New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-02-23
The W Ork of
re'|:':achery. ]
The Belief That the Maine Disaster Was
Due to Treschery Will not
Down.
Proof Pilng Up That the Explosion Was
Caused By Submarine Mine.

the idea that the Maine explosion was
duesto accidental causes. Il says:
1 Proof is piling up that the destruction
of the Maine was due to external causes
a sailor on the battleship now at Key
West says that he and shipmate, stand.
ing amidsh1ps, both saw big fame flash
from under the Maine; that they were
blown up in the air and dropped sixty
feet from the ship. They are sure the
explosion was from without
The New York World has informa-
ton from Havana to the same effect.
The World telegram is as follows:
! "The concensus Of opinion of those
who have studied the wreck closest IS
now that the explosion was caused by a
submarine mine. The forward maga-
zine, it Is now generally supposed, is in
tact, also the forward six six-inch maga-
zines.
@This leaves only few saluting charg-
es and few small caliber shells in the
pilot house. which could possibly have
exploded aboard the ship.
SAT the same time the fearful damage
is too big for any but an extremely large
torpedo. If it were a torpedothe divers
will find the torpedo fragmens-- but if
it were submarine mine, no t.;.xes will
be found.
GAIL the American officers are inter-
nally boiling. There is not one of them,
from Captain Sigsbee down, who is not
fairly convinced a government submar-
inc mine did it.
'sThe Spanish dailies are loudly clam
oring accident accident when even
now the fact is known that the whole
middle deck, which was blown straight
up, never had an ounce of ships powder
under it, and that was where the first
flame was SEEN"
Naval Constructor Phillip ,Hiehborn
adheres to a similar view. ssUnder all
circumstances he says, sit does not
seem that the Names disaster could have
resulted from an accident. Everything
was quiet and orderly about the ship as
far as we have any knowledge and the
probabilities are that only one of the
four engines was being used. With all
the safeguards imaginable and lying at
anchor as quiet as possible, it seems un-
likely that such an accident could have
occurred. Men were about the ship ev-
eryWhere, but more of the machinery was
in motion with the possible exception of
one Of the smaller engines for necessary
work aboard. If the Maine had been at
J sea or In action there might have been
some valid reason for such an explosion
as that which occurred, but with the
conditions surrounding it in Havana
such a thing would seem to be impossible.
Then, too, there was no possible manner
for the ammunition in the magazine to
be exploded unless by some Internal ma
chine or other contrivance.
s.No lights we're carried into the mag
azine, nor were there any electric wires
running through it. ALI 1.-The light neces-
sary was on the outside with the wires
at safe distance from the explosive or in.
Ihammable materials In the magazine. II
d modern man-of-war is not safe lying
at anchor in port, what can be expected
4 Of the vessel when it is at sea or engaged
lin battle? Men could not be induced to
enlist in the navy under anY inducemen,
that could be held out if it was demon
strated that cruisers are merely floating
deathtraps. 955..
g Here was vessel as staunch and
well built as any that ever loft ship.
i yard, and ID 81 instant almost the work
OF years goes fQr naught and we are told
that there va a ACCIDENT at the bottom
. 81 the affair But 4 will never believe
any ything Of The kind, and have the
Ibest reasons for entertaining such opln-
ions, from my knowledge of the manner
in which the Maine was constructed
Commodore Montg gomery, once Of the
1 United States navy. q commanding Off.
cersof confederate fleet during the civil
4 war and the man who raised the frigate
i afterwards the ram, 1Ierrlmac, i veIJ
B Iemphatic il expressing his opinion = e
kthe causes 81 the Maine disaster. Treacb
! lery, according e his statement, rs q.
4 cause and VAR must inevitably follow
q slHessays;
When the divers go down and 8 exan, & =