The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-29

Cuba, being at the time moored to the
very same buoy to which she had beer
taken upon fer arrival
There were two explosions of a distinct
" different character, a very short. but
distict interval between them. and, the
forward part Of the ship was lifted to a
marked degree at the time of the first ex-
plosion.
The first explosion was more in the a
ture OF a report. like that of a gun. while
the second explosion was more open, pro-
ionged and of greater volume. This sec
ond explosion was. in the opinion of the
court. caused b. the partial explosion OF
two or more of the forward magazines OF
the Maine.
CONDITION OF THE WRECK.
Fourth-The evidence on this. being
principally obtained from divers, did not
enable the court to form a definite con-
clusion as to The condition OF the wreck,
although il was established that the after
part OF the ship was practically intact,
and sank in that condition q very few
minutes after The destruction of the for
ward part.
The following facts in regard to the
| forward part of the ship are, however.
established by the testimony:
That portion OF the short side of the
protective deck which extends from about
frame 80 to about frame Il was blown up
aft and over TO port. The main deck,
from about frame 80 TO about frame IL
was blown up aft and slightly over to
starboard. folding the forward part of
the middle superstructure over and on
top of floor part.
This was. in the opinion of the court.
caused by the partial explosion of two
or more of the forward magazines of the
Maine.
Fifth-At frame IS, the outer shell of
the ship. from a point 1llA feet from the
middle line of the ship ana six feet above
the keel, when in its normal position, has
been forced up so as 10 be about four feet
above the surface of the water. there
fore about "a feet above where it would be
had the ship sunk uninjured. The out
side bottom plating is bent into reversed
V shape. the after wing of which, about
Is feet broad and 81 feet in length from
frame II to frame 25) is doubled back
upon itself against the continuation of
the same plating extending forward.
AT frame Is the vertical keel is broken in
in two, and the fiat keel bent into an
angle similar to the angle formed by the
outside bottom plating. This break is
now about six feet below the surface of
the water and about 80 feet above its
normal position In the opinion of the
court, this effect could have been pro-
duced only by the explosion of mine sit
uated under the bottom of the ship at
about frame Is. and somewhat on the port
side of the ship.
Sixth-The court finds that the loss of
the Maine. on the occasion named, was
not in any respect. due to fault or negli-
gence on the part of any of the officers or
members OF the crew of said vessel.
Seventh-Il the opinion of the court the
d submarine mine, which caused the par
tiai explosion OF two or more of her for
ward magazines.
Eighth-The court has been unable to
obtain evidence fixing the responsibility
of the destruction of the Maine upon any
person or persons.
(Signed) w. T. SAMPSON.
Captain L. S. N, President
A. A. MARIN,
[. S. n. Commander. Judge Advocate
The court. having finished the inquiry it
was ordered to make. adjourned at IL
Am. to await the action of the converting
w. T. SAMPSON.
CAPTAIN l.. S. n, President
A. A MARIN
Lieutenant Commander L. S. N, Judge
Advocate.
United States Flagship New York, March
%. 1898, OF Key West. Fla.
The proceedings and findings of the
court of inquiry IN the above case are APP
proved. M SICARD,
Rear Admiral. Commander-in-Chi of the
United States Naval Force of the North
Atlantic.