Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-02-23

Of the United States battleship Maine
In Havana harbor Tuesday night re-
suited in the death of 25S men. The
total number of the crew was 354 and
Of these only SO are now alive. Many
OF the survivors are suffering serious
wounds and several more may die
from their injuries.
Capt. Sigsbee, in his official dispatch
to the navy department, places Engi-
neer Merritt and Boatswain Jenkins
among the missing. The explosion, it
Is said, occurred in the forward part
OF the vessel, and not in the Santa
Barbara magazine, as was at first sup
posed. Fire followed directly after
the explosion, which was fearful in
its violence. Capt Sigsbee himself
was wounded slightly in the head, but
1T was not serious enough to disable
him. He remained perfectly cool
throughout all the excitement which
followed the explosion, and gave di-
rections for looking after the sinking
battleship and caring for the wounded.
The great battleship, it is thought, will
be total loss. Capt Sigsbee himself
acknowledges as much
The explosion, it is said by some,
was caused by over 600 pounds of gun
cotton, and the subsequent explosion is
alleged to have been caused by shells
and cartridges.
Lieutenant Commander Wainwright
of the Maine was half undressed at GAS
p. m. and was smoking in his cabin,
next to that of Capt. Sigsbee. it is said,
when the explosion occurred and put
out the electric lights. Wainwright then
lit match and went to Capt. Sigsbee's
cabin. The captain, it appears. had
been thrown from his bed, but was un-
injured. They both went on deck and
gave orders to flood $500 pounds of gun
cotton which was on board. The order
filled it never returned. Havana, how
ever, was saved from still more ter
rible explosion.
- Capt. Sigsbee, interviewed with refer
ence to the cause of the explosion,
said: 81 cannot determine the cause,
but competent investigators will decide
whether the explosion was produced
from an interior or an exterior cause.
I cannot say anything until after such
an investigation has been made. will
not and cannot conscientiously antici-
pate the decision, nor do wish to make
any unjust estimate of the reason for
the disaster"
he Nn
Sigsbee was below, but he rushed up
on deck in his shirt sleeves and gave
orders. Efforts were at first made to
save the vessel, but when Capt. Sigs-
bee realized the extent of the damage
done and that many casualties had oc-
Cured he bent all his energies to as
surfing the safety of his men.
The report was heard in the city,
and crowds Immediately flocked to the
harbor front. Flames at that time
were bursting from the battleship.
The greatest excitement prevailed
among those on shore. The COM
mander of the Spanish ship Alfonso
XII. Immediately had boats lowered
and sent to the assistance of the
Maine. These boats picked up several
sailors of the Maine, who were swim
ming. They also rescued several of
the wounded.
Half an hour after midnight thirty
six of the crew had been carried to the
military hospital of San Ambrosio.
They were all most seriously wounded.
Five others of the crew were taken to
the Alfonso XIII. hospital.
On board the Spanish cruiser AL
fonso XII. twenty-six Of the wounded
were treated, and thirty-six were sue
cored on board the City of Washing
ton.
The Maine at the time of the ex-
plosion was at anchor about 500 yards
from the arsenal and some 200 yards
from the floating dock. The explos-
ion put out the street lights near the
wharf and blew down telephone and
telegraph wires in that vicinity.
Admiral Manterola and Gen. Solano
nut off to the Maine soon after the
explosion and offered their services
to Capt. Sigsbee.