The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-29

the earliest recovered bodies Of the dead
were inferred by the municipality IN the
public cemetery IN tho city. Tributes OF
grief and sympathy were offered from an
official quarters Of the island.
SELF CONTROL or PEOPLE.
The appalling calamity fen upon the
people Of our country with crushing force
and for brief time an intense excitement
prevailed which In a community less just
and self controlled thans ours might have
lea TO hasty act OF blind resentment
This spirit. however. soon gave way 10
the calmer process OF reasoning ana 10
the resolve to investigate the facts and
await material proof before forming a
judgment as TO the cause, the response
bility and II the facts warranted the rem
edy due
This course necessarily recommended IT.
self from the outset TO the executive. for
only IN the light Of a dispassiona,ely as-
certaned certainty could 10 determine
the nature and measure Of its ful duty
In the matter. The usual procedure was
followed as In all circumstance OF cas-
ualty or disaster 20 naval vessels OF any
maritime States. a naval court Of in
Quiry was al once organized. composed OF
officers wcll-informed by rank and prac-
duty imposed upon them Aided By
strong force OF wrcckors and divers. the
court proceeded 20 make q thorough in
vestigation on the spot. employing every
available means for the impartial and
exact determination Of tho causes of the
explosion. It's operations have been con-
Quoted with the utmost deliheralon ana
Judgment and while independently pur-
sued. no source OF information was neg
lected and tho fullest opportunity was
allowed for q simultaneous investigation
oy the Spanish authorities.
THE COURTS REPORT
The finding Of the Court of Inquiry was
reached after twenty-throc days OF con-
tinuous labor, on tho 2lst of March. in
stant and having been approved ON the
22d by tho COmmandcr-in-Chicf of the
United States naval sorce OF the North
Atlantic station. was transmitted 10 the
executive 10 IS herewith laid before the
Congress. together with the vouminous
testimony taken before the court It's
purport is. I'm brief as follows:
When the Maine arrived mo Havana
she was conducted hy the regular govern
meut pilot 90 buoy No. 4. TO which she
was moorcd i'm from five and one half 20
six fathoms of water
Tho state of discipline on board and
the condition OF her magazines boilers.
coal buukers and storage compartments
are passed i'm review with the conclusion
that excellent order prevailed and that
no indication NJ any cause for an internal
explosion existed in any quarter
At o'clock I'm the evening of February
18th. everything had been reported Sc
cure and AN was well.
At forty minutes past o o'clock the vcs-
sci was suddenly destroyed. There were
two distinct explosions. with q brief i'm
torval between them. The first lifted
The forward part Of the ship very per
ceptiblv. the second, which was more
open. prolonged and Of greater volume.
is attributed by the court 10 the partial
explosion Of two OF more Of the forward
magazines
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the afterpart OF the shir was prac-
ticaly intact and sank I'm th.t condition
a very few minutes after IN, explosion.
The forward part was completely domol-
ishrd. Upon the evidence Of the concur
rent external cause the finding of the
court is as follows:
at frame IS the outer she'll Of the
ship from q point eleven and onc-half
feet from the middle line of the ship and
six feet above the keel when i'm it's normal
position, had been forced up so to be
now about four feet above the surface OF
the water: therefore about thIrty-iour
feet above where 70 would be had the
shin sunk uniniurod. The outside bottom
plating is bent into a reversed v shape.
the after wing of which. about fifteen feet
broad and thrty-two feet I'm length Qrom
frame II 20 frame 2O is doubled back
uuon itself against the continuation Of
the Same plating extending forward
At frame Is the vertical keel is broken
I'm two and the fat keel bent into an
angle similar TO the angle formed by the
outside bottom plates This break IS
now about six feet below the surface or
tho water and about thirty feet above IT'S
normal posiuon I'm the opinion of the
court this effect could have been pro-
ducad only bv the explosion of mine;
located under the bottom Of the ship
at about frame IS. and somewhat ON the
port side Of the ship. The conclusions
of the court are:
That the loss of the Maine was not IN
any way or respect due 10 fault or negIl-
pencc on the part of any Of the oilccfs
or members of her crew.
That The shin was destroyed by tho OK
plo-ion Of "a submarine mine which caused
the partial explosion of two or more OF
her forward magazines ana thtt 10 eNl-
dencc has been ohtainahe fixing the re-
sponsbility for the destruction OF the
Maine upOn any person or persons.
have directed that the finding or the
court of inquiry and the views of this
government thereupon be communicate I'd
10 the government of Her Majesty the
Queen Regent and z do not permit nv
s,lt to doubt that the sense Of justice
of the Spanish nation viii dictate a
course of action suggested by honor and
the friendly relations Of the two govern
ment
n viii Ac the duty or the Executive 10
advise The Congress OF the result .nu ill
tTc r,oantirne deliberate consideration is
invoked -....,-..
(SiruclO WILLIAM " hINl'|i'
Fxccutiye Mansion. March q 1888.
ornOp1- OC TIE N0lIpT