The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-02-18

washed ashore at Havana and he was
buried from the Spanish Church Muhi
Gel, at Havana. where service was. coIllss
Quoted by Bishop Manuel Santander,
yesterday.
Concerning the cause of the explosion
the CHRONICLE reporter interviewed
Henry w. Miller, president of the Nor
ris County Savings of this city, who is
well acquainted with naval matters,
having served in the United States Navy
for sixteen years. Mr.. Miller said
'The whole information we have now
is so meagre that it is almost impossible
for professional men to form any idea of
the cause. We have no detailed account
as yet from the officers of the ship.
There seems to be discrepancy in des-
criptions of the affair which have thus
far come over the wire, Of course under
Spanish surveillance and the sea-faring
man has as yet nothing on which to form
an opinion. The fact is man-of-war
anchored in a harbor is about the safest
place that can be found for human be-
ings to live, notwithstanding the fact
that there are always large amount
of explosives on board; these explosives
are kept in magazines which are pro-
tected in every conceivable way of every
modern device.
In the first place the magazines are
never opened except by order of the cap
tain, who himself has charge Of all the
keys, and then the magazines are illumi-
mated from the outside compartments
through bullseyes and nobody is allowed
to enter except very carefully selected
men appointed by the captain for that
purpose and they have to change their
clothes entirely. The clothes and pockets
are examined for any pieces of metal
which might be in them and felt shoes or
slippers are worn. Nothing harder than
lead or copper is used in the tanks which
hold the explosives. Then, again, when
the magazines are closed they are always
under guard of sentries day and night
and never for moment neglected. They
are just as sure to be guarded as there is
to be man at the wheel at sea.
As to the explosives, the present gun
powder which | suppose was used is a
composition which will not ignite at less
than 800 degrees Fahrenheit, an intense
heat. The grains Of powder are hexagon
N shape, Of about two inch diameter
with small hole in the centre and only
ignited by cap of Illuminating powder
which makes an intense heat when ex-
ploded. All of these modern ships have
thermometers which show the tempera-
ture at two or three places on the vessel
continually, SO that the officers in COM
mand may be always informed, and the
Maine had an especially good record for
| lew temperature in her magazines. Some
of the ships recently built have had to be
renlodeled on account of the proximity of
her magazines to the boiler, rendering
them too hot. am quite sure that the
Maine had three magazines: one in the
bow, one astern and. I think, one amid
ships, located as conveniently as possible
for the service Of the guns on deck.
With the recent information it is i'm
possible to consider that the explosion
occurred in the interior of the ship. But
no definite answer can be given until the
divers have examined the bottom to as
certain the direction Of the explosion.
/ Captain Sigsbee is man of very high
standing as naval officer which is
equally true of wainwright the next in
1 command
+ The fact that so many men were killed
or blown up would indicate an internal
| explosion had it occurred in the day time
but happening IS it did at $40 in the
evening, when the entire crew is TeQnir-