The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-29
NOTHING WRONG ABOARD THE SHIP
Two Distinct Explosions Accompanied the Destruction Of
the VESSEL One Short and Sharp, the Other Open and
Prolonged - The Keel Bent by Tremendous Force
Into the Shape of V---Full Text of the Finding

Maine occurred a, go p IA. or the 18th OF
February. isss, In the harbor OF Havana,
Cuba, being al the time uooged at the very
same buoy 10 which she had been taken
upon her arrival There were two ex-
p!ossans OF distinctly different character.
"a very short but distinct interval between
them and the forward part OF the ship
VAS lifted TO marked degree at the time
ef fae first explosion. The first explosion
was more in the nature OF report. ike
that OF a gun, while the second explosion
Was mere open. prolonged. and OF a great
er volume. This second explosion was. In
the opinion OF the court. caused by the par
tiai explosion of two Or more OF the for
ward magazines Of the Maine.
I, Condition of the Wreck-The evidence
bearing on this. being principally obtained
from divers. did not enable the cc7irt to
form a definite conclusion as TO the con-
dition Of The wreck although II WAS es-
tsblished that the after part OF the ship
VAS practically intact and sank I'm that
condition very fe& minutes after the
destruction OF the forward part.
The following factg in regard TO the for
ward part Of the ship are. however. esta b.
iIshed by the testimony: Tina, portion OF
the short side OF the protective deck
which extends from about frame 30 TO
about frame 81. was blown up AFT and over
10 port. The main deck. from about frame
20 10 frame 81. was blown up aft, and
slightly over 10 stsrhoarG folding the for
ward part Of the middle supersiructure
over and on top OF the floor part. This
wac In the opinion OF the court. caused by
the partial explosion OF two or more of the
forward magazines of the Maine
8 Al frame Il the outer she'll 81 the
ship. from point eleven and one-half
feet from the middle l:ae OF the ship ard
six feet above the Keel when In It's al
position, has been forced up so as 70 he
about four feet above the surface OF the
water, therefore about thirty-four feet
above where IL would he rad the ship
sunk ualnjursd. TIE outside bottom plat
ins is bent Into reversed V-shape, the
after wing Of which. about fifteen feet
broad and thfrtY1wo feet I'm length (from
frame u 10 frame "a. is doubled hack upon
Itself against the continuation OF the same
plating extending forward
A. frame ~ the vertical keel Il broken
In two and the Ia, keel bent into an angle
similar 10 the angie formed BY the outside
bottom plating. This break IL now about
ssx fest below the surface o. she water
and about thirty above It's normal position.
In tas opinion % the court. taia effect
could have been produced oniy hy The eS-
piosion III a mine situated under the bot
tom Of ths ship at about frame Is. and
S5nsw hat ua the port side of the snip.
6. The ceHrs tinds that sse loss OF the
Maine. on the occasion named. was not III
aRy respect dge 20 fagis or negligence on
she gar. of afy ~ he officers or members
of the crew og said vessel
= Ia the opinion OF the court the Milne
was destroyed hy the explosion % Sut,-
marine mine. whieh caused tle partial ex-
piossen of tive or more Of her forward
aFaaiaes.
5. The cCurt has beer aaahle - obtain
evidence fixing tse responsibility OF ;he
destruction 81 ~. Maine upon aay person
or persons, w T SAMPSON.
Captain L. Y y. President.
y A MARIN.
Z = y Commando. JutiE. Advocate.
The cour; having finished ne inquiry y
VAS ordered adjourned az II =. IN. so await
the aett3s az tho converting authority.
W T. SAMPSON
Captain l. : n prrsiaen..
\ a MARIN
Lieut. Com. l. s ". Judge Advocate
4 a Flagship Ssw York.
AaFeh = 1855 OF Key West. Fla.
TIE proceedings and findings ~ the cogr'
- inquiry tn the above Ease are approved
NJ sIgARp
REAR Admiral comma nsis 2 -}u-t Chief - ;he
United s;a.es Naval Force e the North
Atlantis.