Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-03-31
Maine Court Of Inquiry
Says 1t Caused the
Explosion.
The Spanish Naval Commission,
on the Other Hand, Announces
that the Disaster Was of
Internal Origin.
President Mckinley and His AdTise
spend an Eyentful Day and Orders
Given to Redouble the
Preparations for Con-
test with Spain.

Washington. March 2G.-The Maine
court of inquiry has reported that the
loss of the battleship was due to an
outside explosion. The state depart
ment, by direction of the president.
has cabled United States Minister
Woodford at Madrid to notify the
Spanish government of this conclusion.
The president and his cabinet advisers
held two sessions Friday. at which the
report was considered in detail. Mem
bers of the cabinet stated after the
meeting that the discussion was of
grave character and that never since
the wrecling of the Maine has the sit
uation seemed so critical.
The Spanish government has cabled
officially to Washington that the Span
ish naval commission holds the disaster
to the Maine to be of internal origin.
The government of Spain, it can be
stated positively, is not disposed to
turn back the torpedo fotilla now pro
ceeding from the Canarics,
The foregoing gives the record of
one of the most eventful days the ma
tional capital has seen since the close
)f the civil war.
The findings of the court, briefly
stated, are that the loss of the Maine
was due to an explosion from the out
side, the court being unable to fix the
responsibility for the explosion. The
court does not express an opinion as to
the character of the explosive, but the
testimony goes to show that it was a
Il Al
character of which is not determined
by the testimony, though the belief
was expressed that it was a floating
submarine mine. There were two ex
plosions, the court finds; the first was
from the outside, and that set off one
of the smaller magazines.
1t was this result, expressed in detail
and with the precision of a court deep
ly conscious of its responsibility. to-
gether with the evidence on which it
was based, that occupied the attention
Of the cabinet throughout its sessions.
There was no change in the plan of
making the report public and trans
mitting it to congress early next week,
accompanied by brief message from
the president.
While interest was thus centered at
the White House, the navy and war
departments We're hurrying forward
their work of preparation. The adj
vance of the Spanish torpedo hotilla
continued to receive the closest atten
ton of naval officials, and while 50
far as could be ascertained no definite
line of action was determined upon.
the need of intercepting this fleet was
urged by the highest naval authorities.
Hardly less suggestive than the ap-
proach of the torpedo f1otilla was the
information received by the military
authorities that the Spanish govern
ment had hurried to completion exten-
sive Notifications on the island OF
Porto Rico. The exact character OF
known here and they are being given
weight with the military authorities
as showing the disposition of Spain.
Madrid, March 26.-The report of the
Spanish board of inquiry into the loss
of the battleship Maine says emphat-
ically that the explosion was of in
ternal origin. The report says it is
scientifically and practically demon
strated that the explosion was inter
nal"
Key West, March 26.-The bulletin
that the court of inquiry had found
that the Maine was blown up by sub
marine mine created intense excite.
ment here. 1t was read hy eager
crowds, which included Admiral 81
card, elderly captains and young
cadets. Most of the naval officers at
Key West have held to the opinion,
shared by all the officers of the Maine,
that the warship was blown up by ex-
ternal means. All were glad to know
that the Names fate was not due 10
the negligence of her own officers.
The most significant development
that followed the announcement of the
courts report-a development known
to but few-was the sudden sailing of
the lighthouse tender Mangrove for
Havana. The Mangrove was lying
quietly at the dock, loading buoys.
when orders came about p. IN. for her
to proceed with all haste to Havana
and take on board all the American
officials in that city with the exception
of Consul General Lee.
The attention of Admiral Sicard was
drawn to the fact that Spain had Off
cially denied that Havana harbor was
mined. He replied: IF Havana har-
Dor was mine | should certainly have
mined it. The water there is especial
" suitable to such d method of de-
fense. | should not believe a state
mcnt that Havana harbor was not
mined"
Eliminates the Negro from Politics.
Now GrlaanS Marn1 or I r,r,iui.