Norwich bulletin., 1911-06-19
Relics Found
 In the Wreck
INTERESTING DISCOVERIES ON
 BATTLEsHIP MAINE.
A DINNER SERVICE INTACT
Found Nicely Piled Up in Officers Quarters Bayonets and Sword Blades Masses of Rust.

Havana, June 18.-As the remains of the battleship Maine gradually rise, like a grim gray ghost above the slow ly lowering level of the turbfd waters within the coffer dam. the first dis coveries are most interesting A curi- ous relic of the great disaster has been found.
 Dinner Service Found Intact.
 The explorers last night and this morning recovered plates and other chinaware in the officers quarters. Some were identified later as parts of hte dinner service of the captain and ward mess room- All were in a good state of preservation, and were found piled up as they had been left by the stewards after the last dinner
 Ammunition Box Found.
 This afternoon the searchers found on the spar deck. adjacent to the port turret, a small ammunition box, such as is customarily distributed about the decks. This contained a, congIomerat- ed mass of six nillimetre cartridge clips for the naval service rifle and a number of short knife bayonts in me tallic leather covered scabbards.
 Steel Bayonets Masses of Rust.
 The clips of the cartridges were well preserved, but the steel bayonets were reduced to almost unidentifiab1e mass es of rust, around which were cling ing shreds of leaher sackings.
 Due to GaIvanic Action.
 The distintegration of the bayoents is believed to have been the result of galvanic action between the steel and the brass cartridge cases in the me- dium of sea water.
 Can the Hull Be FIoated?
 This gives rise to speculation re- garding the effect of galvanic action on of fba IIIIJ 1e " a- ter. on which depends greatly the pos sibiIity that the hull may not retain sufficient strength to warrant the ex- pectation of floating out any portion.
 Officers Dress Sword Found.
 Most pathetically interesting was the discovery of an officers dress sword found behind the worward port side door leading from the officers quarters to- the spar deck. This door was found closed. but on being forced open tn esword was seen upright in the cor ner. The inference is that some off cer, hastening to the deck on the f1rst alarm and buckling on his sword as he ran was compelled to abandon ii and escape in the rush of water over the spar deck.
 Blade Ribbon of Rust
 The bronze sword hilt was in good state of preservation. but only attach ed by shreds of the sword knot to the blade, which was merely-a ribbon o1 rust enclosed in a black leather sca;b- bard. The only possibility of identi- flying the sword is the chance that some officer may recollect having abandoned the weapon in flight.
 Electric Light Bulb Intact.
 A curious indication of the slight force of the explosion felt in the after part of the sfli pwas an electric light bulb hanging intact from the roof oi the superstructure-
 Dock PIanks Charred.
 Exploration of the interior contin- ues to be interrupted by masses oi mud and rubbish. Only the clearing of portions of the roof of the after superstructure has been completed showing the effects of the fire on the charred deck blanks.
 Other indications of Fire.
 Other indications of fire are observ- ed ra1nd the combing of the spal deck supposed to be adjacent to the gallery OH the port side, in which some cookink utensils are visible.