The sun., 1898-02-20
WHAT CAUSED THE ExPLosroNY
Rumors Floating About Havana ~ 60 th
Origin or the Dlsa steP.

Rumors Floating About Havana ~ 60 the
Origin or the Disa steP.
HAVANA. Feb. 1e, p. NJ, via Key West Feb
19-The blowing up OF tho Maine may have
been accidental and 1t may not have been.
Since tho night OF the calamity great many
suspicious facts have been discovered. Three
days before boat containing three Spanish
sailors was seen rowing from the Machina in
tho direction Of the Maine. A Spanish sentinel
OF the Machina challenged them. They stopped,
came to the shore, and. after being detained for
about an hour. were released. as they were said
to have given satisfactory explanation Of their
suspicious action.
A boat with two persons on board which was
going from Havana to Regla on crossing the
bay found itself intercepted by a wire which
seemed 10 come from the dry dock in the direc-
tion OF the Maine. Tho men In the boat had to
lower It TO be able to pass. These men. whose
names are kept secret for the present. intend to
present themselves and report the facts to the
commission which 10 expected here 10 investi-
gate the Maine disaster.
A Spanish woman, recently arrived from
Spain. on hearing Of the report Of the disaster
said to number OF persons whom she supposed
were all SpAniards: 80 the Maine has beon
blown up No wonder was told yesterday not
TO 90 near the wharf, as tho ship was going to
be blown up"
Another suspicious incident is that few sec
onds after the accident had occurred several
spaniards from distant part of tho city all
said: THAT is the Maine which has blown upI'
Santos Guzman, who 10 the representative of
tho Spanish Constitutional Union. was at his
house in the Cerro entertaining some friends.
As soon rs he heard the explosion he said: 81
guess that is boat that has blown up In the bay
On board the City Of Washington largo pieces of
cement Oft tho bottom of the Maine fell In great
quantities. The question Ia asked: If the ex.
plosion took place from within. how is IL the
cement was hurled from the bottom upT
The press ever since the disaster are publish
ing long articles to prove II WAS accident. ana
are repeating them NV with the sane inai'toncs
the Maine arrived and they pretended that the
peaceful relations OF the two countries were then
One thing is certain; in tho spanlsh mind the
incident of the Maine has produced most dta.
American eftiocrs and navy. The ,spaniards
say now: What kind OH navy 10 that when.
due to tho o"FelSssnSss q their ,b own ocsrs
impress by the looks OF their shipe ! Never
EvsrythinR points to the conclusion that the
explosion oamo from tho out tsde and not from the
that fact HspeSa SaSSor Is T ad % With mines
been been one Of these which did the work. That thg
accident was not due TO causes inaide tho weasel
10 said to be the conviction OF all the Maine &
officers, although they are very retioent As ia
| when questioning them ~ 20 the cause Of the
| explosion Is; 81 do not know"
The disaster was the cause OF great rejoicing
| among the Spanish. and many bOttloa Of cham
pagne were onsned In Havana 70 celebrate the
! visits OF coincidence from the American colony
and the CubAns, including many hundred
| women.