The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-17
Nlnety-SlX Men Saved Out Of the Crew Numbering
Three Hundred and Fifty-EOur.
HARDLY TO Be DOUBTED THAI The EXPLOSION WIS ACCIDENTAL
Various Theories Advanced-The Ship May Float Again
Wounded Men Coming Holne-Complete
List Of Survivors.

nance and other property that doubtless
can be secured bNrdivcrs.
1t is said at the Navy Department
that this disaster Is the greatest of
the kind in naval history since the
| sinking of the big British war:,hip Vic
torlh by collision with the Camper
down in the Mediterranean Off Malta
June, 1893. By that accident the Brit
Ism admiral commanding, twenty-five
| officers and 1856 men lost their lives.
| Ihe Spanish Legation was carly adj
fised Of the horror by Captain-Gcnc-
raj Blanco, who expressed his pro-
found regret, and added that the oc-
currehce was chance accident, the
unuoubted cause being an explosion Of
the boiler OF the dynamos This was
the only specific cause assigned from
an official source during the day
Senior del'osc the Spanish Charge
called at the State Depar artmcnt TO cy-
press his profound regret, ana the en-
tire Spanish staff left their cards at
the Navy Department as Il mark of
personal coincidence. AT all OF the for
eign establishments there was the
| deepest interest and Solicitude over
| the affair. and during the day AM
| bassador Cambon. of France; Sir Julian
Pauncefote. of the British Embassy,
| and other foreign representatives
called on the President or at the State
|
The disaster is remarkable in that
only two officers lost their lives, and
these were of junior grades They
werc-'. lieu tShs SFFrie1ii+ W. Jenkins
and Assistant Engineer Darwin r.
Merritt The former was unmarried,
put leaves mother and sister The
! latter 1T is thought, also was un-
married, but the department was un-
advised concerning his family.
MI Jenkins was born in Allegheny
CITY, Pa, June &c, 1863 and was ap-
pointed naval cadet September Is,
lSS2, by Representative Thomas NJ.
Baync. of the Twenty-third Cungl es-
sional District. After a short cruise
on the Atlanta he was graduated June,
1888. after which he served sncCcssively
| on the Galena, kearsargc and Swatara
| lie was next attached To the coast sur
vey and served with it until February.
| lS9O, when he was ugain ordered to sea
on the gunboat Bennington From
June 1893, 10 September, 1898, he was
on ordnance duty at the naval proving
grounds. Indian Head, Md, and on
September Is, 1895. he was ordered 10
the battlcship Maine and has since
been attached to that vessel with the
exception of q short interval IN the
spring of 1897. He reached his pres
| ent grade of junior lieutenant In Jan
uary, 1897. He had many friends in
capable and efficient officer
Assistant Engineer Merritt was born
| at Red Oak. Montgomery county, Ia,
| April II, 1872. He was appointed TO
the Naval Academy September 10. 1891,
| graduating al the head OF his class
| four years latcr. He went to sea on
| the Amphitri;e and was subsequently
| transferred to the Indiana, receiving
| his final graduation July 1st, 1897.
| After short service at the New York
| Navy-yaTd he was ordered to the bat
| tleship Maine September TO- 1897, and
has since been attached to that i'll
fated vessel Although his naval ser
vice has been short ii is said at the
| department 10 have been extremely
| creditable
Captain Diclins, chief OF the Navi-
CATION Bureau. expressed the opinion
| to-day that the explosion took place
| in the magazine of the Maine. lie said
that this was evident for the reason
! that the ship was afloat for an hour
! after the explosion. Had a torpedo
! been fired under the battleship she
| would have sunk almost immediately.
Secretary Long, for the President,
| has sent this telegram to Captain Sigs-
bee:
"sgabce. u. S. S. Maine, Havana:
"Thc President directs me to express
! for himself and the people of the
! United States his profound sympathy
| with the officers and crew Of the Maine
| and desires that no expense be spared
! in providing for the survivors and the
! care Of the dead.
| tS.gncD JOHN d. LONG,
Secretary"
! The President has recalled his invi-
tations for receptions this evening and
| tomorrow, owing TO the disaster which
! has befalien the American navy.
| The President and several OF his
! Cabinet associates held an extended
! conference about noon. 1t was not n
! Cabinet meeting, as no notices had
! been sent out, and only Secretary Of
the Navy Long. Secretary Gage, At
! torncy General G!iggs. Postmaster
| General Gary and Former Attorney
! General Mckenna were present. The
| disaster TO the Maine was the only
! fopic considered.
About II O'Clock the Cabinet officers
! came from the Presidents office. One
/ of them stated that the President had
! given directions that all official info!-
! nation relating 10 the disaster should
he given to the public. \ message was
! received late in the day stating that
/ the total loss or missing number 253.
| The Cabinet officer stated that there
! We're many evidences that the disaster
| was the result of accidni.
| This afternoon Secretay Long sent