The San Francisco call., 1898-04-06
Who Fired the Mine That Destroyed the Battle
 ship Maine
The United States Government Has Something Tangible
 to Go Upon.
Strong Evidence of the Sale of Sub- marine Mines to the Spanish
 Government
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, April 5.-The Herald s Washington correspondent telegraphs Spain's official connection with the de struction of the battle-ship Maine is in fair way of being definitely deter mined. Desirous of settling the matter one way or the other, the authorities are conducting a quiet investigation based upon the evidence furnished by J. F. Gibbons, an electrical and mining engineer of England, to Lieutenant J. c. Colwell. naval attache of this Gov ernment in London, to which the Her aid referred this morning. It will be re- called that the report of the United States court of inquiry which investi- gated the loss of the Maine said that 1t had been unable to obtain evidence fixing the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons" but finding that she was destroyed by the exp1o- sion of a mine situated under her bottom.''
 The administration is anxious to have the responsibility of the vessels loss fixed, and upon information filed by MT. Gibbons with Lieutenant Col we'll, is carefully looking into the matter.
 I obtained to-day a copy of MT. Gib- bons' letter, which has been officially received in this city.
 Commander Richard-on Glove" c'''0t of the office of Naval Intelligence, will not uisucss the letter in any "e.y. Su' I understand from officials with whom he has talked in relation to the matter that he feels the evidence respecting the selling of mines to the Spanish Government is most important. MT. Gibbons letter is dated March and reads:
 I personally supplied the Spanish Gov ernment with large quantity of submar- inc mines of three different descriptions 500-pound ground mines, 500-pound buoy ant mine and 100-pOund electric contact mine, and also supplied them with two kinds of junction boxes, O box for one seven-cord cable, @ box for one single-armored cable and eight single armored cables, each being connected by means of disconnecting fuse, which would naturally be fused on the fusing of the consequently explode. The only practical way of finding out the mine that sank the Maine, should the divers declare that the plates are indented inward, Is by ex- amining cables rom the Snore lo tHe mine exploded.
 I understand that MT. Gibbons was interviewed by Lieutenant Colwell, who said the man appeared to be thoroughly in earnest in his belief that one of the mines supplied by him to the Spanish Government through itS representative Captain Bustamente,,i originated sthe explosion MT Gibbons stated that the mines were heavily galvanized and could safely remain immersed for sevI eral years He said that the cables were especially manufactured by him to resist an indefinite immersion, and that if any portion could be obtained he could readily identify it, as 1t was peculiar in it's construction.
 According to information which has reached this city MT. Gibbons is prac- tical electrician, with considerable ex- perience in submarine mining in vari- ous parts of the world, and is former non- commissioned officer of the Roya Engineers. I was told to-day that MT Gibbons does not appear to be finan- cially in good position, and it is sug- gested that he may be desirous of com ing to the United States -or disposins of his patented mines.
 Especially important is MT. Gibbons testimony in view of the strenuous de. nial made by the Spanish Government through it's charge daffaires here sev- eral weeks ago, that there were mines in Havana harbor.