Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-06-19
Curious Relics Of Great Disaster
Discovered As the Hull of
Ship Comes Into View in the
Harbor of Havana.
PLATES FOUND lM GOOD
STATE OF PRESERVATION
Bayonets and Swords Have
DiSintegrated BY Action Of
Sea Water and Galvanic Ac-
ton Between Steel and Brass
IBy Morning journal Special Le' SCI wire,

IBy Morning journal Special lie, sci wirsl
Havana. June 1S.--As the remains
of the, battleship Maine gradually rise
lige rim gray ghost above the slow
ly lowering level of the turbid wa
ters within th~ coGerdam, the first
discoveries are most interesting
A curious relic Of the great disaster
has been found The explorers last
night and this morning recovered
plates and other chlnaware in the Of
ficer's quarters. Some pieces were
identified later as parts of the dinner
service of tine captain and ward room
mess. All were In good state of
preservation and were found piled up
as they had been left by the stewards
after the last dinner
This afternoon the searchers found
on the spar deck adjacent 10 the port
turrent, small ammunition box,
such as is customarily distributed on
the decks. This contained an agglom-
GRATED mass. of six millimeter cart
ridge clips for the naval service rifle
and d number of short knife bayonets
in metallic leather covered scabbards.
The clips of CARTRIDGES We're well pre-
served, but the steel havonets were
reduced to almost unidentlfiable
masses of rust around which were
clinging shreds of leather sackings.
The disintegration of the bayonets
is believed TO have been the result OF
Ealvanic action between the steel ana
the brass cartridge cases in the med
ium of seawater. This gives rise to
the speculation regarding the effect
of -alvanlc action OH portions of the
hull still under water on which de-
IpeDds greatlv the possibility that the
huh may not rat1ip sA1ficient strength
to warrant the expectation ot float
ing out any portion.
Pathetically interesting was the
discovery of an officers dress sword
the spar deck.
This door was found closed and on
being opened the sword was seen up
right in the corner The inference IL
that some officer Fastening 10 the
deck on the first alarm ana Ducklihs
on his sword as.he ran was competed
to abandon and escapei in the rush OF
water over the spar deck. The pronze
sword hilt was well preserved 'pu,
only attached by shreds OF the SWORD
knot to the blade, which was merely
a ribbon Of rust nclosed in black
leather scabbard.
The only possibility of identllica-
ton of the sword is the chance tnat
some officer may recollect haVihs
a abandoned the weapon.
A curious indication Of the slient
force of the explosion felt in the az
terpart Of the ship was an electric
light bulb hanging intact from the
roof of the superstructure.
Exploration of the Interior contlh
ues to be interrupted by masses Vi
mud and rubbish. only the ciearins
OF portions of the roof of the aites
has been compieieu'
showing the effects OF the fire on the
deck planks.
Other indications of fire are op-
served around the combine OF the
spar deck. supposed to be adjacent 70
the galley on this port side III Whlch
cooking utensile are visiv.O.
The water level within the coiler-
dam tonight stands at eleven ana one
half feet and 1t is intended to reduce
the level five feet tomorrow Wnion
probably will result in further inter
esting discoveries
The work this afternoon was some
what hampered by torrentiai rains
Thousands of visitors s,ewed the
wreck.