The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-23

attention is paid, if its indications are nor
good. the adoption of urgent measures of
safety will merely diminish the danger,
without making it disappear entirely.
The loss of the English vessel. Dot
terel, which has been so much studied
and discussed. was due to the use of
drier Idrying oil employed in painting.
and known under the name of the zero
tina drier.'
I'm trade some of the varnishes and in
gradients used in the painting of vessels
are now recommended by protecting them
with patents as not liable to produce in
fammable gases.
THE English scientific magazine, the
Engineer No. 21S9. of Dec. 10. 1897.
publishes an important article entitled
Shell Accident at Bull Point showing
the possibility of the explosion of Il shell.
not by the fuse, but by the spon-
The shell of which the author of
the article speaks was made for a four
inch gun. weighed % pounds. used the
Leandenham fuse. and had a hardened
point. tempered in water.
These instances suffice to prove that.
in spite of all the precautions that may
be taken. there may occur on board of
modern vessels, especially war vessels.
many unforeseen accidents, arising from
the combination of such diverse sub
stances as those which are employed in
their armament, so difficult and danger
Gus to manage. accumulated in large
quantities and exposed to the action of
heat and electricity almost constantly.
each unhappy accident serving to regulate
services on the basis of precautions. and
to cause precautions to be taken. so far as
possible, with every new agent which
necessity cOmpels us to accept in the most
recent constructions.
Consequently, in view of the result of
the proceedings and the merits of the OBJ
servations submitted. the undersigned con-
siders it his imperative duty to state the
following conclusions:
Il. That on the night of Feb. u last
an explosion of the first order in the for
ward magazine of the American ironclad
Maine. caused the destruction of that
part of the ship, and its total submersion
in the same place in this bay at which it
was anchored.
-. That it is learned. from the dia-
grams of the vessel. that there were no
other explosive substances or articles in
that magazine-the only one which ex-
ploded-than powder and shells of various
calibers.
80 That the same diagrams prove that
said magazine was surrounded on the port
side. the starboard side, and partly aft by
coal-bunkers containing bituminous coal,
and which were in compartments adjoln-
ing the said magazine. and apparently
separated from it only by metal bulk
heads. -. ,g >."
H. That the important facts connected
with the explosion in its external appear
ance at every moment of its duration hay-
ing been described by witnesses, and the
absence of all the circumstances (which
necessarily accompany the explosion of a
torpedo having been proved by these wit
nesses and experts, it can only be honestly
asserted that the catastrophe was due to
internal causes.
- %. That the character of the proceed
ings undertaken, and respect for the law
which establishes the principle of the abb
solute eXtraterritoriality of a foreign
war-vessel, have prevented the deter
mination, even by conjecture, of the
to which. also, the impossibility of
establishing the necessary communication,
either with the crew of the wrecked vessel.
or with the officials of their Government
commissioned to investigate the causes Of
the said event. or with those subsequently
intrusted with the issue. has contributed.
IS. That the interior and exterior ex-
animation of the bottom of the Maine
whenever it is possible. unless the bottom
of the ship and that of the place in the
bay where it is sunk are altered by the
work which is being carried on for the
total or partial recovery of the vessel, will
prove the correctness of all that is said
in this report; but this must not be under
stood to mean th:. the accuracy of these
present conclusions requires such proof.
Believing that l have fulfilled all the
requirements of Article DAG. Title NV,
Chapter 1. of the Law of Military Pro-
cedure of the Navy. in accordance with
which, and with your Excellency's orders.
this investigation has been made. | have
the honor to transmit this report to your
Excellency's hands, that you may come to
a correct decision on the subject.
PEDRO DEL PEDRAL Glubricated).
Havana. March %. 1885,
10 10