The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-21
ENQUIRY COURTS REPORT.
The New York Evening World Publishes
-. what Purports to be an Abstract. -

A'S" AoshI kAotSh NV ''SAAe 0AAs
this afternoon containing the following.
which purports to be the verdict Of the
Maine Court Of Inquiry has been tele-
graphed by correspondent here to the
New York World" 1t reads as follows:
"First-The explosion that destroyed the
Maine was from the exterior on the pert
side leaving the ram in almost its orig nal
position, driving the bow and forw ard
structure to the starboard, the after art
of the ship swinging slightly to starboard
and then sinking.
''Second-The first explosion was fol-
lowed by a second one In interior Of the
ship as result Of the exterior blow u
"Third-The second explosion was In
the reserve magazine This destroyed the
superst 'ucture Of the ship
"Fourth-The big magazine forward did
not explode This is demonstrated beyond
doubt.
Fifth-The exterior explosion, probably
came from torpedo. Evidence that mine
might have caused the disaster was PRO-
duced, but it was not sufficient to convin-e
the court.
"Sixth-The impact came low under the
hull Of the Maine on the port side, blowing
one OF the bilge plates to the surface,
where it is still in sight
.Seyenth-The ship Ia broken In two
and probably cannot be raised.
"Eighth-The forward turret was hurl.
cd far to starboard, its top being intact
"Ninth-The solitary plate showing
above water is bottom plate, not from
along the keel, but on the bottom port
side.
'Tenth-The bow Of the Maine now
points nearly east, while the rest Of the
ships lie alonga line nearly at Alright
angle.
''Eleyenth-The ram Of the Maine lies
off to port OF where the bow lies, nearly
on line parallel with the body Of the
ship Il
"Twelfth-No evidence was adduced i'm.
plicating the Spanish Government or of
flcials In knowledge Of or preparation for
the destruction of the ship.
at needs but few words to explain that
the Maine was destroyed by forces outside
Of herself, the destruction being aided by
an explosion in interior of the ship result.
ing from the initial blow. The proofs Of
this are ample
zone of tho best Is that the p of the
dislodgcd turret is intact II the min
magazine forward had exploded the tur-
ret would have been destroyed and the top
blown away.
'The telltale bottom plate sticking above
tho murky waters Of Havana harbor shows
that the first explosion must have bsen
under the ship-else the bottom plate
would have been driven downward
"The position of the after part Of the
ship, her bow and her ram shows that the
first explosion was exterior and drove the
forward part OF the rest of the structure
to starboard, leaving the heavy ram Al d
the stern of the ship practically in their
original positions. I
"Who s responsible for the outrage,
the destruction of a noble ship and the
loss OF two hundred and fi:ty.three lives
OF her crew. No answer can be givan 10
this question now. If the court has any
knowledge Oh this subject my informant
processes not to know it,"
Reception to Rev. j. II. Nutter and Wife.
The members and friends of Rev. j. H.
Nuiter and wife will give them grand
jubilee reception at Haven NJ. Il. Church,
Third and DUPONT Streets Tuesday, March
20, the evening before tho pastor goes to
the Annual Conference, which convenes
at Orange, N. j., Thursday. March 24.\
There will be entertaining addresses by
Revs. g. +. Jefferson, G. Il. Bivans, B. L.
Moore and other city pastors and laymen.
There will DO music by the Haven choir
and others invited by them and an address
by the pastor There will be presentations
made to the pastor and wife by q COM
mittes Of ladies and friends. Refresh
ments will be prepared by the COMMITTEES.
All friends Of the pastor and wife and all
friends of the church are invited Adj
mission tree. A silver or other Offering
will DO requested. The church has made
splendid record this year both spirituI lilly
and financially. The collections on Sum-
day amounted to little over $40.
The converts number 81 per cent. and
the accessions an increase of So per cent
no actual membership, which at the
be inning of the year was 55,
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