River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-03-31
THE INQUIRY TESTIMONY.
Facts Told by Witnesses to Off
GERS of the Maine Court.
THEY ALL POINT TO SPANISH TREACHERY
Capt. Sigsbee Took Extra Precau-
lions to Guard His Ship from
Hnrm-COnsuI General Lee
and Others Testify.

Washington, March 2a-The immense
mass of test imony taken by the Maine court
Of inquiry was sent to the senate Mon
day. and with the presidents message and
findings of the court referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations. The testimony
was taken on Is different days, the four
tecnth day, however, being devoted TO view
ing the wreck Every witness who was
known TO have any Information that could
throw light upon the great disaster was
called to give his testimony. The story
OF the destruction of the vessel is told, not
graphically, but in a manner which gives
all the obtainable facts. No technical de-
tail is omitted. Every movement and in
cident connected with the Maine from the
time she left Key West until the last diver
examined the wreck, slowly sinking in the
mud of Havana harbUr, is given. 1t is q
story intensely interesting to the people.
Those who read ii could have little doubt
as to whether there was an internal or eX-
ternal explosion. Perhaps the most sig
nificant testimony is that showing the bot
tom plates on the port side of the ILL
fatcd Maine to be bent inward and up
ward, q result that hardly could have fol-
lowed anything save an explosion from the
outside. A mass of testimony is submitted
showing the care exercised on board the
ship by Capt Sigsbee and his officers. and
the apparent impossibility of the accident
occurring by any internal cause, such as
the heating of the bunkers. spontaneous
combustion or so many other theories were
based
The testimony Of Capt Sigsbee is of the
greatest Importance and perhaps is of more
general interest than that of any other
man called before the board With great
care and minuteness he gives an ac-
count of the management of the ship, how
she was handled, what was done from day
to day on board, how she sailed into Ha-
vana, her anchorage and what he knew
about It.. and in fact, every point upon
which the government and the country de-
sires to be informed. Nothing in Capt.
Sigsbee's testimony shows that the anchor
age was changed or that it was considered
dangerous by anyone.
Second to the importance OF the testi-
mony of Capt. Sigsbee is that of Ensign
Powelson, who had charge of the divers
and knew from day to day what these
divers found This officer was infinitely
informed as to the construction of the
Maine and everything about her. His
testimony was to a certain extent tech
nical. bearing upon the construction of the
ship. her plates, etc, but il was from these
plates and this technical knowledge that
he was able to declare that the explosion
took place from the outside.
The divers, Morgan, Olsen and Smith, all
contributed important evidence. They
testified that the plates were bent inward
on the bottom port side and outward on the
starboard side.
The story of the explosion is told by diff
ferent witnesses and adds little to what
Capt. Sigsbee and Commander Wainwright
related.
Nothing IN the testimony fixes RESPONSE
bilty, no conspiracy is apparent. no knowl-
edge of the planting of a mine is shown.
Capt. Sigsbee states that somewhat BIT
ter feeling existed against the American
ship, and Americans generally. and wit
ness whose name is suppressed tells of
OVerhearing a converse ton among Spanish
officers and a citizen indicating Il fore
knowledge of the destruction of the Maine
by intention to blow her up An official of
the American consulate tells of informa-
ton received anonymously tending to show
that a conspiracy existed. But nothing is
definitely stated which fixes any response
bility upon Spain or her subjects.
Gen. Lee Testifies.
Consul General FitzhuEh Lee appeared
before the court on March s. His testi-
mony related to the official formalities pre-
ceding the Names arrival. On January "a