Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
WITH COL0RS FLYING
Wreck of the Maine Consigned
to the Depths.
IMPRESSIVE SCENE AT SEA
Final Ceremonies Attended by Amer
lean and Cuban Vessels.
VALVES OPENED, VESSEL SINKS
Her Resting Place Six Hundred
Fathoms Below the Surface of
the Water.
VALVES OPENED, VESSEL SINKS


resurrected after burial of fourteen
years in Havana harbor, today plunged
with her colors flying to her everlasting
rest fathoms deep in the sapphire
waters of the gulf. The sinking Of
the hulk was carried out precisely
as planned, marking the end Of the great
work begun more than a year and a
half ago.
After imposing ceremonies in the
which ended with the formal
transfer of the custody Of the bodies
Of the heroic dead by the mayor Of
Havana, Julio de Cardenas, to Brig.
Gen. w. H. Bixby. chief Of the Engineer
Corps, U. S. A., as the representative Of
the United States, the collins were taken
aboard the armored cruiser North Caro-
lima, where they were deposited on the
completely covered by a
great mound of floral tributes, and under
a guard of honor, composed Of marines
Minute guns were fired by the North
Carolina and the scout cruiser Birmfng-
ham and the batteries Of Cabanas
fortress until the ships cleared the har-
Dor.
Wreck Towed Seward.
Soon after o'clock the navy tug Os-
ceola, aboard of which were the United
States minister, Arthur NJ. Beaupre, and
the stan OF the legation, Brig. Gen. Bixby
Col. William M. Black, Lieut.. Col. Mason
M. Patrick and Maj. Harley B. Fergu-
son, constituting the Maine commission.
passed lines to the stern end Of the
Wedge-shaped wreck and started seward.
Two thanking tugs attached lines to either
end of the bulkhead, which then became
the afterpart Of the hulk, for the purpose
of steady1ng and steering her.
Her decks covered deep with flowers
and palms and a great American ensign
floating from the jurymast. where the
mainmast formerly stood. the Maine put
to sea on her last voyage.
On deck stood Capt. John O'Brien, ia
nous as Dynamite Johnny, skipper of the
filibuster1ng steamers Dauntiess and
Ihree Friends. who was acting as the
Names last pilot. AS the wreck passed
ned the rails, the marines presented
arms. the scarlet-coated bandsmen on
the quarterback played the national an
them, while minute guns doomed a re-
QUEEN. When passing MORO Castle the
hull OF the Maine was covered with a
great American flag. The fortress sa-
luted as she passed out to sea.
Vessels ms EScOrt Column.
Progress necessarily was slow. Half an
hour later the North Carolina and Birm-
lngham got under way, followed by the
Cuhan gunboats Hatuey, Yara, Enrique
VlMendas and 20 De Octubra. the United
States steam -dredge Barnard, carrying
all the men who had worked on the cof-
ferdam; steamer with the Havana
camp. Spanish-Amerfcan War Veterans,
aboard; Commodore CarbonelTs yacht
Gypsy. with the Havana Chapter, d. A.
tered vessels.
Passing out OF the harbor no guns were
fired. the dotilla, headed by the Maine,
proceeding in silence with flags at half
mast The course was almost due north.
so as to keep the wreck head-on to the
heavy sea and thus avoid the danger of
falling into the trough.
AT 4:30 O'Clock a three-whistle bla st
from the North Carolina followed by one
gun announced that the three-mile limit
mad been crossed. Half an hour was given
laggards OF the fleet to arrive. Then the
american cruisers took up a position to
the eastward Of the wreck, the Cuban
Warships moved to the westward and the
accompanying vessels were grouped to
the north and south. Meanwhile the
crew went aboard the hulk and
made ready to carry out the arrange
ments, for the sinking, which consisted of
opening numerous valves in the bottom.
operated from the deck. the large sluice-
ways in the bulkhead and all the doors
In the two permanent bulkheads remain
ing in the ship.
Valves Opened at S O'Clock.
Precisely at 5 o'clock another whistle
sounded from the North Carolina and
another gun was fired. The crew in
stantly threw open the valves. and with
Capt O'Brien jumped aboard a tug along
side. which steamed a little distance
away. Then all eyes in the great fleet
warships lining the rails. All was silence.
but for the wash of the heavy seas.
For ten minutes no change was visible
In the trim of the great, rusty, battered
hulk. which pitched heavily as the huge
rollers struck her. Then she was seen
to be sinking at the bulkhead end. Soon
the waves began to wash over her deck
AS she remained pitching and wallowing.
each moment settling deeper and deeper,
the stern was seen to rise. In few Sec
onds the hulk was almost vertical. show
ing first the propeilers and then the full
keel. The next moment there was a
flash OF blue and white, as the great en-
sign flying from the mast struck the
waves and disappeared. simultaneously
the decks were blown up by the air pres-
Maine plunged down, leaving no trace
save flowers tossing on the surface of the
sea.
Whistles Break the Silence.
The silence was broken by whistle blasts
from the whole fleet, which was the only
salute. Ten minutes later the Cuban
flagship Hatuey fired a farewell national
salute to the squadron, to which both
cruisers replied, then shaped their course
for Norfolk