Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-02-16
United States Battleship Maine :
Blown to Atoms i'm Havana.
THREE HUNDRED OF OUR SAILORS LOST
To the Service and Their Homes--The Spaniards
Aid in the Rescue of the Drowning Americans
--Havana Hospitals Thrown Open.

ton" Others are on Spanish gunboat.
and in the city. / am with Sigsbee,
who has telegraphed the navy depart
ment LEE.'
EVENING TELEGRAM's REPORT.
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.--A special to
the Eoening Telegram from Havana,
says: "Vice- consul Springer has just
assured me that all the officers were
saved except Jenkins and Merritt, who
are missing. Springer says at least 300
lives were lost. Captain Sigsbee was
on deck when the explosion came. It
was in the bow of the vessel. The
sentry stationed at the bow was unhurt.
He had seen nothing suspicious. /
have talked with some rescued officers
and seamen One officer, whose name
/ could not learn, said of the explosion:
was in my bunk. When got on
deck the fire had started forward
There was good strong breeze. A
call for all hands on deck was promptly
obeyed, and the men and officers were
perfectly cool. All possible efforts
were made to check the fire, but
without avail The flames spread
rapidly and several explosions eeA
Cured. The magazines were burst
open and the explosives thrown
overheard. In half an hour it was
apparent that nothing could save the
ship"
REPORT OF "MAINE's' ooMMANDER.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 16 Secretary
Long received the following from
Captain Sigsbee, commander 4of the
'sMarner; Advise sending wrecking
vessel at once. The Maine" 'is fsnb-
merged, except debris and is mostly
work for divers now. Officers Jenkens
and Merritt are still missing and there
is little hope for thor safety. Those
known to- be saved are: Officers, "a;
uAipjured of the crew, IS; wounded
now on board a Ward line steamer, in
the city hospital and at the hotel, 50 so
far as known. All the others went
down on board or near the "Maine.'
The total lost and missing is 253. With
few exceptions, no. officers or men have
more than part a suit Of clothing, and
that is wet with harbor water. The
Ward steamer leaves for Mexico at Q
o'clock this afternoon. The officers
saved are uninj ured The @Oliyette'
leaves for Key West at p. m. Will
send by her to Key West, officers saved,
except.myself and wainwright, Holman,
IIennebeger, Ray and Holden. Will
turn over the three uniniured boats to.
the captain OF the port, with req uest
for safe keeping. Will send all the
wounded men to the hospital at Ha-
vana."
HYPoCRITICAL SYMPATHY.
WASHINGTON, February 16.-News
of the "Mainop disaster was learned at
the Spanish legation yith horror and
was the occasion for many expressions
of profound regret and coincidence.
Senior du Bose, Spanish charge d. af-
fairs, received message from Captain
General Banco as follows. with
profound regret have to inform you
the American ship MAINE" in this
harbor, blew up, undoubtedly caused
by accident, believed to be the result of
an explosion of the boiler dynamo. I'm,
mediately following the accident, all
disposable4 elements of the capital
hastened to the spot to extend every aid
possible. These included the force OF
the marine fire brigade and all the gen
erals in Havana. among them my chief
of staff. / sent an aide-de- camp to
offer every assistance to the American
consul he may wish. | will forward
details as they become avaiIable.p
MADRID. Spain, February 16.-The