The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-16


London. Feb. GA representative of
| the Associated Press communicated the
| news of the disaster To the Maine To the
4 Spanish ambassador here. Count de Has
| con, who was without Information on The
subject. After expressing regret at the
| terrible occurrence the AMBASSADOR said
1 tnat the explosion must have been due TO
some unaooountablesnccide as the visit
| of the Maine to Havana was OF an en-
| tirely friendly nature.
REPORT AT MADRID.
Madrid, Feb. l6 The first news re-
ceiyed here direct from Havana said the
| explosion of the Maine was caused 10y a
| tire and that the warship, enyeloped in
| flames aiterNard sank
sPEYERS PUZZLED.
New York, Feb. 16. Lieutenant Com.
| mandsr Speyers OF the United States
navy was aroused from his bed in the
! Navy Club and told Of the Names do
struction.
Il cannot understand how such an ex
| ploslon occurred in the ship" he said
Il am not. however. familiar with the
| location uf the magazine in the Maine.
| Sometimes there are magazines before
ana aft In warship and it is barely
possitls that the forward magazines Of
the Maine exploded.
milton in the magazine could have ex-
ploded at this time There Is no reason
that 1 know OF why anybody should have
gone 10 the magazine then.
''The keys OF n vessels magazine are
ALWAYS kept in possession of the captai1,
and when the captain leaves they are
turned over 10 the man left In command.
mot having any further information,
i cannot express any opinion on the
disaster.
ADMIRAL BROWNS OPINION.
indianapolis, Ind, Feb. Is Rear Ad-
miral Brown, retired, was exceedingly
surprised 10 hear Of the destruction Of the
Maine and from the meagre news was
loath To venture en- explanation or the
affair. Il can offer nothiEg but vague
coniectures as to the probable cause OF the
destruction Of the Maine, although 1t
would seem TO be at this time that when
an Investigator is made it VIII be found
that an explosion occurred ON the ves-
sci /"
The admiral was asked If it was possible
that torpedo lying in the barbor could
have been accidentally exploded under
the ship. He did not think this could
the explosion IL must have been sent from
shore, for torpedoes ara not living around
loose in Havana harbor, where hundreds
OF ships are going in and out.
Il sni sure no official had anything to
10 with it If a torpedo was responsible.
On. no, " said he 'thers could have been
Nc explosion OF a torpedo by the dragging
OF the Maine's anchor or anything of that
sort Nor are there any submerged mines
in tho harbor. 1 don't recall any similar
affair OF this kind In tho history of the
United States navy.
DE LONE APPALLED,.
New York, Feb l6-Senor De Lone
heard the news of the disaster to tho
Mnina at the Hotel st. Marc this morning.
At first DE Lone refused to credit the
news, but when the truth dawned upon
him he said cit is terrible. 1 pray God
the news has been exaggerated. You may
be sure of one thing, however, no Span
lard did tGs.
Like myself. oil Spaniards of impor-
tance entertain friendly feelings toward
this country. There Will he no war: there
can bs no war between America and
spain.
't1his appalling disaster forces me to
declaration that | love America as / do
no other country than my own.
The spanish ministry and the Sran-
ish people have been greatly misunder-
stood IN this country" Senior do LONE
said "They ell desire peace; they all
want peace with America and Americans
not only from motives of policy, but be-
cause they love America.
81 am forced TO saw now by this terrible
affair what ! should have teen precluded
from saying before. There Is no country
i'm the world that | love as do America.
i love the country and the people, ard IL
Is with the keenest regret that take my
leave as the result of this unfortunats
letter incident Nearly all promiu ns
spsnlsrds and men OF influence In my
country share my views in regard to
America
Spain cannot afford TO have war
with the United States. IL onlv from mo-
tives of policy they are determined not to
have any war. There can bs no war he
tween this country and Spain. Such
thing Is out Of the question.
III the Maine has blown mp In Havana
harbor IL IL the result Of an accident.
That is ahsolrtely certain. There will
be no war.
DISPATCH 10 SIGSBEE.
Washington, Feb 10 Secretary Long
for the President has sent the following
telegram TO Capt Sigsbge;
Sigsbee, United States ship, Maine Ha-
vaua:
Tho President directs me to express for
himself and tho people of the United
Stairs his profound Sympathy with the
officers anu crew Of the Maine and desires
that no expense be spared in providing
Tor the survivors ard the care Of the dead.
(signed) JOHN ID. LONG, Secretary.
The President has recalled his invi-
tations for rece tions this evening ana to-
morrow uiRtt owing To the disaster
which has befall,n the American navy.
advise sending a wreoking vessel at
once. Maine submerged except debris.
mostly work for niyers now, Jsnkius
and Merritt still niSing. Little hote for
tnisr safey Those EBown to ba saved are
officers. -, uuini red cIew, rs, wounded
now on beard Wars line steamer, In city
hospital and at hotel, 81. so Tar rs known.
All Others went dnwu on hoard or near
tho Maine. Total lost or missing. 2b3
With several exceptions, no man has
more than part of suit OF clothing and
that Is wet with harhor water. Ward
steamer leaves for Mexico az 2 this after.
hoop. Officers saved are uninjured.
Damage was In compartments of crew.
Am p'eIaring % telegraph list of ounded
ana saved Ollvette lsaves for Key West
| nt p. m, viii send hv ter 10 Key West
| the officers except myself ana Wainwriuht
Holman. hennehsrger, Ray and Holden.
| VIII turn over three uniniurCd boats to
the captain of port, with r quest for safe
keeping. VIII serd oil wounded men To
| hospitrl at Havana
(Signcd) SIGSBEE.n