The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-04-08

pAck upon itself against the continuation OF the
same plating extending forward.
At frame Is the vertical keel is broken In two
and the keel bent into an ANGLE simaiir TO the
angle formed for the outside plates This
break l. about six feet below the surface OF the
water and about thirty feet above its normal
position
In the opinion OF the court this effect could
have been produced only by tho explosion OF
mine situated under the bottom OF the ship 81
about frame Is. and somewhat on the port side
OF the ship
The conclusions OF the court are:
That the loss ot the Maine was not in any re-
spcct due TO fault or negligence on the part OF
any OF the officers or members OF her crew.
That the ship was destroyed by the explosion
OF a submarine mine. which caused the partial
explosion OF two or more Of her forward maya
zines: and
That no evidence has been obtainable fixing
the responsibility for the destruction OF the
Maine upon any person or persons
/ have directed that the tndlng Of the court
OF inquiry and the views OF this government
thereon be communicated 10 the government OF
her majesty the queen. and ! do not permit
myself to doubt that the sense Of justice Of the
Spanish nation viii dictate course OF action
suggested by honor and the friendly relations OF
the two governments.
IL was the duty OF the executive 10 advise the
congress OF the result, ana in the meantime de-
npcfatc CHARACTERIZATION - invoked
lSigned WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. March p, 1855.
Report of the Court of Inquiry.
The following is the full text of the
report OF the court of inquiry:
U. :. S Iowa. FIRST RATE,
KEY WEST Fla.
MONDAY, March 81. 1898
After full and mature consideration OF all the
testimony before II. the court finds as follows;
l. That the United states battleship Maine
arrived in the harbor OF Havana. Cuba on the
twenty fifth day OF January. 1895. and was taken
TO buoy No. a. in from i've and half to six
fathoms OF water. by the regular government
pilot
The United States consul general at Havana
had notified the authorities AZ that place, the
previous evening. of the intended arrival OF the
Maine
.. The state OF discipline on board the Maine
was excellent; and all orders and regulations In
regard To the care and safety OF the ship were
strictly carried out.
All ammunition was slowed away IN accord
nnce with Instructions. and proper care was
taken whenever ammunition was handled
Nothing was slowed in any one OF the maya
zines or she'll rooms which was not ermitted
To be slowed there.
The magazines and shcll-rooms were always
locked after having been opened: and after the
destruction Of the Maine the keys were found in
their proper place in the captains cabin. every
thing having been reported secure that evening
ats p.
The temperatures OF the magazines and she'll
rooms were taken daily and reported. The only
magazine which had an undue amount OF heat
was the after ten-inch magazine. and that lid
not explode at the time the Maine was de-
stroyed
The torpedo warheads were all slowed in the
after part OF the ship. under the ward room. and
neither caused nor participated in the destruc-
tion OF the Maine.
The dry gun cotton primers and detonaters
were slowed In the cabin aft, and remote from
the scene OF the explosion.
The waste was carefully looked after on board
the Maine TO obviate danger. Special orders In
regard to this had been given by tho command
ing officer.
Varnishes. dryers. alcohol and other COM
bustibles OF this nature were slowed on or
above the main deck and could not have had
anything TO do with the destruction of the
Maine.
The medical stores were slowed aft under the
ward room. and remote from the scene OF the
explosion.
No dangerous stores OF any kind were slowed
below in any Of the other store rooms.
The coal bunters were inspected. or those
bunkers adjoining the forward magazines and
shell rooms, four were empty. namely. B3. B4
BIS. B6
AIS had been in use that day. and Aie was
full OF New River coal This coal had been
carefully inspected before receiving 1t on board
The bunker In which it was slowed was accessi-
bic on three sides at al times and the fourth
side at this time, on account OF bunkers b. and
Bs being empty. This bunker Ai6. had been
inspected that day by the engineer oflcer on
duty.
The fire alarms in the bunkcrs were In work
ing order and there had never been a case OF
spontaneous combustion Of coal on board the
Maine
The two after boilers OF the ship were in use
at the time Of the disaster but for auxiliary
purposes only, with a comparatively low pres
sure OF steam. and being tended BY reliable
watch