The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-12-19
WILL NOT
SELL HULK
NOTWITHSTANDING CURIO SEEK
ERS OFFER S1,OOO,OOO FOR
REMNANTS OF MAINE
HISTORY OF The VESSEL

washington, Dec 18.-Efforts to
authorize the sale OF the null Of the
battieship Maine to private parties
who desire to exhibit it at various
ports of the United States and charge
an admission fee to visitors were de-
feated in the House of Representa-
tiyes today The urgent deficiency bill
carrying an appropriation of $25O,OOO
to complete the work of raising the
Maine, after hard fight, passed the
House without change.
1t was admitted in the debate thai
offers approaching $1,000,000 have
been received from exhibition inter-
ests for the rear portion of the hull
which can be fitted up with a bulk
head and towed from Havana to the
United States.
Chairman Fitzgerald of the appro-
priations committee admitted that it
is the present intention of the govern
ment to tow the rear part Of the hull
out into the ocean and sink it, with
the naval honor that goes to- a gallant
battleship.
On the other hand there were SEN
sible representatives who insisted it
was foolish indeed to waste the mon
ey of the people and throw away
quarter Of million dollars when the
government could save this amount
and in addition secure a million more.
Interesting History Concerning the
Explosion.
A single bent and twisted shell
plate, uncovered after thirteen years
through the medium Of one of the
/. greatest engineering feats Of modern
times, solves the mystery Of the blow
ing up of the United States battle
ship Maine in Havana harbor thirteen
years ago.
1t was the finding of this oyster
covered piece Of steel that led the
joint army and navy board to report
to the navy department that the Maine
was destoyed by an exterior eXpio-
sion.
The simple announcement Of the
finding Of the board was given to the
public last week at Washington, but
no explanation as to what caused the
board to arrive at this conclusion
was vouch-safed. 1t is given here Tor
the first time.
Incidentally, the facts just now
brought to light show that the Samp-
son board which investigated the
blowing up of the ship Immediately
after the tragedy, made wild stab
at the truth and, luckily, hit it right
An exterior explosion caused the dis
aster, but the mine that did the work
was exploded forty-eight feet abaft
the point where the Sampson board
said that it was.
His deductions have been proved
correct.
Who fired the mine that blew the
Maine up remains a mystery and
probably will ever so remain. Wheth
er it was a stationary mine, or was
drawn up to the hull of the ship also
will remain a mystery.
But there are features about ln5
explosion that the uncoverlng OF the
wrecked hull make clear now. The
mine was exploded directly under tht
forward six inch magazine. Whoever
planted the mine there knew the 10
cation Of the magazine, for had 1t beer
explided twelve feet abaft the poln
that it was put off the ship woule
not have been destroyed, as the mine
would have opened into the Goa
bunkers and the forward magazine
would not have been set off. Anothe
point is that the mine was put ther'
after the Maine reached Havana Jus
a month before the explosion tool
place.
1t was on January 25, 1898, tina
the Maine steamed into Havana ha1
Dor and moored to buoy. Captain
Sigsbee was in command and Lieu
tenant Commander Wainwright wa
the executive officer. AS the ship wa
sent on friendly mission everything
appeared in perfect order, but waite
of officers and men was kept at tn
stations with ammunitions and torpe
does handy for immediate use IN
crew was kept on deck to man ID
rapid fire gunds. The closing of a.
doors was rigidly carried out.
There was nothing to indicate ina
the ship was not anchored in a frlent
1y port. officers were allowed to g
ashore, but the men were not for tea
of friction Visitors, we're allowed
come on board and a number took az
vantage of this permission, althoug
not many were allowed on board
one time
Now the question is: Did one OF tn
visitors who came aboard the snl
find out the location of the forWai
magazine and either plant the min
there, himself or direct the p1anIln
of it? That, too, probably IS que
tion that will forever remain an y
solved riddle. 1t is possible that "