OF the two magazines.
Eight-The court declares that il
cannot find evidence to fix the respOn-
sibility.
The report is unanimous and is signed
by all the members of the court. 1t
d oes not refer to the existence or non
existence of mines in the harbor OF
HaYana except in the specific finding
that q mine was exploded under the
ship and the opinion that the explosion
of the two magazines was caused by the
explosion of mine.
The report as a whole is a formal,
dispassionate recital OF facts, and bears
the stamp OF that strict ofiicialism which
marks naval procedure. It's brief not
exceeding l,S00 words, and among the
eight parts goes to the greatest length
under the second heading, which deals
with the discipline and orders OF
the ship. This court specifies with eX.
IRENE minuteness, the least detail Of the
satisfactory condition of everything
gwen.
The normal temperature OF the large
forward magazine at 5 O'Clock only an
hour and 40 minutes before the explosion
disp0ses OF the question OF accidental
combustion within these magazines.
While the court holds that these maya
zines did not explode from internal
causes, they nevertheless are Of the
opinion that the explosion OF the mine
under the port side of tile ship caused
the explosion OF the two magazines.
This will explain the remarkable de-
structisn wrought, the explosion thus
being shown TO have combined the force
Ct a mine without and two magazines
within. The two explosions which the
court finds to have occurred, with very
short interval between them, is an ad-
dtiOnal detail showing that two forces
operated IN causing the destruction.
The finding that the ship lifted on the
first explosion indicates an external
source, and one Of tremendous power to
be able to lift a batteship OF thousands
Of tons. The character Of the wreckage,
technically described in the fifth part OF
the report. from which the court deduces
that mine was exploded under the
ship on the port side. sustains the view
taken BY some experts shortly after the
disaster that the force of the explosion
wa exertcd from port to starboard.
The feature Of the report OF deepest
interest to the navy is the complete ex-
oneraiion OF Captain Sigsbse aud all on
board contained in the second finding,
setting forth the perfect order and dis
cipline prevailing on the ship and more
directly stated in the sixth finding.
which declares the disaster to be due to
no fault of those on board.
The inability Of the court to find evil
dence to fix responsibility. as stated in
the eighth part, makes the report so
guarded in expression of blame that
neither Spain nor the Spanish are men
toned throughout.