The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-04-07


For some time prior to the visit of the
| Maine to Havana harbor our consular re-
ports pointed out the advantages to fol-
| low from the visit of national ships to
| the Cuban waters in accustominli the
| people to the presence of our flag as the
| symbol Of good will and of our ships in
| the fulfiment of the mission of protec-
| ton to American interests, even though
| no immediate need therefor might exist.
| Accordingly on the oath of January
| last, after conference with the Spanish
| minister in which the renewal of visits
| of our war vessels to Spanish waters was
| discussed and accepted, the peninsular
| authorities at Madrid and Havana were
! advised of the purpose of this govern
ment to resume friendly naval visits at
| Cuban ports, and that, in that view
| the Maine would forthwith call at
| the port of Havana. This announcement
was received by the Spanish government
with appreciation of the friendly charac-
| ter of the visit of the Maine, and with
notification of intention to return the
| courtesy by sending Spanish ships 10 the
principal ports of the United States.
| Meanwhile the Maine entered the port of
| Havana on the 18th of January, her ar
rival being marked with no special Incl
dent, besides the exchange OF customary
| salutes and ceremonial visits.
The Maine continued in the harbor dur
| ing the three weeks following her arrival
| No appreciable excitement attended her
stay. on the contrary, n feeling of relief
and confidence followed the resumption
of the long interrupted friendly inter-
course. So noticeable was this immediate
effect of ner visit that the Consul-general
strongly urged that the presence OF our
ships in Cuban waters should be Kept UP
by retaining the men at Havana, or, in
, the event of her recall by sending other
Vessels there TO take her place.
AT forty minutes past nine in the even
ing of the 10Th of February the Maine
was destroyed by an explosion, by which
the entire forward part of the ship was
utterly wrecked. IN this catastrophe two
officers and 200 of her crew persisted,
these who were not killed outright by her
explosion being penned between decks Dy
the tangle Of wreckage and drowned by
the immediate sinking OF the hun.
Prompt assistance was rendered by the
neighboring vessels anchored in the mar
Dor, aid being especially given by the
boats of the Spanish cruiser Alphonso
XII and the Ward line steamer City of
Washington, which lay not far distant.
| The wounded were generously cared Tor
| by the authorities of Havana the hospi-
| tails being freely opened 10 them, while
the earliest recovered bodies OF the dead
were inferred by the municipality In
public cemetery in the city. Tributes OF
grief and sympathy were offered IRON
The Appalling Calamity
fell upon the people OF our country with
crushing force. and for u brief time in
tense excitement prevailed, which. IN
community less just and seize ontEolied
than ours, might have led to hasty acts
in resentment. This spirit, however soon
gave way to the calmer processes or rea-
son. and 10 the resolve to investigate the
facts and await the material proof before
forming judgment as to the cause, he
responsibility, and, II the factS warrant
! ell. the remedy due. This course nccc;-
sarily recommended itself from the out
set to the executive, for only in the light
of a dlspassonately ascertained certain
ty could IL determine the nature anu
measure of it's full duty in the matter.
The usual procedure followed, as in all
cases Of casualty or disaster To national
vessels OF any maritime state. y naNaI
court of inquiry was at once organized
| composed of officers well qualified by
rank and practical experience Ia dis
| charge the onerous duty imposed uDon
| them. Aided by a strong force OF wreck
ers and divers the court proceeded TO
| make a thorough investigation on the
spot, employing every available means Tor
| the impartial and exact determination OF
| the cause of the explosion. It's opera
tions have been conducted with the ut
| most elaboration and judgment, and
| while Independently pursued no source
| of information was neglected and the
! fullest opportunity was allowed Tor "a
simultaneous investigation by the Span.
| ish authorities
The finding Of the court of inquiry was
| reached after twenty-three days Of con-
| tinuous labor. on the 21st OF March inst,
| and having been approved on the I'D by
| the comma pder-in-chief OF the United
| States naval force on the North Atlantic
| station. was transmitted TO the execu-
| tive.
| It is herewith laid before the congress,
| together with the voluminous testimony
| taken before the court, its purport il IN
| brief as follows:
| When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
| eminent pilot to buoy No. Z, to which she
| was moored I'm from Ave and one-haf TO
| six fathoms Of water.
The state of discipline on board and
| the condition Of her magazine. boilers,
| coal bunkers and storage compartments
are passed I'm review, with the conclu-
K sion that excellent order prevailed and
4 that no indication of any cause for an
4 internal explosion existed in any quarter.
At o'clock in the evening Of Feb. u
| everything had been reported secure and
| all was quiet.
At forty minutes past nine o'clock the
i vessel was suddenly destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions,
| with a brief interval between them. The
first lifted the forward part OF the ship
/ very perceptibly; the second, which was
more prolonged. is attributed by the court
| to the partial explosion of two or more
| Of the forward magazines.
The evidence OF the divers establishes
| that the after part of the ship Was prac-
| t!caily intact and sank in that condition
| a very few minutes after the explosion
| The forward part was completely de-
| molished.
| Blown Up by n Mine.