The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-29

WASHINGTON, March es.-The inn
nense mass of testimony taken by tho
Maine court of inquiry was sent to tho
senate today, and With the presidents
message and findings of the court referred
10 the committee on foreign relations.
The testimony was taken on eighteen
different days, the fourteenth day and over
being devoted to viewing the wreck. Every
witness who was known TO have any infor-
nation that could throw light upon the
great disaster was called to give his tesii-
mony.
The story OF the destruction of the ves-
sci is today not graphically given. but in
a manner which gives all the obtaiaahie
facts. No technical detail is omitted.
Every movement and incident connected
with the Maine from the time she left Key
West until the last diver examined tho
wreck. slowly sinking in the mud Of
Havana harbor, Is given.
Ii Is story intensely Interesting to the
people. Those who read II could have lit
tie doubt as to whether there was an In
ternal or external explosion.
Perhaps the most significant testimony
is that showing the bottom plates on tho
port side OF the ill-fated Maine TO be bent
inward and upward. result thas hardly
could have followed anything save an ex-
piosion from the outside.
A mass OF testimony Is submitted show
ing the care exercised on board the ship
by Capt. Sigsbec and his officers. and the
apparent impossibilty OF accident occur
ring By an internal cause, such as the
heating of bunkers, Spontaneous combus-
ton or SO many other theories put forth.
The testimony of Capt. sigsbee is of the
greatest Importance. and perhaps is OK
more general interest than that of any
other man called. With, great care and
minuteness be- gives an account OF the
management cf tha ship. how She was
handled how she sailed into Havana. her
anchorage and what he knew about IL.
and In fact every point upon which the
government and the country desires to b
informed Nothing In Capt. Sigsbees re-
port shows that the anchorage was chang
ed or that it was considered dangerous
by any one
Second In Importance TO the testimony.
of Capt. Slgsbee is that Of Ensign Powell
son. who had charge Of the divers. and
knew from day to day what the divers
found. This officer was mInutely inform
ed as to the construction OF the Maine
and everything about her. His testimony
was to certain extent technical. bear
ing upon the construction OF the ship. her
plates. etc. and 1t was from these plates
and this technical knowledge that he was
able to declare that the explosion took
place from the outside.
Divers Morgan. Olsen and Smith all
contributed important evidence. They tes-
titled that the plates were bent inward IN
the bottom port side and outward on the
starboard SIDE.
Nothing In the testimony fixes the re-
spoasibi:lty. but although conspiracy
IL apparent. no knowledge OF the piani-
ing OF mine Is shown.
Capt. Sigsbee states that n somewhat
bitter feeling existed against the American
ship and Americans generally. and Wit
ness whose name ~ suppressed tells OF
overhsarlng conversation among Span
ish officers and citizen indicating a
fereknowledge Of the destruction OF the
Maine by intention to blow her up.
An official of the American consulate
tells ef information received anonymously
tending IN show that a conspiracy existed.
but nothing definite IL stated which fixes
any responsibility upon Spain or herGub-
1ecis.
Capt Sigsbee. In testltgtng before the
court or inquiry said that he assumed
command of the Maine April 10. iss7, and
thar his ship anchored 10 the hafbor Of
Havana the last time Jsnuary "A. 1895.
The authorities at Havana knew Of the
Ma3ne's coming, coasui General Lee hav-
ing informed the authorities. according 20
official custom. After he took on an Of
fetal pilot sent by tte captssa % siss port
Of Hayana. the ship was berthed In thu
maa-of-war auchorsge of the -aachlna
n~ 4 nd n a htz-s sf1