The record-union., 1898-02-18

ed there, which would seem to make
the mystery more dense.
Fears are expressed here that the
divers will not be able to throw light
on the cause of the disaster, since the
forward part of the Maine is practically
in atoms. That the after magazine,
which was filled with high explosives
easily affected by conclusion, did not
go up is another mystery and mercy
| as well, since, had this magazine ex-
ploded no one on board could have es-
capped death.
As this dispatch is sent no news of
Importance has been received from Ha-
vana or from the fleet
There were some curious escapes from
death when the Maine blew up The
men doing punishment watch on the
port quarter deck when the explosion
occurred all escaped unhurt. One man
was sleeping in a yawl hanging from
the davits. The boat was blown to
pieces and the man thrown into the
water, but he was rescued unhurt
Some time elapsed before he could be
convinced that the whole affair was not
a dream
Commander Wynn, retired, of the
navy, who is living here, has been in
defatigable in caring for the wound
ed, and his daughter and niece have
written a number of letters for the
wounded men,
Commander Forsyth early this morn
ing issued a complete outfit of clothing
10 all the seamen in need of it, The
Commander is constantly in personal
charge of everything being done here
for the relief of the wounded, etc He
is deluged with kilograms, and has
much personal matter thrust upon
him. 4,e.sgs.AaI
The story that a torpedo may have
been concealed in the coal furnished to
the Maine is secuted here, but an in
spection of fuel coal for the warships
will be made hereafter
In this connection 1t is advisable to
discount the stories in circulation at
Havana and here regarding the Maine
having been blown up by a torpedo
placed under the ship. The Maine
reached Havana unannounced. and
therefore, it would have been difficult,
II not impossible, TO have placed a tor,
pedo at the spot where she was moored.
The Associated Press correspondent
here has had no opportunity to ques-
ton a number of the officers and men
who were aboard the warship Maine at
the time of the explosion. 1t is the
universal opinion of all of them that
the explosion was due to some interior
cause, and not the result of an eXplo-
sion of torpedo on the outside.
Lieutenant of the Maine, whose
name is Withheld at his request, was
questioned to-day regarding the dis
patch from Havana saying that diver
had discovered hole apparently made
by torpedo in the hull of the Maine
He said: Why not make the hole 800
feet or 5000 feet. One story is az
likely as the other"
In short, the cause of the explosion is
completely shrouded in mystery, and
the demolition of the battleship is so
complete that it is probable the secret
Of the disaster will never be known
1t is believed here that the censor
ship at Havana will now be made more
strict than ever. and that postal SUI
pervision will be demanded if neces-
sary.
No boats, except torpedo boats and
the cruiser New York here or near here
are suitable to send to Havana A
strong wind prevails. and there will be
high water in the Gulf and the Florida
channel The Mangrove or Fern may
come from Havana at any time.
The American and Cuban ladies here
are busy preparing delicacies for the
wounded and supplying the hospital
with flowers. Every one, from the boot
blacks to the wealthy cigar manufac-
turers, are animated by sympathy, and
are anxious to do anything in their
power to relieve the wounded
General fear is expressed by the old
officers at the Navy Department that
the destruction of the Maine has been so
complete, at least in the forward por-
ton of the ship, where the explosion is
believed to have occurred, that it would
be perhaps impossible to find sufficient
evidence in the wreck of the hull to be
able 10 declare with certainty the cause
Of the disaster. The reports coming
from Havana and printed this morning,
descriptive of the appearance of the
wreck yesterday, strengthen those
doubts. The fall ofthe smokestack, the
disappearance of the big turret guns,
the overturning of the deck forward,
all seem to Indicate that an enormous
destruction has occurred below
Nothing has yet developed in the news
the wreck or in the conflicting stories
OF the survivors to change the opinion of
the majority Of the officers stationed in
the Navy Department, that the Maine
sunk as the result of an internal explo-
sion. As to the origin of this expIo-
sion, there is still wide difference of
opinion, but the coal bunker theory to-
day finds very many more strong sup
OF l,
theory is based on the superstition that
spontaneous combustion in one of the
bunkers on the Maine, which We're sep
arated firm the magazine forward by a
single thin partition of iron, ignited the
magazine and caused the destruction of
the vessel. 1t is said that on the bat
tleship Indiana no less than seven fires
have occurred in the coal bunkers The
Philadelphia has had at least one within
the past year, while in the case of the
flagship of the North Atlantic squadron,
the New York, the department was OBJ
liged to order the dscontinuance of the
use of the magazine in the center of the
ship, because of danger from this cause,
and because it was subject to high de-
gree of heat by radiation from the fur
naceS.
THE MAINE TOTALLY DESTROYED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17-Admiral ST.
card telegraphed Secretary Long from
Key West this afternoon as follows:
In the opinion of Lieutenant John
Hood Of the Maine. who has Just arrived
from Havana, the Maine can never again
be utilized as ship. He describes the
whole forward body of the ship as COM
pletely collapsed where the shock of
the explosion was heaviest. Photographs