The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-01


which she had been taken upon her ar
rival.
There were two explosions of a distinctly
different character with very short but
distinct 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 ma
ture of a report, like that Of q gun, while
the second explosion was more open, pro-
longed and of greater volume. This sec
ond explosion was, in the opinion of the
court, caused by the partial explosion Of
two or more of the forward magazines OF
tha .Nainn-
Condition of the Wreck.
4. The evidence bearing on this, being
principally obtained from divers, did not
enable the court to form definite con-
clusion as to the condition of the wreck,
although 1t was established that the after
part of the ship was practically intact,
and sank in that condition very few
minutes after the destruction of the for
ward part.
The following facts in regard to the for
ward part of the ship are, however, es-
tablished by the testimony:
That portion OF the port side OF the pro-
tective deck which extends from about
frame 30 to about frame Al was blown up
aft and over to port. The main deck
from about frame 30 to about frame Al
was blown up aft and slightly over to
starboard, folding the forward part Of the
middle superstructure over and on top OF
the after 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.
Plates Forced Up.
6. At frame II, the outer shell Of the ship,
from point liz feet from the middle
Mpe of :, tho shin and six feet above the keel
When IN Its normal poSitlon, has been
forced up so as to be now about four feet
above the surface of the water, therefore
about "a feet above where II would be had
the ship sunk uninjured The outside bot
tom plating IS bent into a reversed VI
shape, the after wing Of which, about is
feet broad and 80 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
two, and the fiat keel bent into an anglo
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 30 feet above it's normal position.
Caused by a Mine.
In the opinion of the court, this effect
could have been produced only by the ex-
plosion Of mine situated under the bot
tom Of the ship at about frame IS, and
somewhat on the port side of the ship.
6. The court finds that the loss Of the
Maine, on the occasion named, was not in
any respect due to fault or negligence on
the part of any Of the officers or members
Of the crew of said vessel.
z. In the opinion of the court the Maine
was destroyed by the explosion Of SUBJ
marine mine, which caused the partial ex-
plosion of two or more Of her forward
magazines.
8. The court has been unable to obtain ev-
danaa fixing tho responsibility for the. do
Btruction of the Maine upon any person or
persons.
w. IT. SAMPSON,
Captain. u. s. N, President.
"A MARK.
The Findings Approved.
The court having finished the inquiry II
was ordered to make, adjourned at IL a. m.
to await the action of the converting au-
thority.
w. T. SAMPSON,
Captain, U. S. N, President.
A. MARK,
Litutenant Commander, U. S. N, Judge
Advocate.
u. s. Flagship New York, March %, 1898,
Off Key West, Fla.-The proceedings and
findings of the court of inquiry in the above
case are approved.
Rear Admiral, Commander in Chief of the
U. s. Naval Force on the North Atlantic
Station.