The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-29
STORY OF IHE sinking.
Synopsis Of the Testimony
Before the Court.
SAVAGE THREATSON SHORE
Two Tell of huttsrlngs Against the
Maine.
SICSDEE ON THE STAND.
All Well on Board at the s O'clock
inspection.

Washington, March 2S.-The immense
mass of testimony taken by the Maine
court of inquiry was sent to the Senate
to-day and with the Presidents message
and findings Of the court, referred to the
committee on foreign relations
The testimony was taken on eighteen
different days, the fourteenth day, how
ever, being devoted TO viewing the wreck.
Every witness who was known to have
any information that could throw light
upon the great disaster was called to give
evidence.
1t is a story intensely interesting to the
American people Those who read it can
have little doubt as to whether there was
an Internal or external explosion.
Perhaps the most magnificent testimony
is that showing the bottom plates on the
port side of the Inflated Maine to be bent
inward and upward result that. hardly
could have followed anything save an ex-
pIosion from the outside.
A mass of testimony is submitted show
ing the care exercised on board the ship
by Capt Sigsbee and his officers and the
apparent impossibility of the accident oc-
curing by any internal cause. such as
the heating Of the bunkers, spontaneous
combustion or from other causes upon
which so many theories were based.
The testimony of Capt. slgsbee is Of the
greatest Importance. and perhaps, is OF
more general interest than that OF any
other man called before the board. With
account of the management of the ship;
how she was handled; what was done
from day to day on board, how she sailed
into Havana, her anchorage and what he
knew about it, and, in fact, every point
upon which the government and the coun-
try desired to be informed Nothing in
Capt. Sigsbee's testimony shows that the
anchorage was changed or that 1t was
considered dangerous by any one.
Second 10 the Importance of the testi-
mony Of Capt Sigsbee is that OF Ensign
Powelson. who had charge Of the divers
and knew from day to day what these
divers found.
His testimony was to a certain extent
technical. bearing upon the construction
of the ship. her plates, etc. but It was
from these plates and this technical
knowledge that he was able to disclose
that the explosion took place from the
outside.
The divers, Morgan. Olsen and Smith,
all contributed important evidence. They
testified that the plates were bent inward,
on the bottom port side. and outward on
the starboard side.
The story. Of the explosion Is told by diff
ferent witnesses ard adds little to what
Capt. sigsbee and Commander VAIN
wright related.
Nothing in the testimony fixes response
bility, no conspiracy Is apparent, no
knowledge of the planting of mine is
shown.
A witness, whose name Is suppressed,
tells Of overhearing a conversation among
Spanish officers and citizen indicating
a foreknowledge of the destruction Of the
Maine by intention to blow her up.
An official of the American consulate
tells OF tflIOFDutiOi ISttiFfu anonymously
tending TO show that a conspiracy existed.
But nothing Is definitely stated which
fixes any responsibility upon Spain or her
subjects.
Consul General Fitzhugh Lee appeared
before the court on March s. His testl-
rnony related TO the official formalities
preceding the Names arrival. On Jan.
"a he received a message from the state
department saying that the Maine would
be sent 10 Havana on q friendly visit
to resume the regular status of naval re-
lations between the two countries and he
was ordered to make arrangements at
the palace for the interchange OF official
courtesies.
After a call at the palace, he sent the
state department a cipher message say
ing Authorities profess to think the
United States has ulterior purposes IN
sending the ship. Say II will obstruct
autonomy and produce excitement, and
most probabl a demonstration. Ask that
It not be done TIL they can get instruc-
tions from Madrid. Say that II for friend
~ purposes as claimed, the delay Is un-
important"
II was too late, however. The Maine
had already sailed. She arrived next day
and Consul General Lee reported her arr
rival to the state department
Capt Higsbee started his testimony ly
describing the arrival of the Maine IN Ha-