The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-20
MANY RELICS
ARE PICKED UP
Some Articles in Good State of
Preservation, but Army En-
gineers Are Astonished at
Deterioration Of Swords
and Other Steel Objects
Caused by Salt Water.

sovery this morning OF some human
fragments. the work of exploring the
hull OF the Maine for the primary
purpose of recovering and giving
honorable sepulchre to the bodies Of
her crew was at last begun. after
many weary months OF preliminary
work.
While workmen were clearing the
spar deck between the after and en-.
gine-room superstructurc In the i'm.
mediate vicinity of the after port side
tnrret they found bones OF n right
foot enclosed in the ragged remnant
OF shoe and nearby the bones of
forearm, the hand being missing All
were blackened. possibly from fire,
and deeply encrusted with coral
growth. No hope OF identihcatio was
offered except that the shoe suggest
ed that the wearer probably was either
an oincer, mess attendant or mem
Der OF the marine guard. Gle blue
Jackets in tropical service ha bitually
going barefoot. Further exploration
in that portion of the ship did not
reveal anything which might assist in
the identification. The remains were
reverently placed in receptacle on
hoard the United States collier
Leonidas.
A search Of the spar deck and on
GERS quarters superstructure resulted
in the discovery OF a paper-covered
novel. in which the owners name on
the title page was iliegible, a pair OF
binoculars, much corroded, two rain
coats. a barrel OF bottled minera!
water and quantity OF porcelain be-
longing to the captains and the ward
room messes. 1t was noticeable that
the rubber articles withstood we'll the
action of the water. All metallic oh.
1ects were reduced to unidentifable
masses OF black oxiude.
x To Fourteen Feet.
The water level. had been lowered
at ntghtfall to fourteen feet. leaving
visible all the spar deck from the
stern to the forepart OF the engine
room superstructure on the port side
The latter. deck is badly bulged. and
apparently the side OF the ship under
this. including the armor belt. was
blown outward. which probably re-
suited In the explosion OF the main
after magazine
This evening the after mart OF the
vessel. including the officers quarters,
had been for the most part cleared of
mud and debris. The dead lights of
the main deck on the after port Side
are visible. but view of the inner is
obscured by masses Of mud. BY morn
Ing the water level will be reduced to
ffteen feet. when pumping will be
suspended. The exposed portion will
then be freed from ma rine growth and
further exploration OF the inner nor
ton will be possible
Pumping out the cofferdam about tho
ship goes on slowly, the army ensi-
neers In charge giving most OF their
attention to the condition OF the dam
which is in excellent shape. Water
from hose was played on the mud on
the spar deck and the surface was well
cleaned off. Engineers who explored
the exposed parts Of the vessel found
on entering the after superstructure
a quantity OF dishes laid out on the
mess table. Many ofithem were un.
washed, and gave indications of havine
been lett by mess attendants VIII
\ were surprised at their evening men;
when the explosion occurred. The on.
GERS. OF course. had finished their mea.
long before, as the explosion was afte,
8 o'clock.
On clearing Off the spar deck an
ammunition box was found just AIT
OF the port turret. which contained
besides a full complement of ammun,-
ton, clips for hand rifles and severa
hand swords. j
il Steel Swords Eaten Away.
The lead and brass of the cartridges
were little injured. but the steel swords
practicallywere eaten away by the sal
water, which the engineers take as an
indication of the condition OF the en-
eire hull. officers dress swords IN
scabbards were found leaning agans,
the starboard wall Of the deckhouse
With the leather in good shape, hut
with the steel SO badly eaten that II
fell apart when picked up.
The engineers were astonished tina,
the steel should SO deteriorate In the
water. and the only explanation a
galvanic action.
Several electric bulbs are said tc
have been found whole, which, VIII
the fact that the crockery was I'M
broken on the mess table, inuica ties
that the explosion was not felt to any
E extent aft.
General Bixby expected to depar,
for the United States to-day, and an
attempt was made to pump as mucr
as possible before he started. The
outlook now is that the pumping vii
go on slowly but steadily till the cof-
ferdams is all unwatered.
Relics From the Maine wreck.
Ntw York, ,.f,,re It...--,pn b1;i5d tie
steamer Bayam,, of tile Ward Line, ne
first set of$reIics taken from thu wreck
Ok the battlesh;p Maine a rived IN
( Brooklyn yesterday anil awars cn-r.etl
10 Governors island, where ;,iey Will
relr in In the war museum mnti! or.
d. s, for their final disposition :,rc