Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-05-03
DESTRUCTION OF THE "MAINE".


Far, far beyond the scope of the human
mind, or the powers of our limited under
standing, lie the dark and latent secrets of
that vast, unmeasurab bic and mysterious
future, which is held in thrall by the Om-
nipotent One by whom all things were
created, and before whom all must bow;
like mighty volume sealed with an eter-
nal zeal, and which power, to unlock
and draw its secrets from their hiding
places, is given only to Father Time, who
swiftly and with relentless fingers turns
the leaves, of which each page represents
century and otch paragraph decade.
The life Of a nation is subject to those
swift Kaleidoscope changes which some
times occur i'll that OF an individual,
although on a grander scale. moment
of iancled security, period of domestic
tranquility, and suddenly the veil is
suatched from our startled eyes, the pent-
up forces OF a mountain STORM bursts in
fury about us, and we are engulfed in
strife SO vast and a carnage SO dreadful
that the world with uplfted hands looks
on in horror.
The vastness of time abounds with in
applicable and nconceivable future
events. What person was there with
mind however grand, who, one year ago,
might even dream of the events that have
since TRANSFERRED, or who to-day so pre-
sumptuous as to predict what the remain
ing time of the present year will chron-
icle?
One year ago this very day, in foreign
port and tropical cline, basking in the
glow OF mellowing sunset, lay type of
our navy, and the pride Of the American
nation, sent there by an unsuspecting
government on an errand of international
good and courtesy. The glory died
out in the western sky, and as the deepen
ing twilight merged into darkness, the
battleship "Maine" lay at her moorings,
gently buffeted by he ever changing tide.
Her pure white sides were revealed with
ghostly distlnctness against a dark and
sombre background, and her freight of
hearty, happy sailors who, entertaining
10 thoughts bus of tie joys Of existence,
were already preparing for the night-and
such night!
Little did they think as they lightly
treeded i'll and out about the deck, that
the fate OF their nation hung in Il balance,
the turning point III its history had now
arrived, ana their own doom was hourly
approaching. impossible to believe that
the noble snip winch rode the waves then
50 buoyantIy, ere the morning aye, ere
the bells i'll Havana toIied the midnight
hour-Woutd lie beneath the foul and
Shiny waters Of tins ancient harbor, d
shapeless, distorted mass, nn iron tomb
fined mIen horribly mangled corpses, the
victims of revoItlng treachery.
II was indeed erime OF crimes, for
hich the blood of Its perpetrators could
alone atone.
Could mortal man foretell that tale of
horror: No, 1t Thousand times no. 1t was
utterly beyond the conception of the
human mind. 1t WAS then future, it is
now past.
But " hen the conclusion Il the eXplod-
ing mine set off the ships magazines,
which with II Humorous roar shattered
the armored huu, and dashed 50 many
souls Into eternity, the few survivors
behaved with Il GOODNESS and fortituue
that presaged what subsequent events SO
ably proved-the indomtnblc courage OF
the American Iiur.
From that day to this, lis first au.ri-
ver-Hr. WHAT 4 tIH!n Of events has
trans pired the var with S,ain and us
iuctdcntale, the treaty f peAco, and Low
another war, bat one OF ulAlt lmport-
3,nce.
The man Who, nctuntct by hesred,
pressed lie button that destroyed the
''Malneo, which yet resulted IN such
cons ciouSly performed great service for
humanity, for free Cuba Is nov an estab-
lishud tact, and the American and CIpan
flags peacefully float over The ancient city
OF Havana.
Not the Cubans alone, for the fire of
Conquest has liberated others Of Spai,'s
mlsued suDjec,s, ana they may in time be
admitted into our Union, where they can
enjoy the highest degree OF liberty and
religious freedom.
Nor is the "Maine" forgotten. The |
graves Of the victims are to-day deco
rated, the stars and stripes are now float
ing over mass OF twisted armor- plate
and broken machinery that were once I
stately battleship. The keel of another
"Maine" is laid to-day, and the ami
versary of the terrible disaster is being |
observed throughout the nation.
As the years pass on many minor de- |
tails may be forgotten. Spain and the
United States may be reconcled, and once |
more become friends, but it is doubtful if
either will ever forget the battleship |
''Maine".
WDn.u,S NobIest Vocation