The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-13

| PLACID IN Ihe II sroor Of Havana by the
spaniards--Testimony OF the Man Who
MsnuIac.u'e II e Il chir e, on the Order
OF 81 a aish GLvernnI
Details have besn obtained by the
Associated Press from manufacturers
OF submarine mipes in London for
Spain, which was first brought to the
attention of the United States eu1bas-
sy and caoled to the Associated Press
on March 5 a man whose name
was forwarded a. the tine to Wash
lngton then said he sold Spanish off,
GERS IN London, several years sso, q
large number of mines, eight or ten OF
Which were placed in Ha6uua harbor.
he said they were made in special
way, had specially constructed cable.
which he can identity if the smallest
plece is produced, and he added that
some OF the mines were fixed so tha;
they could be fred from fort, while
two of them had bulbs so arranged
that they would explode pom vessel
coming into contact with them. The
man added, however, that he did not
believe the bulbs would be used in
water as shalloW SIS that OF Gabana
baroor Finally the mau exhibited
plans of one of these mines, which he
said was the most likely to produce the
effect described as causing the wreck
of the Maine. 1t was numbered "2."
and was constructed to contain 500
pouads OF gun co;ton.
Lieutepant Commander J. @. Col.
well, the y aited States naval attache,
at Loudon, has since Investigated the
matter, and has made a report on the
subject 10 the Ulited States govern
ment The facts learned strongly tend
20 show " that Habaua harbor was min.
ed, and they unquestionably prove
that S oaio purchased mines for that
purpose The frm of Lattimer, Rhodes
s. Clark, electrical engineers, during
lSS7-SS, filed large order for Spain
OF a lot OF mines, in which were used
14t tons of gun cotton. Toe work was
done under the surveillance of Gen.
Fernandez and Captain Bustamento.
The latter was then the head OF the
Spanish torpedo school. By order OF
these offcss IS the mines were divided
into four consign nents, for Hab INA,
Cadiz and Carthagena. The mines
were manufactured under the direc
ton of J. P. Gibbons, after Gibbons
patents, which are described in Sic.
mans book on toroedcs and mines
Gibbons, from whom reporter OF
the Associated Press obtains the infor
maticn, and who furnished to Lieu
tenant Commander Colwell written
statement OF the above facts and out
lined his theory of the explosion
which wrecked the Maine, was then
employed by the firm as superinten-
dent of the torpedo department. He
also says similar lot of torpedoes was
manufactured for Spain in 1896. The
manager OF the Westminster Engin
eering company, which is the success
sor of the aio-e mentioned firm, and
with which Gibbons is connected,
confirms the letters statement rs .
the manufacture of mines for Spain.
Gibbons, who is former sergeant OF
engineers, and government inspec-
tor of torpedoes, believes the Names
first explosion was caused by what is
technically called a ground mine, con
tanning 500 pounds Of gun cotton,
severa! OF which were manufactured
for Spain.
He has experimental with these
mines largely q. Portsmouth, and
says that, once laid, they retain their
properties for so years. In addition,
Gibbons asserts that it is absolutely
impossible for them to explode acci-
dentally, as the electric currents for
their explosion are formed only by
the manipulation Of complicated
key board especially devised to prevent
accidents. Three keys are necessary,
which are always kept in the posses
sion of different officers, and even il
an outsider obtained possession OF
them, it would be impossible to mani
pulate the key board without instruo-
lions. Gibbons further says the mines
and their connecting cables are num-
bsred, and he asserts he would be
able to Identify them il any part is
secured.