Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-02-23

the author OF such expressions OF
cowardly hatred would not STOP
st an act of such terrific vengence
as the blowing up Of the Maine
These sailors, acquainted with the
drills, discipline and ensemble ol
p man of war, pooh-pooh the idea
of an internal explosion as the last
thing to be thought of.
scovEL's SUGGESTIONS.
New YORK, Feb 19-A cablegram
from Sylvester scovel to the
Evening World under today's
date from Havana via Key West.
says:
''The concensus of opinion of
those who have studied the wreck
closest is now that the explosion
was caused by a submarine mine.
She forward magazine, it is now
generally supposed is intact, also
the forward G-inch magazines.
This leaves only a few saluting
charges and a few small celibre
shells il the pilot house, which
could possibly have exploded
aboard the ship. At The same
time the fearful! damage is too big
for any but an extremely large
torpedo. If it was torpedo, the
di. will find tho torpedo
fragments, butt ii was submarine
mine no traces would be found.
All the American officers are
internally boiling; there is not
one OF them from Capt. SlgSbee
down who is not firmly convinced
Il government submarine mine did
it.
"The Spanish dailics are loudly
clamoring accident, accident
when even now the fact is known
that the whole middle deck which
was blown straight up, never had
an ounce Of ships powder under
if, and that was where the first
flame was seen
EXPLOSION WAS SOMETHING BEYOND
MANS DESCRIPTION.
HAVANA, Feb. 19.-Capt. Sigsbee
.of-tll,n-hnttleehip -Maina, in-an
interview today with the corres-
pondent of the Associated Press.
described in detail the explosion,
which destroyed the great ship:
"On the night of the explosion"
said Capt. Sigsbee. II had not
retired. I was writing letters. I
ind it impossible to describe the
-ourd 81 shock, but the impression
remains of something awe inspir-
ing, nerve-rending, vibrating, all
pervading. There is nothing in
the former experience of any one
on board to measure the explosion
by.
After be first great shock I cam
uot myself recall h1w many
sharper detonations ! heard, not
more than two or three, I knew
my ship was gone. In such
as the Maine, the effects
Of such an explosion are not for
a moment i:i doubt.
81 made my way through the pas
sage, IN the dark, cropping from
side to side, to the hatchway and
thence t. the poop, being among
the earliest to reach that spot. So
soon as | recognized the officers,
ordered the high explosives to be
flooded and then directed that the
boats available be lowered to
rescue the wounded or drowning,
Discipline, in a perfect measure
prevailed. There was no more
confusion than call to general
quarters would produce; not as
much.
81 soon saw by the light of the
flames that al my officers and
crew left alive and on board,
me. 1 cannot form
my idea of the time, but it seemed
i've minutes from the time l
the poop until we left, the
ast man it was possible to reach
having been saved. 1t must have
)een three-quarters of all hour or
more, however, from the amount
# work done.
II remember the officers and
nen worked together lowering the
,oats and that the gig took some
ime to lever.
81 did not notice the rain of
lebris described by Lieut.. Blandin
md others who were on deck
It the time of the first explosion,
,ut L did observe the explosion of
ne field ammunition and wondered
hat more were not hurt thereby.
without going beyond the
limits of what was pro. ,er in the
Iarbor Of a foreign power, l always
maintain precautions against
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