Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-20
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION THEORY.
This Nov Prominent in Accounting for
Habana Disaster,
INQUIRY INTO THE EXPLOSION.
our Examination of the Wreck to
Begin To-day and to he Indepepd-
ent of and Prior 20 That of
spain.


the Navy Department was the decision OF
the government TO allow concurrent IN
vesugations OF the Maine disaster Tor its
own part, making an Independent inquiry
through the naval court Of inquiry al
ready appointed, wnne permitting the
spanish authorities 70 make such invesit-
cation as they may desire. This ar
rlngoment commended itself 10 naval
men as fair 10 an, and at the same time
as calculated 10 develop the exact facts.
iu a manner mat couio not be questioned.
mere was 5000 zeal OF talk among
the oncials OF the need OF speedy relief
measures for the benefit OF the families
Of the victims OF the explosion. Under
me treasury rules, the allotment OF nor
IONS OF pay 10 members or their families
made by the men who persisted i'm The
wreck must stop at once 1t is not
doubted that Congress Will do, as it did
81 the case OF the samoan disaster-pro-
vide for years pay to the families OF
the sailors who died at their posts The
olwcmty. however, IS tnat sucn a mea-
sure cannot be passed at once. and. mean
ume, some or the 1amnes or the deao
sailors VIII be in great distress. The
SUBJECT mas Deen taken up by Mrs. Long.
and she has called a meeting for Monday
% initiate the movement.
10 happens that by the rare chance q
on unexpected change or paymasters, re-
Gently, very little OF the savings of the
Maine sailors went down In the vessel.
ABOUT TWO weeks ago, faymaster Little
neld. Of the Maine. was relieved by Pay
master Kay. me former came TO WASH
ington. and has settled all accounts Tor
the ship up 10 the time he left. The re-
coros snow mat Paymaster Ray had on
nand IN ms safe only ABOUT 5000 in
cash. probably gold, and a check for
SWD' which, or course is safe enough,
without his endorsement against loss
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
Since the spontaneous combustion
theory has come so prominently TO the
front as accounting for the disaster the
officials have been looking over the re-
cords TO ma a parallel case, as nearly
as may be.
The flagship New York was discovered
10 be on nre Marcn y. 1876 Smoke was
issuing from ner main magazine. This
was cleared Of powder safely, and it was
found that the woodwork had been
cnarred oeepiy. Inc cause was not at |
frst perceptble. but it was soon dis |
covered that an adjoining coal-bunker |
was burning. When the bunker was |
opened, the coal on top was not hot, but |
as the men dug down into the mass. 10 |
was found to be red hot inside There |
was M manifestation OF heat on The |
TOP OF the bunker. nor in any other. save
the one next the magazine. That start |
lea the naval Omcers. ana the cOnstruc-
tors made considerable air-space be-
tween the Dunkers ana the magazine. In
the designing Of the new battleships now
ON the stocks, the lesson was kept in
MIND. ana everything possible was done
10 insuate the coai-bunKers from the
magazines.
Secretary Long has given orders that
With the expiration Of this day there |
need be observed no longer the order to
All ships and commanders to display the
lational colors at half-mast.
RAISING OF THE MAINE.
There is no abatement of the talk Of
he expediency of raising the Maine.
,hief-Constructor Hichborn is one Of the
most earnest advocates Of the resurrec-
ion of the ship from both sentimental
md practical considerations. He points
.NA AMaL Lit snip lies III a lfMu-lOthtQ |
iarbOr easy for the wreckers to oper-
cost Of million dollars, the govern
nent will save 100000 the first cost Of
UGH a battleship. with all of her equip
nent. Great Britain, he said, never
bandoned a ship If there was the least
nance 10 save her, and has not even yet
bandoned the hope Of raising the III
ated Victoria, sunk I'm collision with
he Camperoown. off the coast of Syria,
everal years ago.
Commander Francis w. Dickens the
.cting Chief Of the Bureau Of Naviga-
ion. and Secretary Longs right-hand
nan in the present emergency. said:
The Maine must be taken TO an Ameri-
an port, If there is enough Of her bones
gliding together 10 warrant removal. and |
D all likelihood that will be done. If the
xplosion was more disastrous than is
OW thought to be the case; If the hull is
o wrecked as TO be beyond repair, then
s. much Of the material as can be Sc
ured will be brought home and placed
o a new Maine. 1t is to be remembered
bat great advances have been made in
since the Maine was de-
Igned. and a finer ship TO bear her name ,
0uld be built to-day. but it would take .
Inc. and If any considerable portion Of ,
be- ship Is good, with a modernized bat
ry ana improvements in rebuilding the
estrOyed portions. magnificent vessel
an be quickly secured"
TO REBUILD THE SHIP.
Chief-Englneer Melville has decided {
Jews in favor Of the proposition 10 re- s
uild the Maine. j
Even suppose this cost 100000" said {
Co "a new ship eoual 10 the Maine c
Guild cost nearly 100000 The repairs I
luid be made. and the ship put In ser {
Ice again IN "A year az the farthest. To C
Iiid a new ship like her would take al c
asst three years. With regard 10 the q
-acticability OF raising the vessel, IL is Il
be remarked that larger vessels have &
zen raised which were at sea, where q
ley were exposed 20 the waves, while p
Do Maine IS in a perfectly quiet harbor, n
ne end resting In the mud, and part OF .
e other end above water. The Maine =
In q shallow spot, as protected as a :
il-pond, ana she Is only a 6O0O-ton :
Iip. The British armor-cla0 Howe, OF !
'er 1000 tons. was raised on Ferrol' i.
)ain, I'm the open ocean. and II. NJ. 5,
lltan Of over 5000 tons was raised and =
we'd after she sank In the Comino y
Iannel"
ENLISTMENT ROLL OPENED. =
Orders have been issued for the enlist a
ent Of 80 men for the navy, 70 MI the Il
cancies caused by the destruction OF
q battleship Maine and TO complete n
70 legal quota. q
Tho new men will be sent 10 receiving | -
Ups. from where they viii be sent 70 N
ipe ia communication wherever needed