The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-05
NAN WHO MADE
THE NINE TALKS.
An English Expert says He Sold and
Delivered Them fer Use In
Havana HarhoR.

LONDON. April 4--Details have been
obtained by the Associated Press OF the
manufacture of submarine mines in Lon
don for Spain. which was first brought TO
the attention Of the United States en-
bassy and cabled to the Associated Press
on March 4.
A man whose cards described him as
being an electrical engineer, and whose
name was forwarded at the time to Wash
ington, then said he sold to Spanish OIL
GERS In London several years ago a large
number OF mines, eight or ten OF which
were placed in Havana harbor. He said
they were made In a special way, had q
specially constructed cable. which he can
Identify IL the smallest piece Is produced.
and he added that some OF the mines were
fixed so they could be fired from a fort,
while two ef them had bulbs so arranged
that they would explode upon a vessel
coming in contact with them. The man
added. however. that he did not believe
the bulbs would be used In water as shall
low as that Of Havana harbor. Finally
the man exhibited plans Of one Of these
mines. which he said was the most likely
to produce the effect described as causing
the recent wreck OF the Maine. 1t was
numbered "a" and was constructed to
contain 500 pounds OF gun cotton.
Lieut.. Commander ]. c. Colwell, the Uni
ted States naval attaehe. has since inves-
on the subject to the United Gtaes govern
men. The facts learned strongly tend to
show that Havana harbor was mined.
and unquestonably prove that Spain
purchased mines for that purpose.
The Arm of Lattimer. Rhodes q Clark.
electrical engineers. during lSs7-ss f:led
large order for Spain for . lot Of mines.
In which were used fourteen and one-hslf
tons Of gun cotton. The work was direct
iy under the surveillance Of Gen. Fernan-
de8 and Capt. Bustamento. The latter
was then the head OF the Spanish tor
pedo school. BY order OF these officers the
mines were divided into four eonsgn-
ments. for Havana. Ferrol, Cadiz and
Cartagena The mines were manufact-
ured under the direction Of J. p Gibbons
after 0iboenf patents. which are descrie-
ed n Zs!map's book on sorpedoes and
mines.
Gtobons. from whom Q representative
OF the Associated Press obtains the In
formation, and who furnished Lieut..
Commando Colweil a written statement of
The above facts and outlined his theory OF
the expsos.on which wrecked the Maine.
was then employed by the arm az secre-
ssry Of the torpedo department He also
says a similar lot OF torpedoes was man
ufaeiured for Spain In 1903
The manager OF the Western Engineer
INF Company, which Ii the success Of or
the Aforementioned firm and with which
Gibbons 3 connected. confirms the latter =
statement as 10 the manufacture OF mines
for Spain
Gibbons. who was formerly . sergeant Of
engineers ard . government inspector Of
forpedoes. believes the Names frs explo-
sion was caused by what In technically
called q ground mine. containing 30 pounds
OF gun cotton. several OF which were man.
ufac:ured for Spain He has expeyfmea;ed
With these mines largely at Portsmouth.
and sAys that once laid. they retain their
properties for nfty year1 In addition, Glib
oosn asDer;sthat It - absolutely impossible
for them 20 explode acc1aentaily. ~ the