The herald., 1898-02-17

would BE- 4 hcro.s he said. ''Bnt 81 course
The Spanish government has no connec-
"WiiI It precipitate WARP
"oh. hardly. II It is shown that the ex-
plosion was not accidental, tho Spanish
government would be In duty bound to dis
avow any connection with It and punish
| the author or authors In q summary man.
ner."
GROUND FOR SUSPICION
l LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE Globe this after
noon, commenting on the disaster to the
Maine. says: 1T 10 impossible to refrain
| from the suspicion that the explosion may
have been caused by foul means. Although
anchored, the Maine would have steam
| up in one of her boilers for the dynamos
and auxiliary machinery. II an internal
machine had been hidden In the coal bunk
ers and thrown into the furnace with the
coal. there would have been an explosion
| OF the boiler and, as a result. OF the mag
azine. That this terrible event should have
| occurred in the harbor Of Havana. renders
a solution of the mystery Of international
Importance"
Continuing the Globe says: "The last se-
rious disaster of this nature occurring IN
peace times was in 1851 when n. M. o.
Petrol blew up In the Straits OF Magellan.
caused by the formation Of coal gas An
other suggestion was that substance
called xeroline siccative, slowed In the
paint room, was responsible Upon this oc-
casion there were two distinct explosions
and 14S out OF the crew Of 100 perished.
In the following year an explosion on ooard
H. NJ. s. Triumph killed three men. In this
case the disaster was traced to the use OF
the xeroline siccative."
The headlines of all London newspapers
hint that the disaster points to treachery.
either Cuban or Spanish, and the papers
allude to the excitement and resentment
at the Maine's disaster to Havana The
newspapers also publish long descriptions
OF the Maine. with the names of her offi-
GERS. They describe Capt. Sigsbee as an ex-
cellent officer. and publish accounts OF his
career.
The st. James Gazette leans to the sup
position that the disaster was wrought
by an explosion In the magazine which is
beneath the forecastle. and, as far as pos
sible from the engine fires. adding:
ut remains, however, to be explained
how a magazine carefully guarded could
be fired. AS bearing upon this, 1t must
be borne in mind that the discipline on
American warships is usually, to English
ideas, rather lax"
Another possibility 1t adds, 'is that
submarine torpedo was exploded. acci-
coeooese
thought that the outrage was perpetrated
by Spanish conspirator. or Cuban insur-
gent"
CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-Lieut. Command
er Spiers OF the United States navy was
aroused from his bed at the Navy club and
told of the Names destruction.
1T cannot understand how such an ex-
plosion could occur in the ship" he said.
with the accent on the "in.'
IT am familiar with the location of the
Names magazines. Sometimes there are
magazines both fore and aft, and 1t is
barely possible that one of the Maine S
exploded, but do not understand how any
ammunition in the magazine could have
exploded at this time. There Is no reason
that know of why anybody should have
gone to the magazine then. The keys Of a
vessels magazines are always kept in the
possession of the captain and when the
captain leaves they are turned over to the
officer left in command. Not having full
information. 1 cannot express any opinion
on the disaster"
BELKNAP'S VIEWS
Belknap, U. S. N. retired, said today that
he was inclined to think the Maine was
blown up by torpedo.
II do not see" he said, "how any explo-
| sion of the forward magazine could have
| occurred. = The keys of the magazines are
always kept inlthe custody of the captain.
All the ammunision lis carefully cased,
mostly In the fcrmief projectiles, and their
| explosion by themselves Is nexteto impos-
sible. II. as the dispatches state, the
whole bow of the ship was blown OF, 1t Is
apparent that the explosion could not have
| been caused by The boilers, or the coal &c Z
| ting heated. do not see how 1t could have
| occurred from the paint room, as every pre-
| caution Is taken to prevent the collection
| of explosive gases in the paint room, and II
such an explosion occurred 1t would have
been more likely to have caused fire thar
| destroy the ship"
Rear Admiral Belknap said 1t was a very
significant thing that the Maine should
| have been blown up In that particular har-
Dor at this particular time. In the alb
| sence Of information as to the cause, hi
thought that was the most significant in
dication In the whole matter.
NOT UNPRECEDENTED
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-Rear Admiral Err.
ben, u. 8. N, retired, said today that ht
was inclined to believe thar the Maine was
blown up by her own magazine. Such
things had happened before. Captain A
thentic information he was unwilling tc
discuss the matter in any light.
SIGSBEE RETICENT
HAVANA, Feb. 1s.-Captain Sigsbee, In.
| terviewed this evening by the correspond
ent of the Associated Press with reference
to the cause of tn explosion said:
II cannot determine the cause. but com
petent Investigators will decide whether
the explosion was produced from an in
terror or exterior cause. cannot sa,
anything until after such an investigation
has been made. 1 will not. and canno
conscientiously anticipate the decisior' O.
do wish to make any unjust estimate o
the reason for the disaster.
AN ADEQUATE CAUSE
HAVANA, Feb. 16.--Lleutenant Com
mander Wainwright believes the explosion
was due to the short circuiting Of tn
dynamo.
EXPLOSION ECHOES