The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-24
,TARB0ARD MAGAZINE SAFE.
GROWING THAT 1T DID
NOT BLOW UP.


came From the Outside on the
Port BOw-JuniOr Spanish Officers
would Be Considered Under
Gland should Mine Theory Prove
Correct.
Havana, Via Key West, Fla, Feb. 2S.-
THE situation, which may be changed at
anv moment by fresh discoveries, may be
summed up, when this dispatch is sent
this afternoon, substantially as follows:
The divers having discovered the cases
of brown hexagonal powder for the 1O-inch
Gun unexploded and believing also that
lots unexploded would be found in the
1O-nch magazine on the starboard side
forward the conviction grows that this
magazine did not blow up. If this be 50,
and many insisted from the first that it is
the case. the conviction is forced that the
explosion which wrecked the Maine came
from the outside on the port bow.
As previously wired the main portion
of the wreck, as seen from above and
noted from below, was blown from the
starboard.
The highest American officials here are
confident that Gen. Blanco and the other
high Spanish officials had no knowledge,
direct or indirect, of the conception or
execution of a plot to blow up the Maine,
II such a plot existed, but they believe
that the junior Spanish officers, who from
the nature of things are more conversant
with modern explosives than their elders
and superiors, were at the bottom of the
disaster, if there was any outside agency.
1t is pointed out that it would not be i'm
possible TO plant a mine of wet and dry
gun cotton near where foreign war YES
sci was directed to anchor, such mine
connecting with an electric battery on
shore.
1t is regarded as an interesting point
that the Maine, for the first time during
her stay in the harbor, lay at the partic-
uar spot where she was at the time of the
catastrophe and. it is said, though not of
ficially verified, that the Maine was the
first foreign war vessel moored to this par
ticular buoy since the troubles in Cuba
grew acute.
All stories as to lax discipline on the
Maine are without shadow OF truth. On
the contrary Capt Slgsbee was complain
ed of by some for the rigidity of his rules
and the strictness with which he enforc-
eu lnSEn. moreover, lne maine ndu Deen IN
commission for years and never had a Sc
rious accident until anchored in this quiet
harbor
IN reply TO a question put by this CORE
spondent to a high American official as
10 what the outcome would be if it was
proved that the disaster was due to an
outside agency, the official, in question
said: "Sir, the American people could not
be restrained. It would mean war. Still
] W uypa1 IeA IN
fire shot, Admiral Sicard could anchor
the Iowa the Indiana, the Massachusetts
and the New York outside Havana har-
Dor, to prevent the ingress of food supplies,
without which the city could not exist a
fortnight Cuba is a waste of ashes and
desoation. Even the hotels and cafes
here in Havana live from hand to mouth
on supplies brought from the United
States
If Admiral Sicard demanded the sur
render of Havana, giving twenty-four
hours for the removal of women and chill
dren surrender would follow. The forts
are cd structures and could be demol-
lshed by a six-pounder Such new guns
as have been mounted are short of ammu-
hton, and have never been tried. If
Cen Blanco should decline to surrender
the Spanish merchants here, who repre-
sent ~ per cent. of the property and pay
70 per cent. of the taxes of the island
would compel him to accede to Admiral
Slcards terms AS for the volunteers, the
men are, for the most part the employees
OF the merchants and the volunteer officers
are largely their sons or their junior part
ners.
1t is well to look these things In the
lace At the same time, it is well for the
americans to restrain themselves until
there is some proof of an outside agency
IN the explosion. We can afford to wait
little longer, seeing we have waited so
long But we could not wait after 1t had
peen proven that the Maine disaster was
the result of dastardly plot.
Spanish officers from the old country
AoId to the unaccountable belief that their
arms would overcome us within
rev weeks, but the Gu
pan merchants have no such de-
ius'on, and they would control the sit
uatlon. Hence, 1 believe that no shot
sary."
These sentiments represent the best in
formed Americans here.
member of the court OF inquiry who
cohVersed with this correspondent to-day
strongly deprecated any premature ex-
PTesslon or evidence of resentment on the
p'rt OF the people of the United States
until 1t was proven that the disaster re-
suited from some other cause than acct
Providence.
Certainly, the members of the court Of
INQUIRY who are cool, experienced and ju-
o'cial, will not lose their heads
one thing seems certain; IL the Maine
was blown up by an outside agency. the
oseht was a mine and not a torpedo, as
10 torpedo known could have produced
eueh tremendous results.
consul General Lee, who has received
lumber Of dispatches to-day inquiring as
10 'ne accuracy of the report that he is ar
,oHgihg TO go TO Key West on the torpedo
uoat Gushing to meet Senator Proctor,
Gays ne has no present intention Of doing
80 To-day has been the quietest since the
explosion
me wounded are all doing well except
worse.
ne divers have been continuously at
work but the results of their labors so
4ar as they would throw light on the cause
- tne explosion, are kept strictly for the
curt Of Inquiry. The officers OF the court
inquiry during the in
erection of the wreck to-day, dis
covered, Ii is said, that the armor plates