Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-17

| TO call puDifC CnTOn1clng, not still
cruising around the world. somewhere or
another, the same old careless hearty
come-good-come-evil chaps that 1 used to
| know them
DISPOSITION. OF WOUNDED.
Once Formidable Battle Shin Now
Presents Pitiable Sight.
dispatch from Havana last night says:
OF the 354 persons. officers and men, who
| were borne on the pay rolls of the wrecked
battleship Maine but ninety-six are now
alive, the death list thus reaching the
enormous total of 25S Seventy or more of
the survivors are more or less badly wound
ed. Twenty-Five injured men are at the
! military hospital of San Ambroso thirty
six are being cared for on the CITY of
Washington, ana a score more are scat
tered about in the Alfonso XII Hospital,
| in sanitary headquarters. and aboard the
Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII. All but five
of the officers and number of the men
| were sent to Key West on the Oliyette to-
day
The heavy rainfall which immediat ely
followed last nights horrors still contin-
ues in a dreary, dismal drizzle. Out in
the bay lies the wreck Of ;ne once proud
Maine. Her steel upper deck forward has
been completely lifted and turned ever
| OH her starboard side. None of the big
guns In the turrets is visible. The Maine
Is slightly listed to port, and ali forward
| OF the massive cranes for unloading ships
boats have completely disappeared. The
dig tunnels lie fiat upon the twisted and
gnarled iron braces and pieces Of steel
deck. From the tunnels aft the ship seems
| to be intact. She has settled until the
water has covered the top Of her super
structure, and the stern searchlight and
the rapid-fire gun look over the water lust
below them. -
At the time of the explosion the Maine
| was at anchor about 500 yards from tie
arsenal and some 200; yards from the float
ing DOCK. Inc explosion put out the street
hghts near the wharf and blew down tele-
phone and telegraph wires in that vicinity.
Cause of the Explosion.
The definite cause Of the disaster has not
Yet been arrived at. The first explosion is
said to lave BEEN caused by over 600
pounds of gun cotton, and the subsequent
explosion is alleged to have been caused by
shells and cartridges
Capt. Sigsbee, interviewed this evening by
the correspondent Of the Associated Press
with reference to the cause of the expio-
sion, said: >
Il cannot yet determine the cause. but
competent investigators will decide wheth-
er the explosion was produced from an
interior or exterior cause / cannot say any
lining until after such an investigation has
been made. 1 will not and cannot con
sclentiously anticipate the decision, nor do
L wish to make any unjust estimate of the
reason fer the disaster"
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright adj
vances the belief that the explosion was
due to the short-circuiting of a dynamo.
announcer theory is that the original explo-
SION was that of the boiler which furnished
steam TO run the dynamo. 1t apDears aIsa
a third explosion occurred on the deserted
snip about 2 o'clock In the morning
Ordered to Flood Gun Cotton.
Lieut.. Commander Wainwright was half
uLoressed at 9:4o pm. and was smoking
ii~his capn, next to that of Capt. Sigsbee.
1t is said, when the explosion occurred
ard put out the electric lights. LfoJt Com
rnanoer WalnWright then lit match and
went 10 capt. Sigsbee's cabin. The captain
1t appears. lad been thrown from his hal
put was unlnjured. They both went on
ueck anu ordered some men to flood $500
pounds OF gun cotton which was on board
l ne ofder was carried out, but the men
never returned. Havana however WIS
saved from still more terrible exnlosiCn
four boats were lowered. all manned by
oficers. and one of them was lost
Admlrai Manterola and Gen. Solaro put
on 10 the Maine soon after the explos: oa
and offered their services to Cant. Sigsi,ee
captain S1gsbee went in his own launch
on board the Spanish cruiser Alfonso Mi
to thank her captain and officers. He
afterward went on board the City of Wash
lngton, where Consul General Lee, Dr. w
l.. drummer, acting sanitary inspector of
havana, and the correspondents of the
American newspapers had already gath
cred.
Sud Scene Mt Dock.
1t was sad scene at the dock tonight
as stretchcrs were carried to the waiting
ambulances by artillerymen, and the suf-
ferers tenderly placed on seats for convey
ance to the marine hospital. The brave
fellows bore their suffering admirably and
some iimped through the lane of eager
faces with their arms in sings heads
bound and blood-stained bandages on legs
or trunks.
The crowd has been yelling as only ex-
cIteu CuDanS and negroes can yell, but a
great hush has fallen upon the assem-
rlage as the head of the procession filed
from the deck house, at the sight of the
actually wounded heading those of sound.
Excited women grew hysterical and many
Latin prayer was heard from lips that
had been shouting moment before.
Every possible arrangement for the COM
Tort OF all who were dsemba rked had been
maze and all who could talk praised high
ly the kindness of the Spanish officials,
VINO opened their hearts and wardrobes to
Boats from the spanish cruiser Alphonso
Doce were among the first to reach the
Maine. and Captain hieneral Banco placed
all his resourceanat 1.-THE disposal of Gen.
Lee. .-,..' gas. s,iy
Thorough Iaes fisntion Ordered.
The United ssAtess coast survey steamer
Bache is expeet ed ,8here in the morning
800. -SSniH6 'ihlpleIuSutS, "heH oil tA-
animation of the sNsa1ne's hull will be made.
The naval board Of inquiry convened by
Aamiral Sicard rs also expected to arrive
shortly. A Observation-Disclosures into the
causes of the disaster and the extent of the
injuries to the Maine will be held.
Thirteen-Washed Ashore.
The mutilatedirboaaies of thirteen men
were washed ashore at Regla and Casa
Blanca, Opposite HAVANA
seven bodies were identified by Chaplain
Chadwick as thosesof Graham, Mcdonald.
Rays and Nero Kinsman, Dirlsing ard
brown. Two other bodies which had not
yet been identified. They have been taken
TO the .morgue and will be buried tomorrow
at pm The Marquis de Esteban. mayor
OF Havana. will head the ceremonies. The
burial expenses will be paid by the mu.t
c!railty. Gen. Solana will also assist at
TIE funeral. representing Captain General
Eie nco The bodies will be exposed in the
city hall after 1 O'Clock
me funeral ceremony will be impressive.
manuel Santander, the bishop of Havana,
has donated ground for the buriafs High
mass Tor the repose of cthe souls of the
dead sailors Will soon be celebrated in the
MERGED Church 1ydo ha ntrSn nf he