Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-26

having been two explosions, the first start
ling the men into the act of arising from
their hammOcks. the other dashing the life
out of them while they were in that position.
Before the explosion the l0-inch maya
zine was located ON the starboard side
forward. and beneath the forward tnr-
ret. What is left of the magazine
seems to have been driven toward the port
bow in II diagonal and upward direction.
The siX-inch magazine. which had its lO"a-
ton in the port side of the ship forward.
was hurled in II direction directly opposite
to that of the 1O-inch magazine. One of the
copper cylindrical tanks for the siX-inch
magazine was found by the divers in the
wreck of that structure. 1t contained no
powder charge. The l0-inch magazine had
not been closely examined at this writing,
but such inspection OF it as was made leads
to the belief that big pile of twisted wreck
age that lies about the top of it
is composed of unexploded lO-inch
charges. 1t is believed that the six
inch magazine was exploded by the first
shock that was felt. and there was another
explosion in the 10-inch magazine. No idea
is yet given out as to whether the curvature
OF the plates indicate that there had been
an outside explosion. The theory of two ex-
plosions is borne out by the testimony Of Senior
AntonioC aballero, II well known tobacco deal
or of Havana. Senior Caballero was cross
ing the bay in Il ferrybOat at the time
of the disaster He was familiar with
the Maine. having paid several visits to
that craft, and was pointing ont to a
group of friends OH the ierryboat her pc
culinriti"s. when there came, he said. Il dull
report from the forward part Of the ship.the
upheaval of II geyser of water about the
boat: followed almost instantly by u terrific
roar and II binding flash Of light. He is
positive about the first explosion, and says
it was noticed by his companions. This
statement OF his came to the ears Of one OF
the court of inquiry, and an officer was sent
TO Senior CabelerO to ask him il he would
appear AS II witness before the court. He
announced his Willingness to do so.
Consul General Lee has informally advised
Americans not necessarily detained here to
leave for home at once. Many families
sailed by the Olivette on Wednesday. This
is an indication that those on the ground
realize the possibility of trouble arising sud-
ana children If an outbreak occurs. The
proceedings of the court Of inquiry absorb
all interest now, but nothing will be divulged
before the courts finding is made known.
No member on the body will say anything
about its doings beyond the mere fact as
to when the court met and when 1t took q
recess. Every one here believes that . crisis
will follow close upon tht heels of its
conclusion. Spanish authorities realize
that Spain is perlously near a rupture with
the United States, and suppressed excite
ment is felt in the air. The captain-general
is in constant communication with Madrid,
but nothing that is happening there or in
Washington Is allowed to appear in the
Havana papers Foreign consular officials
are likewise busy with their home office.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 25-Four i'm
pOrtant conclusions have been reached by the
nnth 1ritips a n rpSult nf Offl piQl puhln-
gram and unofficial advices received by mail
flom Havana. The conclusions are: Tho
boilers of the ship did not explode, and the
responsibility for the destruction OF the YES
sci cannot be placed upon them. II bomb
had been placed in the coal and shoveled
boiler to exploGs. The coal bunkers around
the forward magazine we're empty OF coal at
the time OF the catastrophe and spontaneous
combustion could not, therefore, have
caused the explosion OF the powder.
Rear Admiral Sicard officially reported
to the department that the forward half OF
the ship was completely destroyed" show
other experts OF the department, that the
forward magazine did explode. Evidence
| is still lacking to prove that the forward
magazine was exploded by some external
agency, but 1t cannot longer be denied that
the naval officers in Havana are OF the opin-
ion that the fundamental cause was OF out
side origin. Officially, the authorities have
no information to this effect, but this opinion
is freely expressed in private letters re-
ceived at the navy department.
HAVANA, Cuba. Feb. 25-The Right Arm
of the Merritt d Chapman Derrick and
Wrecking company Is moored about 200
yards from the poop Of tine Maine. The
wrecking tug looks powerful enough to
move n mountain, yet she Is not supplied,
owing to her hurried departure for this port,
with ali the apparatus she needs for the
work that Is before her. Captain Nugget the
commander has reported to Captain Sigs-
bee, as ordered by the navy department, and
will act under the utter's orders.
KEY WEST, Feb. 25-The cruiser Mont
gomcry has been ordered to Havana as soon
as her coal supplies are taken on here.