Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-03-30

a SEC AHSfA VIEW VI !
on or above the main deck and could not
have had anything to do with the de-
struction of the Maine.
The medical stores were slowed ait
under the ward room and remote from
the scene of the explosion; no danger
Gus stores OF any kind were slowed be-
low in any of the other store rooms.
The coal bunkers were inspected daily.
The fire alarms in the bunkers were IN
working order, and there had never
l.,en case of spontaneous combustion
of coal on board the Maine.
The two after boilers Of the ship were
in use at the time Of the disaster, but
for auxiliary purposes only, with COM
paratively low pressure of steam, and
being tended by reliable watch. These
boilers could not have caused the ex-
plosion of the ship. The four forward
boilers have 81, ce been found by the
divers and arc in a fair condition.
On the night Of the destruction OF the
Maine everything had been reported Sc
cure for the night, ct p. m, by relia-
bic persons, through the proper authort-
ties to the commanding officer. At the
time the Maine was destroyed the ship
was quiet, and therefore least liable to
accident caused by movements from
those on board.
8. The destruction of the Mime oc-
Cured Mt $40 n. M. on Feb. 10, 1898, In
the herbor OF Havana, Cuba, she being
at the time moored to the buoy to which
she had been taken OH her arrival.
yyoro Two TLSDlOsions,
There were two explosions Of dis
tinctly different character, with a very
short but distinct interval between them,
and the forward part of the ship was
lifted 10 a marked degree at tho time OF
the first explosion.
The first explosion was more in The
nature of q report, like that of gun;
| while the second explosion was more
I omen, prolonged and Of greater volume.
This second explosion was in the opln.
ion of the court caused by the partial
| explosion Of two OF more of the forward
magazines Of the EIaine.
4. The evidence bearing upon this,
being principally obtained from divers,
did NOT enable the court to form def.
mite conclusion as to the condition OF
the wreck, although it was established
that the after part Of the ship was prac-
tioally intact and sank IN that condltlon
in a very few minutes after the destrl'-
tion of the forward part.
The following facts in regard to the
forward part of the ship are, however,
established by the testimony:
That portion OF the port side Of the
about frame 30 to a WAS blow, wr,, m aaft
! from abouJ 1E5s.sss 90 to arout frame u
were blown up and slightly 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.
5. At frame II the outer shell of the
ship from Il point 111s feet from the
middle of the Ship and feet above the
keel when in its normal position, has
been forced up so as to be now about 4
| feet above where it would be had it
sunk uninjured. The side bottom plat
! ing is bent into u reverse in the Y shape,
| the after wing Of which, 10 feet broad
and 80 feet in length (from frame II to
25), is doubled back upon itself against
tbs continuation Of the plate extending
| forward.
Keel Broken In Two.
At frame 18 the vertical keel is broken
/ 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 feet below the surface Of
the water, and about 80 feet above it's
normal position. In the opinion of the
cout, this effect could have been pro-
duced only by the explosion Of a mine
situated under the bottom of ship at
about frame 18, and somewhat on the
port side of the ship.
g. The court finds that the loss of the
Maine was not in any respect due to
fault or negligence on the part of any of
| the officers or members OF the crew of
gaid vessel.
7. In the opinion of the court the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion of
submarine mine, which caused the
partial explosion of two or more of her
! forward magazines.
S. The court has been unable to OBJ
tain evidence fixing the responsibility
for the destruction of the Maine upon
any person or persons.
ISigned) w. T. SAMPSON,
Captain U. S. N, President,
A,MARIX,
Lieutenant Commander U. 8. N,
Judge Advocate.
The court having finished the inquiry
it was ordered to make, adjourned at II
a. m. to await the action of the conven-
| ing authority.
(Signed) w. L. SAMPSON,
Captain u S. n, President.
Lieutenant Commander U. 8. NJ,
Judge Advocate.
U. S. FLAGSHIP, NEW YORK, March 22.
Off Key West, Fla.-The proceedings
and findings Of the court Of inquiry in
the above case are approved.
(Signed)
N. SIcARD, Rear Admiral, Commander
in.Chief of the United States Naval
Force on the North Atlantic Station.
SAVANNAH PEOPLE STIRRED.
Fine Benefit Entertainment For the
Maine Monument Fund.
SAVANNAH. March 2S.-The report Of
| the Noiun inunirv board showing that