The times., 1899-10-01
EXCITEMENT IN AMERICA.
The War Sentiment Runs High
Throughout the Republic.

The War Sentiment Runs High
Throughout the Republic.
Excitement ran high throughout the
United States. Offers of companies and
regiments of volunteers came in from prac-
tically every county. In Congress scarcely
day passed without speeches in denuncia-
tion of Spain and sometimes in denuncia-
tion of President Mckinley for his appar-
ent delay. On February is, Senator Will
liam e. Mason of Illinois, in advocating the
passage of a resolution for an investiga-
tion cf the Maine disaster by a joint COM
mittee of both houses of Congress, said
/ understand the Navy Department will make
the Investigation but / also understand an in
vestigation could be made by this branch of the
Government that would not in any way interfere
with the naval investigation. l also understand
that the people of this country fast coming
TO the conclusion that the real situation is not
members of Congress. Let this investigation be
made by Congress, and then we shall know that
1t viii be done right.
Defence of the Navy.
Senator Wolcott of Colorado in reply to
this said: a.
There is not patriotic7nitizen in this land
WHO mas not lhe fullest confidence IN every de-
partment OF this Government, and the Depart
ment OF the Navy particularly. Least of all IS it
decent, in my opinion that in this chamber
there should be insnuaii tast at this critical
time, that there is lack in the minds of the
people of the United States of conf
dence in the Navy flour country. I do not
.underrate the Importance of this branch of the
Government; but what WEI need now, in my
opinion, is decent and Gignifed reticence in
the face OF an appalling calamity There are
times for speaking ana times for silence. If
there was ever times When we should refrain
from unjust and ignorant, criticism it is today.
A Court of Enquiry.
A Naval Court of Enquiry was appoint
ed by President Mckinley to determine the
cause of the explosion. This court con-
vened in Havana Harbor on February 26,
and transmitted its report to the Presi-
dent on March q. The report set forth
that the discipline on board the Maine had
been excellent; the ammunition had been
slowed in accordance with the regulations
Of the service; after the disaster the keys
of the magazines had been found in their
proper places in the captains cabin; the
temperature of the magazines had been
taken daily; in none was an undue degree
of heat reported except in the 10-incb
magazine. and that magazine did not ex-
plode Varnish, dryers, ETC., were all stow
ed on or above the main deck. The coal
bunkers had been inspected daily. The
fire alarms in the bunkers were in working
order The two after boilers were in use
at the time of the explosion they were
at comparatively low pressure of steam;
they could not have caused the disaster.
The four forward boilers were found by
the divers to be in fair condition.
Two Distinct Explosions.
1t was determined by the testimony Ia
ken by the court, that there were two ex-
plosions of distinctly different character,
with a very short but marked interval be-
tween them, and the forward part of the
ship was lifted to marked degree at the
time of the first explosion. The first ex-
plosion was more in the nature OF report,
like that Of a gun, while the second ex-