The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1898-04-09
M KIuLBY'S.
MESSAGE
Reviews Report
Of the Court.
IS READ IN The CONGRESS.
A Concise Statement Of the Views Of
This Government Given BY Our
Chief Executive.

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-The pres.
ident today sent the following message
to congress:
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES:
For some time prior to the visit Of
the Maine to Havana harbor our con.
sular representatives pointed out the
advantages to flow from the visit OF
national ships to the Cuban waters, in
accustoming the people to the pres
ence of our flag as the symbol of good
will and Of our ships in the fulfllment
Of the mission of protection to Ameri-
can interests, even though no imme-
date need therefor might exist.
Names Visit Friendly.
Accordingly, on the Oath Of January,
last, after conference with the Spanish
minister, in which the renewal Of
visits Of our war vessels to Spanish
waters was discussed and accepted,
the peninsular authorities at Madrid
and Havana were advised of the pur-
pose of this government to resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports,
and that in that view tho Maine would
forthwith call at the port of Havana.
| This announcement was received by
the Spanish government with appreci-
alton Of the friendly character Of the
visit OF the Maine and with notification
OF intention to return the courtesy by
sending Spanish ships to the principal
ports of the United States. Meanwhile
the Maine entered the port of Havana
on the 25th Of January, her arrival
being marked with no special incident
besides the exchange Of customary So
lutes at ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor
OF Havana during the three weeks fol-
lowing her arrival No appreciable ex-
element attended her stay. On the
contrary, feeling Of relief and conf
dence followed the resumption OF the
long interrupted friendly intercourse.
So noticeable was this immediate effect
on her visit that the consul-general
strongly urged that the presence OF
ships in Cuban waters should be kept
up by retaining the Maine OF Havana,
or in the event Of her recall, by send
ing another vessel there to take her
place.
Destroyed BY Explosion.
At 40 minutes past 8 in the evening
of 18th of February the Maine was de-
stroyed by an explosion, by which the
entire forward part Of the ship was
utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe
two officers and two hundred and
sixty.four of her crew persisted, those
of her crew who were not killed out
right by her explosion being penned
between decks by the tangle Of wreck
age and drowned by the immediate
sinking Of the hull.
Prompt assistance WINS rendered by
the neighboring vessels anchored in
the harbor, aid being especially given
by the boats of the Spanish cruiser
Alphonso XII and the Ward line
steamer City of Washington, which
Law not far distant. The wounded
were generously cared for by the au-
thorities OF Havana, the hospitals be-
ing freely opened to them, while the
earliest recovered bodies OF the dead
were inferred by the municipality in q
public cemetery in the city. Trib-
utes of grief and sympathy were Of
fered from all official quarters Of the
island.
The appalling calamity fell upon
the people Of this country with crush
inc force, and for q brief time an in
tense excitement prevailed, which, in
a community less just and self-con-
trolled than ours, might have LED 70
bosty acts OF blind resentment. This
spirit, however, soon gave way TO the
calmer processes OF reason and TO the
resolve to investigate the facts and
await material proof before forming
judgment as to the cause, the respon-
sibiity, and il the facts warranted'tne
remedy due. This course necessarily
recommended itself from the outset 70
the executive, for only in the light OF
n dispassionately ascertained certainty
conld il determine the nature ana
measure OF its full duty in the matter
The Court OF Inquiry.
The usual procedure was followed T,
&c In nil cases of casualty or disaster
20 national vessels Of any maritime
state. A naval court Of inquiry was az
once organized, composed OF Officers
we'll qualified by rank and prae c.D's
exneriepce to discharge the onerous
Jnty imposed upon them Aided ny
o q strong force Of wreckers and divers