The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-04-06
WILLIAM McKINLEY.
AnsTnAoT or TEsTIaIoNY.
substance OF the 1svIdence Given ny Im-
sortant witnesses.
". Y. n. Poweison


was called the third day of the court and
testified that he had been present on the
Maine every day from the arrival of the
Fern and during great deal OF diving
He said the forward part OF the ship
forward of the after smokestack had been
to all appearances completely destroyed.
The coming tower lay In a position oppo-
site the door leading to the auperstructure
degrees to the vertical with the top of the
coming tower In board.
Continuing, he described with close de-
tail the condition under the main deck on
the port side. The fixtures We're complete
" wrecked, while fixtures In the same po-
sItion ON the starboard side were In some
cases almost intact-
rhe port buikhead between the main and
berth decks Mt the coming tower support
had been blown aft on both sides, but a
great deal more on the port than on the
starboard side. The fire room hatch Inn
mediately aft OF the coming tower had
been blown In three directions aft, to star
board and to port.
The protective deck under the coming
tower supports was bent In two directions,
the plates ON the starboard side being bent
ups and on the starboard side bent down.
Ensign Poweison then asked II the court
meant for him to say anything about what
the divers reported just what he saw.
The Judge advocate replied that he would
like to have him state any Important dis
coveries which might lead the court to
draw some conclusion as to the cause, and
the divers name.
Before doing 30, the Judge advocate ask
ed witness to state II the forward and
after part of the ship were In line.
Ensign PoweIson replied that as far as
he could Judge they were not
Ensign PoWelson stated that the arc OF
the engine room telegraph and the shnft
or the steering gear coming down through
the arnored tube (turret) was bent from
nort TO starboard. The port side OF the
protective deck was covered with greasy
deposit the starboard side being compara-
lively free from 1t
Pushed From Port to starboard.
The end where the explosion occurred
seemed to be pushed from port to star
board from 3 to 10 degrees with the apex
to the starboard-
The divers reported to witness that at
q point where tile 1Oinch room should be
he discovered 1o-incn shells regularly
arranged, but the ship had sunk down so
much that some OF the shells were In the
mud.
ON the bottom he fell into hole ON the
port side and went down In the mud. he
also reported that as far as he could judge
exeKything seemed TO be bent forward in
the vIcInity Of thts hole. He also reported
that the pIates seemed to have heen push
Cd over to starboard and then bent Down
Ensign Powelson then said that 4 6-inch
powdcr tank that he saw appeared to be
an e1npty tank broken by the explosion, as
the length OF the seam 10-inch tank
was badly battered out Of all conceivable
shape.
the night before he was then on the stand
had not been on the outside of the ship.
The mud was too deep for them to walk
on the bottom.
aslVhat Is the condition OF the starboard
turret - witness was asked.
To my knowledge, that has not been
found, sir, was the reply.
He understood something had been found
under the place where the turret formerly
was; but Its exact character had not been
determined.
.'what Impression Is produced upon your
mind by the reports far as you have
quoted them7,' Ensign P0welson was ask
ed
s.The impression produced upon me- re-
piled the witness. '.is that an explosion
took place well 70 port of the midship line
and Mt a point In the length about opposite
the coming tower.
Picture OF the Position-
..If you consider the section OF the ship
between frames Is and 13, continued Air.
Powelson and consider that the part OF
the bottom doating between frame Is and
frame 10 bent out at right angle and then
that the whole section Is turned forward
through so degrees yOu VIII picture the
position In which the plates are now
found.
ssThis plating could either have been
showed ont from the after side or Il could
nave Deens pusneu IN from lne 1ofWaru
side. The only Indication as to how this
was done is the wooden boarding The after
part OF the plating had been pushed out
from the inside, Che boarding would have
been broken at the angle which the plates
make. II the for7yard part OF the plating
had been pushed IN the boards would have
been pulled away frpm the after plating, as
In the case with the plates now
The judge advocate asked Ar Powelson
how he looked upon OIsenss testimony, In
View OF his knoHledge OF the Maine and
the drawings OF the vessel He replied
that he reearded Il a. extremely accurate.
The Judge ndvocafe asked Mr.. Powelson
what he deduced from al this testimony
received from the diver that forenoon. to-
before
NJ Powelson replied that he thought
the explosion occurred on the port side