Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-30


the mission of protection to American
interests, even though no Immediate
need therefor might exist.
Accordingly on the Oath of January,
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal OF WIS.,
its of our war vessels to Spanish wa
ters was discussed and accepted, the
peniusular authorities at Madrid and
Havana were advised Of the purpose
of this government to resume friendly
naval visits at Cuban ports, and that
in that view the Maine would forth
with call at the port of Havana. This
announcement was received by the
Spanish government with appreciation
of the friendly character of the visit
of the Maine. and with notification Of
intention to return the courtesy by
sending Spanish ships to the prlcipal
ports of the United States. Mean
while the Maine entered the port OF
Havana on the 25th of January, her
arrival being marked with no special
incident besides the exchange of GUS
tomary salutes ut ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
of Havana during the three weeks
following her arrival. No appreciable
excitement attended her stay. On the
contrary, feeling of relief and con-
6dence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was this immediate
effect of her visit that the consul-gen'
eral strongly urged that the presence
of our ships In Cuban waters should be
kept up by retaining the Maine at
Havana, or in the event of her recall,
by sending another vessel there to
take her place.
At 40 minutes past 9 in the evening
of the 18th of February, the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion, by
which the entire forward part of: the
ship was utterly wrecked. In this cat
astrophe two officers and 264 of her
crew perished, those who were not
killed outright by her explosion being
penned between decks by the tangle OF
wreckage and drowned by the iume.
diate sinking Of the hull.
Prompt assistance was rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored in
the harbor, aid being especially given
by the boats of the Spanish cruiser
Alphonso XII and the Ward line
steamer City Of Washington, which lay
not far distant. The wounded were
generously cared for by the authorities
of Havana, the hospitals being freely
open to them, while the earliest re-
covered bodies of the dead were inter-
red by the municipality in a public
cemetery in the city. Tributes of grief
and sympathy were offered from all
official quarters of the island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of this country with crushing
force, and for brief time an intense
excitement prevailed, which, in COM
munity less just and self.controlled
than ours, might have led to hasty
acts of blind resentment. This spirit,
however, soon gave way to the calmer
processes of reason and to the resolve
TO investigate the facts and await ma
terial proof before forming judgment
us to the cause, the responsibility, and
if the facts warranted, the remedy due.
This course necessarily recommended
itself from the outset to the executive,
for only in the light of dispassion-
ately ascertained certainty could it
determine the nature and measure Of
its full duty in the matter.
The usual procedure was followed,
as in all cases of casualty and disaster
to national vessels of any maritime
state. A naval court of inquiry was
at once organized, composed of officers
we'll qualified by rank and practical
experience to discharge the onerous
duty imposed upon them. Aided by a
strong force of wreckers and divers,
the court proceeded to make a thor
ough investigation on the spot, en-
ploying every available means for the
impartial and exact determination of
the causes of the explosions.
Its operations have been conducted
with the utmost deliberation and judg-
ment, and while independently pur-
sued, no source of information was
neglected and the fullest opportunity
was allowed for a simultaneous inves-
tigation by the Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after 90 days of contin-
uous labor, on the 2lst of March, in
slant, and having been approved on
the 22d by the commander-in-chief OF
the United States naval force on the
North Atlantic station, was transmit
ted to the executive.
1t is herewith laid before the con-
gress, together with the voluninous
testimony taken before the court.
It's purport is, in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
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, boil
ers, coal bunkers and storage compart-
ments are passed in review, with the
conclusion that excellent order pre-
vailed and that no indication of any
cause for an internal explosion existed
in any quarter.
At 8 o'clock on the evening of Feb