Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-12
WORK AT HAVANA
IS ABOUT FINISHED
Further Details in Relation to the
Wreck Must Be Settled at Wash
ington and Madrid.
SPANISH INVESTIGATION SLOW
Further Evidence Before the Board
but Confirms That Taken BE.
fore - Sigsbee VIII BE
Exonerated.

New York, March ga Tribune's
Havana special: The leading facts of
the Maine disaster are all now in pos
session of the naval board. The divers
continued the work during the absence
Of the board at Key West. They dis
covered nothing to change the evil
dences first gathered, which showed it
apparent that the explosion was eXter-
nal. Their examination this week has
extended alongside the plates, and
they penetrated forward well into the
bow. All they find is merely confirma-
tory OF what they previously discov-
cred. Captain Sampson and associates
are especially anxious to await the
further work by the divers to deter
mine whether or not mistakes have
been made in any particular. Nothing
has been found to indicate II mistake.
On the contrary the more thoroughly
the hull is examined the more con-
vincing appear the original evidences
that the explosion was from without.
How long the board will take to form
ulate conclusions on this point can be
better judged in Washington than in
Havana.
Notwithstanding permission was Civ
en- by the United States for the Span
ish divers to examine the wreck the
investigation by the Spanish authori-
ties into the condition of the ship as
it lies in the water proceeds slowly.
They seemed in no hurry to learn the
facts about the hull, magazine and 9TH
er matters which were the first to en-
gage the attention of the naval board.
The government has, however, taken
considerable testimony of persons who
were in the harbor the night of the
explosion. 1t gives much weight to
the testimony that those who say they
saw the flames issuing from the Maine
before the ship was wrecked by the
explosion.
The understanding in Havana Is that
the naval board will be emphatic in its
eNonoration of Sigsbee and officers of
the Maine from implication of negli-
gence, lack Of discipline or RESPONSE
bility for the disaster. 1t had been al
most forgotten that until the board re-
ports on the subject Sigsbee is nomi-
nally under n cloud that is the inquiry
must determine whether or not the
commander of the Maine was i'm any way
responsible for her loss. The secre-
cy with which the investigation has
been conducted has not prevented the
testimony on the subject from becom-
ing known.
The board will be able to go further
and show not only that there was no
accident which could have been pre-
vented but also that there is no basis
for the theories of an accident from
some unknown cause. How far it will
go in the assertion OF positive proof
that the Maine was blown up is for the
present Il speculative question. The
prevalent impression is that the board
has evidence of the deed without
means of finding out who committed
il. IT is incumbent on the Spanish
government to find that out.
The denial credited to Dubosc in
Washington that no mines exist in Ha-
vana haTbor does not receive the
weight that would be given to an Off
cial declaration from Blanco or Sa-
gasta.
From the present outlook Madrid
and Washington are the places where
the consequences of the Maine eXplo-
sion will be determined. Little more
than is already known a be learned
here. The wreck promises to remain
in the harbor for an indefinite period.
Wrecking companies will be able to
raise the guns of the Maine. The hull
is an asset of no value to any govern
ment.
The temper of the Spanish classes
toward the United States finds some
exhibition at present, but not in the
form of hostile demonstration. 1t is
rather in the shape of f~ervent. protests
and actions Of loyalty to the mother
country. The arrival of the Viscaya
caused an ~outpouring of the loyal
spirit, though it was not exactly as
spontaneous as was expected from the
demonstration arranged in advance.
Apparently a large proportion of the
%populace are gratified to see the Wis
caya anchored not far from the wreck
of the Maine. They believe that with
other warships which are to come and
with the torpedo flotilla Havana and
the ports of Cuba will be safe from
the American feet.