The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-23
LIEUTENANT BLANDIE HOME.
Under Iron-Clad Ordsrs Not to Speak
Of the Maine Explosfon.

BALTIMORE March 49, 189S.-Lieuten-
ant John j. Blandin of Baltimore, who
was officer of the deck on the battleship
Maine when the vessel was blown up in
| Havana Harbor on the night of February
| 15. and who was one of the most impor-
| tant witnesses before the Naval Court OF
Inquiry at Key West and Havana, ar.
rived here last night after a long and tedi-
Gus journey from Key West
Lieutenant Rlandin was tagged out by
| the long trip and the intense strain that
he has been under for more than month,
and drew long breath of relief as the
train steamed into Baltimore. He said
he was never so glad of anything in his
| life as he was to reach home. To re-
porter Lieutenant Blandin said:-
'sOf course you know that in common
with the other officers and men who were
on the Maine at the time of the explosion
am under iron-clad orders forbidding the
giving of information about the explosion.
We are ont even permitted to talk about
it, | left Havana the day after the ex-
! plosion, and until last Thursday ave
been in Key West. I have been before
the Court of Inquiry and have told them
all l know. and when they render their
verdict you may bank on it that it will be
the correct one. The court is composed of
| brainy, careful and cool men, who know
what they are doing and are doing it thor
oughly.
ssYou say that it is reported that Presi-
dent Mckinley has the verdict already in
his hands, and again that the messenger
has left Key West with it. That may or
may not be- All know is that 1 did not
bring it and know nothing whatever of its
nature when or by whom it will be sent.
None of us know.
After many days of waiting was al
lowed, in company with Lieutenants
Holdman, Blow and Catlin, Boatswain
Larkin and Naval Cadet Crenshaw, to
leave Key West for home. The others
came ON direct, while stopped off for
day at Salem, Ala, where was born and
where 1 have many friends and rela-
tives From Salem I went to Birming-
ham, Ala, for a day to Atlanta and then
straight on to Washington and home.
81 have received orders to report on
Thursday in Washington in order to
stand an examination for promotion to
the rank of Lieut.-C Commander There
was at first thought of keeping me in
Key West to take the examination, but
afterwards it was decided that it would
be better to take it in Washington.
have received no other orders of any
kind, and can have no idea where I will
go or how long I shall remain in Balti-
more The examination will require
about week.
Lieutenant Blandin was asked whether
there was much feeling or excitement in
Havana or Key West. He replied that if
there was he did not see it. Senator
Key West at the same time Lieutenant
Blandin was there, and he had an oppor-
tunity of seeing them all. Mrs. Thurston's
death he characterized as a very sad af-
fair
In speaking of the Maine's men, he
said
There were only about twenty-five
started for home, and most of them were
on the road to recovery. Some Or tne Off
GERS visited the hospitals every day while
we were there, and there were lots of
other visitors Outside of the hotels and
the travellers, there are a mere handful
of Americans in Key West, but l saw no
feeling against them. General Fitzhugh
place, and is doing great work in Ha-
vana. I saw him the night of the eXplo-
sion, when he came on board the City of
Washington to see Captain Sigsbee.'
In answer to question, Lieutenant
Blandin replied that he could say nothing
whatever about the probabilities of war.
but if there was to be any fighting he
be done by the navy. The army would
practically be of little use,and at this time
of the year would run great chances of
fever in Cuba