Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-24

GERS of the naval board of inquiry pre-
serve an impenetrable reserve, it is learned
that some of the best naval experts now
believe that the explosion was the result
of treachery.
They do not believe that the Spanish
officials were part of the conspiracy. From
evidence now in their possession, they be-
lieve the Spanish government, General
Blanco and all his military subordinates
were guiltless alike of knowledge of or
participation in the crime. 1t is believed
to have been set off by a fanatic.
Consul General Lee has informally ad-
vised Americans not necessarily detained
here to leave for home at once. Many
| families will sail by the Olivette tomorrow.
This Is an indication that those Oh tine
ground realize the possibility Of trouble
arising suddenly and their inability to pro-
tect women and children If any outbreak
| occurs"
A dispatch to the Tribune from Havana
says:
'.The outlook In Cuba does not grow more
promising. The exact situation is that the
government officials were never SO much
| disturbed as to-day. This is partly due to
Information from Washington and Madrid.
ted to reach the public is SO meager that
better judgments can be formed in the
United States than here as to whether
their fears are exaggerated. Local devei-
opments justify the serious view General
fBlanco ana his associates are said to tsSye
| Of the probability of fresh complications
!, THE statement that divers penetrated
| the forward part of the Maine and found
nothing in the magazines there to indicate
| an explosion seems to be verified. Atten-
| ton Is also given to testimony regarding
vibration under water before the Maine
| went to pieces. Evidence as to this fact
is emphatic. How far IT iustifies the be-
lief that the explosion came from under
meath the ship, experts may be left to de-
termine.
are, following the naval investigation as
well as other phases of the situation close
ly. and are understood to be making daily
! reports to their governments. Spanish Of
ficials were surprised at the firmness with
| which the Washington administration de-
clined to admit them to share in the in
vestigation."
A dispatch to the Herald from Havana
says: THE further the inquiry of the
causes that led to the Maine disaster pro-
ceeds the more remote appears the chances
that any evidence will be discovered that
the disaster was due to an accident.
Those divers who penetrated into the
! forward part of the wreck found that the
whole forward end of the ship from
point abaft the forward turret had been
twisted fifteen TO twenty degrees to star
board. That part of the vessel was
wilderness of debris and curled and twisted
plates.
"The sharp, jagged edges of some plates
divers, getting life lines into tangle and
fraying the cords. In one instance, they
almost cut through a rubber tube which
supplied diver with air.
'One important discovery that was made
was the position of the bodies found I'm the
wreck, 100 of which were floating about the
We're examined by an informant All of
these bodies We're in hammocks and all
had the arms curved upward. They looked
as II the men had been startled by some
I G1n md in, = he
act OF reaching up for their hammock
hooks 10 swing themselves on deck when
death came.
This seems to conform with that already
said about there having been two ex-
plosions-the first startling the men into
the act of arising from their hammocks
the other dashing the life out of them
: while they were in that position.
Before the explosion. the ten-inch mag
aZine was located on the starboard side
forward and beneath the forward turret.
, What is left of the magazine seems 10 have
been driven toward the port bow in di-
: agonai and upward direction.
The six-inch magazine, which had its
ward. was hurled in direction directly
One TO of e e5 5ee cTndrea
ior the siX-inch magazine was found by
; the divers in the wreck of that structure.
|. II contained no powder charge.
closely examined at this writing but such
, inspection Of it as was made leads to
. age that lies about the top of it is COM
[ posed of uneXploded ten-inch charges.
: The theory of the two explosions is
, borne out by the testimony of Senior An
tonic Cabalero. a tobacco dealer of Havana.
|. . Senor Cabalero was crossing the bay in a
{ ferryboat at the time of the disaster He
was familiar with the Maine, having paid
several visits 10 that craft, and was point
ing out to a group of friends on the ferry
, boat her peculiarities. There came, just at
1 that instant, he says. dull report from the
= forward part of the ship the upheaval of
a geyser of water about the boat, followed
: almost instantly by terrific roar and a
binding fash Of light.
l He is positive about the first explosion,
8 and says that 1t was noticed by his COM
, panons. The statement Of his came to
the ears Of one of the court Of inquiry. and
last night an officer was sent to Senior
l Cabalero to ask him if he would appear
q as a witness before the court. He an
nounced his Willingness to do so.
Many strange tales OF the disaster are
brought out the days wear on. One of
3 these was made known yesterday, when the
; captain of English bark. anchored in
:. the harbor nearly a mile distant from the
: Maine, told how a bewhiskered jaw had
fallen on the deck of his vessel. The cap
D tain has been asked to appear before the
of fnlIlfry