The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-09
OBSTRUCTION OF
MAINE SETTLED
Official Board, After Viewing
Wreck. Says Outside
Explosion
LOW GRADE POWDER
EVIDENTLY USED
Had 1t Been High Explosive,
Report Says Would Have
Been Impossible
to Say

WASHINGTON. Dec. s-'The board
finds that the injuries to the bottom
OF the Maine were Caused by the ex-
piosion OF q charge Of a low form Of
explosive exterior to the ship between
frames Is and 81. portside.
This resulted in igniting and ex.
ploding the contents OF the reserve
magazine. ALAN. said contents in
Guiding a large quantity Of black pow
der. The. more or less complete ex-
plosion Of the contents Of the remain
Ing forward magazine followed. The
magazine explosions resulted In the
destruction OF the vessel"
This report, settling officially and
for all time the question Al to how the
Maine was blown up in Havana har-
Dor February Is. 1898, was made today
by the joint army and navy board APP
pointed by the secretary Of the navy
and despatched to the scene Of the
explosion to determine the real facts
Admiral Vreeland, chairman OF the
before him Admiral Vreeland and
Havana. called on President Taft with
Secretary Of tho Navy Meyer. He
brought with him the full report OF
the board.
Ofsieiai Statement.
A rent twenty feet wide and ex-
tending for SIS feet athwart ship across
the bottom OF the vessel was diycov-
cred about 100 feet from the bow. Tho
fact that the frames were still in
position, though much bent and
twisted. convinced the members Of
the board that q low form Of ex-
plosive was used In bringing about
the destruction OF the vessel. Had a
high explosive been employed there
would have been nothing left AZ evi-
dence OF how the explosion occurred
The report sustains tho findings Of the
Sampson board which was appointed
IN lss1 shortly after tho Maine wsa
blown up. The Sampson board located
the exterior force which had been ap-
piled to the battleship At about frame
IL on the portable. The cofEerdan,
which was built about the vessel 70
enable the present board to pursue its
investigations, made It possible to To-
cate tho explosion moro exactly.
The board brought with It from
Havana q model Of the ruined bat
tleship - It stands today. Tho
model. which 10 about IL feet long.
shows the ship practically sundered
a., . mo u. This
oN Win snoener showing the for-
u pat OF the vessel ~ It existed
70 d S .ne expIos'on. nave been used
III demonstration OF the explosion.
Explain by Models.
nsna cecIelarS Meyer called
. n'm Auhifaa vreeland and
80. Aei Watts' cniei naval con-
S mo a1so mem Der OF the
~ ~ NEE TWO onciais by means
=. .ue mooels explained the explo-
en- S.on " .ne .ecretaiy ano 10 Admirais
none AnI wAlnwrisn! hear Admiral
- sr.n0er fnnp Andrews
S 80 we 'npoFtan1 omcaals OF the
oersment.
ne 1cpot ot tne BOARD States that
sue on'ea snaue OF IL labor lies IN tho
1y ln.t Tue EXPLOSION which
usaseo tnc ue.tlucuon or the vessel
c.Ho lluM oausioo. ana tnat low
anu not Z nlen form OF explosive was
y. usco IN wnAtevor engine OF destruc-
uor Wa employee.
INC .e'fIHc FORCES Wnicn brought
ABOUT ane complete demoHuOn OF the
Aso on eatner sac ana wrencning
asunaeF Ike % mucn snee iron the
MA.c plates Ano frames tnat COM
posoI tne Da1uesnip, pFoeeeqed rom
tno MAncs own ma&1sano@ Wh1Ch
were expiooeo oy tne xorce that came
rom tne lnIual explosion unoer me
'essei poeto".
Connrtns First Board.
The report n particularly rrattfv-
ing to the Naval Department. most
OF whose ofilcers have believed ftrmiv
in, the findings OF the Sampson boare.