St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-03-30

Various Spanish officials came on
board, and expressed sympathy and
sorrow for the accident. The represen-
tatives of General Blanco and OF the
admiral of the station were among the
Spanish officials who rendered their re-
spects. About "a or IS men were found
that night who survived. By the time
Captain Sigsbee reached the quarter
deck ii was his impression that an over
wheming explosion had occurred.
When he came from the cabin he was
! practically blinded for a few seconds.
His only thought was for the vessel, and
he took no note Of the phenomena of the
explosion. In reply to the direct ques-
ton Of whether any of the magazines
or shell rooms were blown up, the cap
tain said it was extremely difficult to
come to any conclusion. The center Of
the explosion was beneath and a little
forward of the coming tower, on the
port side. In the region Of the center
axis Of the explosion was the 6-inch re-
serve magazine, which contained very
little powder, about 300 pounds. The 10
inch magazine was in the same general
region, but on the starboard side over
the 1O-inch magazine, in the loading
room of the turret and in the adjoining
passage, a number of 10-inch shells were
permanently placed. According TO Cap
tain Sigsbee it would be difficult to con-
ceive that the explosion involved the 10
inch magazine, because of the location
Of the explosion, and that no reports
show that any 10-inch shells We're hurled
into the air because of the explosion.
The captain went into details as to the
location of the small arm ammunition.
He said that he did not believe that the
forward 6-inch magazine blew up. The
location Of the guncotton was aft, under
the cabin. The guncotton primers and
the decorators were always kept in the
cabin. He stated that he had examined
the wreck himself conversed with 9TH
er officers and men, but as the Spanish
authorities were very much averse to an
investigation, except officially, on the
grounds, as stated by the Spanish adj
miral, that the honor of Spain was in
volved he forbore to examine the sub
marine portion Of the wreck for the
cause of the explosion until the day the
court convened.
He said tat the discipline of the ship
was excellent. The marine guard was
In excellent condition. The reports Of
the medical department show that about
tne man and a quarter per day were on
The sick list during the past year. In
The engineers department the vessel was
always ready and always responsive. He
paid tribute to the crew and said that
qdieter better natured lot of men he
had never known on board any vessel
in which he had served.
He had no fault to find with the behav-
Tor of any officer or man at the time of
the disaster, and considered their con-
duct admirable. On his examination
by the court Captain Sigsbee said that
the highest temperature he could re-
member was 112, but that was in the af-
Ter magazine, the temperature in the
forward magazine being considerably
lower. There was no loose powder kept
In the magazine. All the coal bunkers
were ventilated through air tubes ex-
amined weekly by the chief engineer,
and were connected electrically to the
near his cabin door. The
forward coal bunker on the port side
was full. The forward coal bunker on
the starboard side was half full, and it
was in use at the time of the explosion.