The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-07
WHO BLEW Up THE MA|NEl
CAPT. CHARLES. d. SIGSBEE SAYS
THAT HID DOES NOT
KNOW
EXPLOSION FROM OUTSIDE
Spanish Government Morally Ro-
spOnsible to Certain Degree
for Not Having Properly
SafeSuarded HarbOr.

II never had an idea that the Spanish
government as a government, blew up
the Maine" said Capt. Charles d. Sigs-
bee, at the Loyal Legion banquet at the
Ryan last evening. II never knew
whether there was any culpability, and
If l did I would tell. If it was inten-
tional 1t was the most monumental
crime Of the century. Nothing is more
certain from the investigation that was
made and from a technical standpoint
than that the Maine was blown up from
the outside.
The first order l gave, coming out
from land, was to post sentries at every
point and gave orders to fire on anything
that attempted TO approach the vessel
That shows that at the time 1t was an
attempt to blow up the vessel. The
Maine was in the harbor under the pro-
lection Of the Spanish government. As
Stunning that the vessel was blown up
from the outside and was there under
the protection of the Spanish govern
ment, then the Spanish government is
morally responsible to a certain degree
for not placing proper safeguards In the
harbor. Whether the Spanish govern
ment was responsible for the destruction
of the Maine Is not known.
THE sentiment of the Maine is a beau
tiful one to me. When the vessel was
destroyed I had lost good many men,
but aside from the loss Of life, there Is
nothing particularly to regret. Indeed,
it has brought many things that we can
be pround Of The men died nobly. One
poor fellow lay mangled in boat, and,
hearing a groan, he raised his head and
said, Shut up, don't let those Spaniards
hear you groan.
Capt. Sigsbee spoke for twenty min
utes previous to his statements regard
ing the Maine in a pleasant vein. He was
not aware, he said, when he accepted
the invitation to come so far inland that
there was any water out this way other
than the Mississippi, but was delighted
to find a lot Of web-footed comrades. In
deed he was agreeably surprised more
than-once in this respect. The captain
had discovered that st. Paul had yacht
club and averred that he felt quite at
home with four cOmmodores who took
lunch with him the day before. While
here he had done little political work,
not wanting to see the army get left,
and hearing that Admiral Dewey was a
candidate for the presidency he had
nominated Col. Hunter for president Of
the United States and Col. Philip Reade
for vice president. Being an honest
man, he had been assured Of good
position. However. he was resolved at
the start to master the army during his
visit, but as usual the sailor got the
daily thanked the gentlemen Of the
Loyal Legion for their hospitality and
stated that today he would leave for
Fargo, returning Sunday 70 St Paul, and
thence proceed to Washington.
Vice Commander James Compton In In
PRODUCING referred to Capt. Sigsbee as
admiral The appellation was greeted
with cheers, and toast was drunk to
the health Of the guest Of honor.
The following the invited QnnGfS
of the evening:
Capt. Charles D. sigsbee, Gov. John
Lind, Hon. Alexander Ramsey, Gen.
James F. Wade, Col Edward Hunter,
Col Philip Reade, Maj. George e. Pond,
Ms ChaEl ss N IeSn SaPt Edgar
Pruden, w. w. Folwell, John Day Smith,
Benjamin F. Beardsley Edwin 8. Chit
tenden, s. V. Harris, George r. Lewis
George w. Marchant, M. G. Bowler,
Frank H. Peavey, George Peavey, George
Weed. G. L; Easton, J. H. H; Beebe,. J..
S. FUgate. Maj. G. S. Dana, Capt. Orion
S. Clark, J. L. Brigham. A. H. Runge,
Henry W. Parker, c. J. Humason, H. B.
Mumason, w H. Lightner, Charles Nc
Elwee, A. P. Pierce, John Caulfeld, j. NJ.
G.. Collins, F. F. Wadsworth.
w. P. Allen. chairman Of the memorial
committee just following the banquet
which was served in the ordinary at $780,
read resolutions passed upon the death
Of Capt. j. M. Paine
Gov. Lind spoke briefly followed by
Capt. Philip Reade, Col. Edward Hunter,
John Day Smith, of Minneapolis, Presi-
dent A. K. Pruden, of the Commercial
club, John B. Sanborn and Rev. R. Hell
wig