The times., 1901-06-16
STORY OF THE MAINE TOLD
Captain Sigsbee's Version of the
Destruction of His Ship.
He Denies Popular AnecdOte and
Speaks FecIinGIy of an Act of Lo-
cal EeternDs-T'he Possibility of
Raising the Vessel Discussed.


Raising the Vessel Discussed.
The story Of the destruction of the
Maine Ia .Iayaua Harbor in February,
IsgS. was graphically told 10 the members
of Encampment No 60. Union Veteran
Legion last night by Capt. Charles D.
Sigsbee. who was in charge OF the i'll
fsted vessel at that time. at reception
which was rendered 10 him at the quarters
of the veteran organization at 910 Penn
sylvauia Avenue northwest J. Edwin
Brown, colonel of the encampment. pre-
sided during the evening, and presented
the distinguished guest to the audience.
On the stage sat Dominic !. Murphy
former Commissioner Of Pensions; Will
liam Wallace Brown, Auditor for the
Navy Department: Frederick f. Rittmau,
Auditor for the War Department; Ma
thaniel Shattzell, and Luke Kelly, former
colonels of the encampment; G. A Lyon,
a former lieutenant colonel of the en-
campment, and Daniel OConnor
The hall was tastefully decorated with
national flags. and a large and accurate
miniature reproduction Of the Maine, on
the scale Of one-quarter inch to the foot.
occupied a prominent position in front
of the stage. This miniature model, which
was constructed by George W. Barnes, is
the same as is displayed at the Pension
Office.
The hail filed rapidly, and the arrival
Of Captain Sigsbee was greeted with ap-
plause. An entertainment of solo singing
musical impersonation was given. Harry
c. Miller, pianist. and Louis H Wandree
viOlinist. provided the instrumental music
for the evening.
The members of Encampment &C. L. V
l., whose motto is We Remembered the
Maine" through their subscriptions. beau
titled the plot of ground in Tampa, Fla,
where lie buried twenty-four of the Maine
dead. On Memorial Day each year these
graves are decorated with flags provided
by Encampment No. So 1t was largely
on account of this tribute to the memory
of sailors of his crew that Captain Sigs-
bee was induced to speak last night
Captain Sigsbee, after paying a feeling
tribute TO the action of the encampment
In erecting fence around and otherwise
beautifying the burial place of the blue
Jackets q the Maine in Tampa. spoke Of
the happenings aboard mis- ship on the
night when she was destroyed One point
upon which he dwelt with especial en-
phasis was the rigid discipline which was
put TO the most severe test conceivable
in the horrible scenes aboard the sinking
snip Every Ofncer, captain SfgSbee said,
acted as cOolly as if the craft was ma
neuyring in open water.
Captain Sigsbee denied the story so cur
rent Immediately after the disaster to the
effect that officer came to him and re-
ported that the vessel had been blown up
and was sinking. His address, which was /
entertaining throughout. was sprinkled |
with many amusing anecdotes as well as
pathetic Tecitals OF the happenings at !
tendant upon the destruction OF the ship.
Enthused by The presence of the model !
of the Maine, Captain Sigsbee took a !
pointer. and graphically illustrated his re-
marks by indicating the conditions on |
the battleship. Among other things he |
stated that the American investigation |
OF the Maine disaster had been thorough. /
while that OF the Spaniards had been very /
superficial
Speaking of the possibilities of raising |
the bat;leship. Captain Sigsbee suggested /
that it might be done by driving piles !
about the wreck, which should be calk- |
ed tight. forming a basin, which could
then be pumped out. leaving the battle |
ship free from the water and in a situa-
tiOn where the necessary labor to provide |
for the removal could be effected