Evening journal., 1898-03-29

/ JAH NAtt NtfJh iNDtt IMAM AlAJ wv
cautions f5f the protection q the Maine |
| By placing sentries on the forecafthe and
poop. auartormaster and signal boys on
/ the bridge and on the poop
Tie said he had given orders to the |
master at arms and the orderly sergeant !
TO keep careful eye on everybody that
came on board and to carefully observe
any packages that might be held, on
the supposition that dynamite or other
high explosives might be employed, and
/ afterward to inspect the route these
people had taken and never to lose
sight OF the Importance Of the order He
stated that very few people visited the
shin, Lieutenant Commander Vain
wright being rather severe on desultory
visitors.
BURS TING, RENDING CRASH.
The Maine at time of explosion was
heading approximately northwest
pointing toward the Shears. He was
writing Ia the port cabin at the time
Of the explosion and was dressed. He
then went into a description Of his ex-
perlence when he felt the crash. He
characterized It as a bursting rending
and crashing sound or roar Of immense
volume, largely metallic in It's charac-
ter 1t was succeeded by q metallic
sound, probably Of falling debris; a
trembling and lurchlng motion Of the
vessel, then an impression Of subsi-
ience, attended by an eclipse Of cleo
sric lights and intense darkness within
ihe cabin
lie knew Immediately that the Maine
had been blown up and that she was
sinking. He hurried to the starboard
cabin ports. but changed his course to
the passage leading TO the superstruc-
turo. Then he detailed the manner Of
meeting Private Bill Anthony, which Is
much the same as has been published.
The center of the explosion was be-
meath and a little forward Of the
coming tower on the port side. In the
region or the center axis of the explo-
sion was the 6-inch reserve magazine,
which contained very little powder
about 300 pounds Then the 10-lnch
magazine was in the same general re-
gion. but on the starhoard side. over
the 10-inch magazine in the loading re-
gion of the turret and in the adjoining
passage number OF 10-ihch shells were
permanently placed. According to Cap
tain sigsbee. it would be difficult to
conceive the explosion involved the 10
inch magazine because OF the location
OF the explosion and that no reports
show that any 1O-inch shells were hurl-
ed Into the air because of the explo-
sion.
He said the discipline Of the ship was
excellent The marine guard was in ex-
cellent condition, and reports Of the
medical department show that about
one man and a quarter per day were on
the sick list during the past year. In
the engineers department the vessel
was always ready and always respon-
sive. RE paid a tribute to the crew
and said that quieter, better natured
lot Of men he had never known on
board any vessel in which he had serv-
ed. lie had no fault to find with the
behavior Of any officer or man at the
time of the disaster and considered
their conduct admirable.
ENSIGN POWELSON'S TESTIMONY
Ensign w. V. N. Powelson testified
that he had been present on the Maine
every day from the arrival Of the Fern
, and during great deal Of the diving.
I In reply to a question 70 tell the court
, all about the condition Of the wreck, he
saM that part of the ship forward OF
, the after smokestack had been to all
= oaDearances e completely destroyed. The
coming tower lay in a position opposite
the door leading to the superstructure
aft and 20 starboard, inclined at about
ITO degrees to the vertical, with the top
OF the coming tower inbOard. He de-
, scribed With close detail the condition
> under tile main deck on the port side.
The fixtures were completely wrecked,
while fixtures in the same position on
the starboard side were in some cases
o. almost intact The port bullShead be-
tween the main and berth decks at the
coming tower support had been blown
aft on both sides, but a great deal more
p on the port than the starboard side. The
fireroom hatch Immediately aft of the
/, coming tower had been blown in three
/ directions. aft. starboard and to port
The protective deck under the coming
tower supports was bent in two direc-
-. tions. The plates on the starboard side
being bent up and on the port side bent
r down.
In reply to an inquiry as to whether
}. he meant with reference 70 their orig
inal positions Ensign Powelson replied
% Affirmative The beam supporting thC
q protective deck a few inches aft oi
the arinored tube, TO port of the mid
l. ship line was bent up 20 the starbOarC
II Of the midship line
A piece of the side plating just af
Of the starboard turret was visible Thi,
NAANG SD tA1 bIAAN NAN ffeAAf anu AAlIAA AtA'
forward end bent upward and folde,
e backward upon itself
Ensign Powelson then asked If tn
court meant for him to say anything a
TO what tre divers reported or just wha
=, he saw. The judge advocate reptile,
that he would like to have him stat
any important discoveries which nigh
lead the court to draw some conclusion
ID as to the cause and II a diver gave sucl
re Information to state the divers name.
nj PLATES BENT UPWARD.
D. The divers reported to witness tina
'd st a point where the 10-inch shellroor
~ should he they discovered 10-inch shell
IL regularly arranged, but the ship ha
u sunk down so much that some Of th
he shells were in the mud Gunner Nor
e' gan. one of the divers. reported that i
h. walking on the bottom he fell into
ne hole on the port side and went dow
is into the mud. He also reported that a
ne far as he could judge everything seem
IN ed to be bent upward in the vicinity