New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-21
LETTER FROM A MAINE SURVIVOR
LIEUTENANT cATLIN OF THE MARINE CORPS DE-

/ LIEUTENANT CATLIN OF THE MARINE CORPS DE-
scRiBEs THE wREcKING OF THE SHIP.
Paterson y. J.. Feb. 20 (speciaD.-Georse J"
Catlin. of Paterson, son Of the late George l..
Catlin. formerly United States Consul at Iurich.
has received letter from Albertus W. Catlln. MS
cousin who Is at present in Key West, and VINO
was OF the Maine when she went down. Mr. Cat
lin is a first Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and
was graduated from Annapolis In 1855. His letter
follows:
Key West. February i. 1895.
Ny Dear George The papers have OF course
told YOU more OF the terrible catastrophe 10 our
dear old ship and gallant crew that any descrpI
ton OF mine can spar spar, me from ,rS To recan
possession OF my senses. endeavoring TO think OF
something eiSe gu' b There are many alive who
saw that explosion who are not suffering from
We're dead That scene mus forever occupy the
mind to the exclusion OF everything , Csc Try
to think of home. OF college days that then seemed
crowded full Of interest. and they all lead TO the
WilI YOU believe me- George. had just gone to
stateroom with the intuition OF ansTeT 5nS
take aken of my coat. and had lighted of the
products OF this country, and the thought passed
through my mind how much you would enjoy one
OF these superb Havanas on such peaceiu iaeal
night The water and the sky were so peaceful so
feIt In Northern waters. Nothing seemed so for
egn to that scene as war. These thoughts WHICH
as part of that Understandable scene. Had not mis-
laid nv pen somewhere ! would have been in the
act OF writing TO you when the explosion occurred
As IT was was looking leisurely for the pen, and
enjoying my cigar the full. and regarding II al
most affecionatcly when heard an explosion that
only perceptibly shocked the ship rushed out
in nv shirtsleeves what was the matter
Then came the second, the terrific. one. that de
stroyed our ship and hurled 20 eternity so many
of our brave sailors / was near Captain Sigsbee
and heard the sentry one OF my men. tell him.
Il have to inform you. sir. that the ship has been
blown up and Is sinking" All my former exper-
ience-and / have heard guns fired that would
deafen the andsman-does not allow me the use
OF a single comparison. 1t Was like nothing had
ever heard or thought Of. and | hope that may
never nave such an experience again. The noise
alone seemed to be some tangible thing that was
more terrible than cannon balls: We were there
IN utter darkness; or; at least 1t appeared so TO
me. | CROPPED to the hatchway. and by some mys-
FERROUS power. shall never know how. found my
sell on the deck. Captain Sgs6ee had reached the
deck and giving orders TO food the explosives.
AZ the command Of CAPTAIN sigsoee ordered our
unfortunate comrades whose heartrending cries
came from all directions and were the first things
to bring the survivors TO their senses.
The ship had by this time caugh; fire and was In
the fixed ammunition kept continually exploding.
on ordinary occasions the explosion Of one OF these
the explosion that wrecked The ship they were
We expected momentariy 10 see her pltch ana go
under the waves. Had she dole this. there is little
the suction Of such ship would certainly have
drawn most Of the boats down: and there would
Notwithstanding this danger. which was greater
than The chance that TIE ship would blow up
I
OF that awful scene are des,-ibed-yet, notwith
standing all this the did not forsake a single
conrado while they had any chance of saving or
finding him. The discipline was remarkable We
put several hoatloads OF rescued ones aboard the
CITY 81 Washington | remained with the boat, and
was ono ~ the last to he lifted aboard had hut
a few fragments Of my uniform left Legs and
arms Of former companions could be floating
around These generally were torn. and were
mere masses OF fcsh
Siraws in a whrlwind could not have been more
helpless than were these brave fellows who had
been caught in the force OF the explosion. But
enough.
Yey West Our poor comrade Merritt, who
killed. was at Annapolis when played halfback on
the college tonm We shall miss him very much
OF course. all have opinion regarding the
cause Of the accident. but YOU Will not expect me
to express nv opinion now: you familiar with
our orders and need no explanation. VIII write to
you in p few days. Writing does seem to take up
nv mind better than anything else have written
nv tho same mail my mother.
Believe 20 remain yours very truly.
a. w. CATIIN