Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-31

the opinion of the court, caused by
the partial explosion of two or more
of the forward magazines of the
Maine,
4-The evidence bearing on this, be-
ing principally obCained from divers,
did not enable the court to form a
definite conclusion as to the condi-
tion of the wreck, although it was es-
tabnshed that the after part of the
snip was practically intact and sank
in that condition very few minutes
after the destruction of the forward
part.
Inc following facts in regard tc
the forward part of the ship are.
however, established by the testi-
mony:
"That portion of the port sue of
the protective deck which extends
from about frame 80 to about frame
Al was blown up aft and over to port.
The main deck from about frame Oh
to about frame Al was blown up aft
and slightly over to starboard, fold
ing the forward part of the middle
81 llNA OIL ~ iiiI ONNl anu vi up vi lllC
after part. This vas, in the opinion
OF the court, caused by the partial
explosion of two or more of the for
ward magazines Of the Maine.
AT frame AZ, the outer shell of
the ship from point eleven and one
half feet from the middle line of the
ship and six feet above the keel when
in its normal position, mas been fore
ed up so as to be now about four feet
above the surface of the water:
therefore about thirty-four feet above
where it would be had the ship sunk
uninjured, The outside bottom plat
ing is bent into a reversed V shape,
the after wing of which, about fifteen
feet broad and thirty-two feet in
length (from frame II to frame 25),
is doubled back upon itself against
the continuation of the same plating
extending forward.
At frame eighteen the vertical keel
is broken in two, and the fiat keel
bent into an angle similar to the an
gle formed by the outside bottom
plating. This break is now about six
feet below the surface OF the water,
and about thirty feet ABOVE its nor
NAL position.
In the opinion of the court this eff
feet could have been produced only
by the explosion of a mine situated
under the bottom of the ship at about
frame eighteen, and somewhat on the
port side OF the ship.
6. The court finds that the loss of
the Maine, on the occasion named,
was not in any respect due to fault
or negligence on the part of any of
the officers or members of the crew
of said vessel.
7. In the opinion of the court, the
Maine was destroyed by the explosion
of a submarine mine, which caused
the partial explosion of two or more
of her forward magazines.
8. The court has been unable to
obtain evidence fixing the responsible
ity for the destruction Of the Maine
upon any person or persons.
(Signcd)
w. 7. SAMPSON captain, U S N,
president
A. MARIN, lieutenant commander,
S. n, Judge advocate.
The court having finished the in
quiry it was ordered to make, adj
journed at II a. IN. to await the AZ
ton OF the converting authority.
(Signed)
w. L. SAMPSON, captain, L. S. n,
president.
a. MARIN, lieutenant commander.
U. S. ~, Judge advocate.
United States flagship New York,
March %, 1898, Off KEY West. Fla.
Tho proceedings and findings of the
court of inquiry in The above case are
NJ. SICARD. rear admiral, com
of the United States
naval force on the North Atlantic
station.