The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-17
DESTRUCTION OF The MAINE
ADMIRAL SIGSBEE SAYS COURTS
FINDING WAS CORRECT.

No Doubt she Was Blown Up From the
Outdde-That C~orroborated by De-
struction or Russian Ships In the War
With Japsn-Against Raising Wreck.
WASHINGTON. May 1s.-In a lecture
tonight for the benefit OF the fund to
erect a monument at Arlington to the
officers and men who lost their lives
in the destruction Of the battleship Maine
In Havana harbor Rear Admiral Charles
d. Sigsbee, who commanded the vessel
when she was destroyed, maintained
that the naval court Of inquiry's finding
that the Maine had been blown up from
the outside had been corroborated by
the circumstances Of the destruction OF
vessels In the war between Japan n
Russia. He gave reasons why. in his
opinion, the wreck Of the Maine should
not be removed. Admiral Sigsbee was
introduced by Gen. Horace Porter OF
New York. The Admiral told the story
Of sending the Maine to Havana. her
stay there and the incidents Of the ex-
plosion, following with some remarks
O the findings Of the court Of inquiry.
1T was but natural that many people,
especially abroad, should question the
findings Of the court said Admiral
Sigsbee. 1T was sven declared b q the
effects produced on the Maine could
not have been producdN as found by the
court. But since the loss Of the Maine
there have been various explosions that
sustain the court. An exact parallel
was afforded by the destruction OF the
Russian battleship Petropavlovsk. the
flagship Of the unfortunate Admiral
Marakof, in the late a between Russia
and Japan. On April IS. 1904. che ran
against a mine that had been planted
by the Japanese. The explosion OF the
mine itself was communicated to the
magazines of the ship. which exploded
in turn, producing awful destruction.
The ship sank in two minutes: But
few of her people escaped. The Ad-
miral himself was killed. Apparently
the case Of the Japanese battleship
Hatsuse is also an exact parallel. Now
we hear little question OF the findings
OF the court. "
.The question OF raising the Maine
Is much agitated at present: Regarding
the policy Of raising the Maine I have
nothing to say. l can only speak OF
conditions at TIE wreck. / do not know
governmental considerations. 1t might
better be asked Why is not the Maine
removed? Apparently people ave Tor
age Of the vessel and need recourse TO
the earlier photographs >of the wreck.
Most OF the parts above water were re-
moved long ago and the present appear
ance above the water suggests but little
Of the mass OF torn. ruptured and twisted
parts still under water. To raise her
80 as to maintain the existing mutual
| relation OF her m~ultitudinous details
would require engineering operations
too gigantic to contemplate. a coner
dam could be built around her and the
enclosed water pumped out. thus exposing
the wreck.
The records OF the court already show
the conditions below. The Maine would
be found to have settled deep in the har-
Dor mud or o~verspread a foot thick with
marine growth. In clearing away the
wreck the filthy mud Of the harbor bed
would be exposed for weeks or months
to the action OF the tropical sun. Would
the people Of Havana submit to that?
Taking her as she Is. she could be blown
into manageable parts and the parts
removed. but that might subject us to
thing, whereas the whole world now
virtually accepts the opinion Of the court.
Il can say some things Tor myself
but I repeat that l do not know the Govern
ment's view. While the Maine was in
tact and free to swing around her moor
inr buoy she preempted the whole arc
OF a large circle in the available space
OF the harbor. Now lying static, she
sequesters only a small urea and is in
precisely the position Of least incon-
v~enience to the commerce Of the port.
Probably she will be blown up in detail
ultimately as the only practicable solu-
tinn ~ tho nrohloun