The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-02
BLOWN UP BY A NINE.
Opinion of the Naval Court as Guessed
by a Havana COrrespOndent.

by q Havana Correspondent.
NEW YORK, March 1.--George e. Bry-
son cables from Havana to the Journal as
follows: The members Of the board of in
quiry into the Maine horror are of the
opinion that the vessel was blown up by a
mine. 1t is not likely that anything that
can occur or develop in the subsequent in
quiry will change the opinion Of the board
or furnish any substantial reason why that
conclusion should not stand when the board
is called upon to promulgate it's findings.
1t may be that the board will deny this
premature statement of it's present posi-
ton, but in order to do so it must sup
press the testimony or publish some other
opinion and see to it that the evidence
now before it be concealed forever in the
secret government archives. 1t is scarcely
possible that any opinion will be satisfac-
tory to the public unless it be accompanied
by what was said before the conclave on
the Mangrove.
The naval board proceeded cautiously
and in such a manner as to have produced
the impression at FIST that it had only
the evidence of the SURVIVORS of the Maine
as to the effect OF the explosion of the
vessel, excluding, of couIse, the testimony
OF tho divers. All of the divers had testi-
tied on Friday afternoon, and with them
Lieutenant Powelson. On the conclusion of
their statements the board had made out
an inconteStible case, and it was after the
last days work here that The board agreed
the vessel had beer blown up by mine.
The most important facts were brought
TO light by OlSen the gunnerS mate. He is
20 be credited with the discovery that the
lower part of the armor plate belt was
blown upwards III such a way as to bend
il under the heavier plates of the belt.
This fact admits of no dispute, because all
or tho divers have seen and testified to
this Identical condition of the armor belt
sD. or near the place of explosion. 1t has
been contended from official testimony that
The second explosion must have been from
the outside. Such an admission would de-
stroy the force of the conclusion that the
first lifting was by an explosion under the
vessel. An excellent authority, however,
explains it is true that the Maine did rise
after the second explosion, but the ex-
ploston had nothing to do with II. He said
That when the force under the vessel lifted
the Maine at the first shot it naturally
went Gown again at the bow. The second
explosion, according to all of the witnesses,
took place within d few seconds after the
first Ii is evident. therefore, that the Maine
was rising after the dip of the bow follow
ing the first explosion when the second ex-
plosion took place.
For some reason Captain Sigsbee, who
heard the evidence as it was given by wit
neSSeS. asked them if they saw midair ex-
plOStOnS. The witness before the board did
not see any shells exploding in the air 1t
is probable that the drift of these questions
was to show that had the Maine exploded
internally and had there been two explo-
sions, both internal, the first might have
opened the way for the projection of the
munitions into the air, and the second
would have hurled shells and powder aloft
10 explode there. But this did not happen,
according to eye-witneSscs.
The taking OF testimony has not been
without its features. Undoubtedly some
vague Impressions have been sent out from
this place, and there is a, great deal of
guessing as to how things got out. AS
usual, there Is woman in the case. A
great many people have seen n woman on
board very often while the evidence was
being taken. and it is alleged that she was
present while a part of it was being tram
Scr1bed. Usually such, courts as these are
held with the utmost secrecy, and there
was particular reason why this one should
have been secret. 1t is not intimated that
this mysterious woman whoever she was,
or that she made notes, mental or other
wise, as to what the witnesses said She
was there nevertheless.
Another curious feature of the case is
that there was q rumor abroad that sea-
men having certain opinions ex-
pected to make them suit a preconceiyed
line of expression for a particular reason.
was in the cabin one day when a witness
witness called out to him: Don't you let
them make you change your mind. old fell
low" This man was one who gave, per-
hapS, the most important testimony in the
case. Another remarkable fact is that Can't
Sigsbee was not allowed to stay in the
room when certain documentary evidence
was being submitted. The court was cleared
in such cases. Lieutenant Commander
Mark also admitted that he had handed
IN some private letters bearing ON the case
and 1T is known now that theses.referred
explicitly TO the difficulties of geEing any
information at all about the submarine
works OF the harbOr.