The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-06-03
TIE STORY OF THE MAINE.
Shocking Tragedy of Havana Harbor
In 1898.

IOuS, Will q Ad1I UoISVAJ VI AONA ~
inch guns. She was built in 1888 from
English plans-for we didn't know
much. about battleships then-and
she cost in round numbers $4,000 900.
On February 16, 1898, she was blown
to bits while lying in the harbor of
the friendly city Of Havana, Cuba.
From that incident sprang the Span
ish war.
Since then the wreck has lain, half
in and half out of the blue water OF
Machina, with SO skeletons Of the
brave men who manned her lying in
side her shattered steel hull. Despite
repeated efforts it was only on We'd
nesday of this week that congress
passed the bill making possible the
wrecks removal.
The feeling between Spain and the
United States had been growing more
and more bitter during 1897. Gomez
and Maceo, with rag tag rebel army"
had been marrying the Spanish forces
on the island and Capt. Gen. Weyler
had put into execution his scheme of
recommendation, whereby the people
of the rebellious districts were hud-
died into camps under military guard.
Here, according to report, they were
scientifically starved. Meanwhile
Gomez and Maceo were adding to the
suffering by burning all the tobacco
and sugar plantations they could
reach-each side was trying to ruin
the other physically and financially
the Hearst Journal had rescued Eve
lima Cisneros from a dungeon keep.
the Three Friends was busily run
ming in flibuster and ammunition
from Florida, congressional commit
tee had made a solemn inspection and
report of conditions on the island and
all America was sizzling with the
growing belief that Spanish rule in
Cuba was one of tyranny and hideous
cruelty. "The flag Of blood and gold"
the Journal called the red and yellow
ensign ever Moro. So did most N
temporaneous. high school orators.
Enter the Maine.
In the midst of this feeling the
Maine, then lying at the Pensacola
yard, was dispatched for a friendly
visit" to Havana. The order which
sent her there has since been most
bitterly criticised. The presence Of
a white fighting ship with the Stars
and Stripes over her stafrail was
bound to rouse violent anger in the
Latin-American bosoms, bound to pro-
mote juhilation among the revolution
airy Cubans, bound to make things
more unpleasant for Minister FitZ-
hugh Lee and other American citiz-
ems in Havana. However, the state
and navy departments seemed to
think. a warship the necessary protec-
ton for Americans. The Maine went.
It is related that when the Maine,
entering the harbor, barked a salute
from her little six-pounders at the
grim MORO her men were all at QUAR-
tiers behind the 16-ineh guns in the
turrets and the ship was stripped for
action. It is also related that there
never was a more serious and solemn
naval function than When Capt. Sigs-
bee, in full dress uniform received
the Spanish officers who came over
the starboard gangway. A Spanish
cruiser lay nearby, but the blue-jack-
cts of the two vessels did not frater-
nize. Indeed Capt. Sigsbee allowed
his men no shore liberty.
The Maine came in or January 25.
! Havana harbor was filthy beyond be-
lief in those days. TO avoid stirring
I'D the sewage which formed the har-
boris bottom ships did MOI ancnor'
instead they were assigned by the
captain Of the port to fixed mooring
buoys. The Names first mooring was
we'll up toward old La Punta Fort.
Subsequently she was moved down
opposite the shears of the old Span
ISL navy yard. Afterward this change
by Spanish authority was regarded as
intensely significant.
The Tragedy.
February Is was a quiet, starl1t
tropical night. Capt. Sigsbee was
writing in his cabin. Marine Private
William Anthony was the orderly on
duty outside his door. Most OF thu
twenty-six officers and practically all
the 32S enlisted men were aboard. A
stringed orchestra was Laying on the