Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-18
TALKED OF THE MAINE.
Rear Admiral sissbee Gave Interesting
Lecture in Washinaton.

Lecture in Washington.
BY request Of the Marine Memorial
association, Rear Admiral Sigsbee, who
was in command when the ill-fateo
vessel went to her destruction in Ha-
vana harbor, on February Is, 1898, gave
an illustrated lecture in Washington
Sunday night, describing the disaster
He was introduced by Gen. Horace
Porter, president Of the Navy League
of the United States. Admiral Sigspee
declared that patriotic Americans
should become members of the Navy
League and thus help the upbuildine
of the American navy.
In many ways 1t Is made obvious
that public sentiment regarding the
Maine has continued beyond ordinary
bounds" said Admiral Sigsbee. Many
disasters have occurred before and
since, yet none in recent times has held
public interest like that Of the Maine
Her destruction was turning point In
our own history and in the history OF
Spain-a turning point for the better
in both cases, let US hope.
THE event came when relations be-
tween the two countries were severely
strained by reason Of popular agitation
Right or wrong, the people OF the
United States were on edge for better
conditions in Cuba, according to theil
own reasoning on the situation.
"The mission Of the Maine was en-
tirely friendly" he explained. 1T had
no further import than to reassure oul
citizens in Cuba and to protect them
and give them assistance in case OF
necessity"
Admiral Sissbee narrated in detail
the events succeeding the Names de-
parture from Key West for Havana or
January %, 1898. Arriving at Havana
the Maine was taken by the pilot to
one Of the buoys commonly reserved
for war vessels. 1T was widely sup
posed in the United States that the
Maine was afterward shifted by the
Spanish authorities to another buoy
but this was an error" he said. He also
denied that the Maine entered Havana
harbor in a militant condition.
Continuing, Admiral Sigsbee said II
was important that he should know
that state Of popular feeling in Havana
regarding the Maine and apparently
the best way to learn this was to at
tend bull fight. 81 have been made
anathema for this by certain pious
people. Bull fights were given only or
Sunday, but my object was not pleas
ure. 1t has been decided that my ships
company was doomed because Of at
tendance at the bull fight on Sunday
yet none who went to the bull fight
were injured in the loss Of the Maine
Subsequently he attended another
bull fight, returning from which the
widely published circular in which
reference was made to American pigs
and their rotten squadron" was hand
ed to him.
Admiral Sigsbee graphically de-
scribed the scene on the Maine on the
night of the explosion. To bear out
the contention of the court Of inquiry
that the Maine was sunk by a subma-
rine mine, he called attention to the
parallel in the destruction by contact
with a mine of the Russian battleshiL
Petropavlovsk during the Russo-Ja-
panese war.
Regarding the policy Of raising the
Maine I have nothing to say" he said
"It might be better to ask why Is not
the Maine removed?" He predicted
that she probably would be blown ur
in detail as the only practical solution
Of the problem.