The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-17

been fired undsV the barfleSftp she would
have sunk almost irametiia teiy. and the
fact that she had not done 50 was con-
elusive evidence that the firing Of tor
pe1o was not the cause of the disaster.
Perhaps majority of naval officers are
inclined To a belief that the explosion was
purely accidental. A considerable number
feel that a torpedo was exploded under the
vessel and third theory IS that some in
fsrnal machine was smGggled aboard the
ship and set of. An examination by .
diver OF the hull Of the Maine would DEM
onstrate instantly whether or not a tor
ped0 had been used. There was no smoke
less powder on board the ship, and the
ten-inch ammunition was made up Of
brown pFiSTnatic powders. Not only Is
this powder most carefully packed in her
medically sealed copper cases, but its heat
resistance qualities are so great that II
cannot be ignited by the fame of a match.
90 degrees Fahrenheit being the amount
Of heat that must be applied for some time
TO set OF the powder.
The Maine had three magazines. The
one forward was used for the storage of
ammunition weighing 5000 pounds. This
quantity OF explosives is SO large that ma
val officers here can scarcely believe il
possible for any human being on board
to have escaped had the magazine exploded
entirely In its vicinity 4 sentry stands on
duty continually. The doors are closed her
metically, except when the ship Is cleared
for action. At o'clock every night the
temperature is taken and the keys OF the
locked doors are placed In the captains
hands for the night The records Of the
navy department show that 81 degrees was
the maximum temperature IN the Names
magazine during the past month, low
and safe temperature. These facts make
ii extremely difficult TO account for the ex-
plosion.
The department within recent years has
b. Lad xxrifh Of
spontaneous combustion Of coal in
ships bunkers, which have endangered
the lives Of the crew and the safety of
the ships. The Cincinnati, twice at least,
has been obliged To food her magazines
70 prevent their blowing up during fires
of this Kind, and the cruiser Boston has
been III the same condition. In some of
these cases tbs shelving in the magazines,
which separate the powder charges, has
been charred by the heat caused by the
burning coal In the adjacent bunkers.
In the case of the Atlanta some years
ago. the bunkers exploded with great vio-
iences and the only explanation that could
be given was that 1t probably was caused
by the igniting of the yapors arising from
the new paint applied to the lining of the
bunkers.
The theory advanced by the Spanish au-
thorities that the disaster might have
Is accepted al the navy department as well
IN the bounds OF credibility
lnasmuch az suspicion exists in some
quarters that 81 torpedo was used against
the Maine, Ii may be said that the ma
1ority of naval officers believe that the
character of the explosion was hardly
such as could be attributed TO a torpedo
1t is said at the navy department that
there is no lack OF precedent for such dis
aster that sustained by the Maine, all
OF which can be traced TO accidental
causes. In 1865 the United States man-of-
war Missouri, then lying at Gibraltar. was
totally wrecked by the explosion of her
magazines.
Another case famous in naval history is
that of III. III. S. Doterel. In 1887 she was
lying at anchor off Punta Arenas, In the
straits of Magellan. An explosion &C.
Cured and left almost none of her crew
alive.
Not Due to Accident.
VALLEJO. Cal, Feb 16.-intense ex-
element prevailed at the Mare island
navy yard this morning when the news
OF the disaster TO the Maine was received.
Rear Admiral Kirkland said:
They cannot tell anything till divers
get 30 work. If the plate I'm the Names
hull are bent out. the explosion occurred
on board; ii they are bent In. then II
came from the outside
Admiral kirkland comedies with Capt.
Sumter, who says that the accident the
CRY is unterabh, If the explosion occurred
in the forward end of the mems quarters,
and not near the main magazine.
Capt Glass. commandant OF the navy
yard. said:
at may have been caused by spontane-
ous combustion in the coal hunkers. which
were located next 10 the magazine. These
warships use bltumnous coal and II is
very dangerous. Just such an accident
rFEH .
Cincinnati TWO years ago, in The harbor
OF Key West. The coal in the bunkers
took fire from spontaneous combustion.
but fortunately there was not enough air
to permit free blaze"
Montgomery Predicts War.
CHICAGO. FEB 16.-Commander j. +.
Montgomery. once of the United States
navy, commanding officer OF the Confed-
crate feet during the civil war, and the
man who raised the frigate, afterwards
the ram. Merrimac, was very emphatic
today IN declaring the sinking of the
Maine in Havana harbor to be the result
of treachery and an act without parallel
in the worlds history. In his opinion war
must Inevitably follow.
When the divers so down and examine
the hull Of the vessel" said Commander
Montgomery. 1T will be found that she
was stove in by torpedo exploded under
the bow with dtaboacal intent. To be
sure an accident may occur on shlpbaard
"A magE zine or a battery may explode:
But consider all the circumstances, and
you VIII not entertain the theory OF an
accident. In the history Of our navy there
never has been such an accident " ny
should the FIRST ore occur in 50 perfectly
equipped Il vessel as the Maine. and under
- capable a commanding officer a. Sigs-
b.
WHY should Il occur In Havana harhor.
where tAe vessel was ~ the mercy 81 an
enemy cap4bi. oI trtaChery, as We KNOW
the Sraulard is and has been as long ~
he has figured iB history Why should IL
follow 80 closely the recent exposure OF
tie Spanish minister TO the United States
as 4 6esrlca bile tifne-serveT who wore an
aGabia dgmearor in Washington While
giving vent SO hatred OF our chief ex"cu-
tive and cur pie. in private letters 10
compasrtots? The combination or facts Is
too strong 70 leave a douct, | miss my
guess Il retriBDtiou Will not be swift
Commander Montgomery Is familiar
atta Havana lsreor. II would be com
p8raaYt.y easy. he says, WIN small boats
or otherwl-s 81 set a torpedo to destroy
the American vessel. This Is hls theory
Of A2v me Nan. was wrecked