The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, March 31, 1898, Image 2
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A SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE BATTLESHIP MAINE.
i ‘il
M'KINLEY SENDS
IN MAINE REPORT
WITH A MESSAGE
President Transmits Verdici
of the Court to Both the
House and Senate.
BOARD LAYS WRECK
TO SUBMARINE MINI
But Spaniards Are Not Mentioned li
Connection With the Disaster—Th«
Findings Referred to Foreign Rela.
tions Committee Without a Word o<
Debate.
Washington, March 28.—The presi
dent today sent the following messagt
to congress:
To the Congress of the United States—
For somo time prior to the visit of tht
Maine to Havana harbor our consulai
representatives pointed out the advant
ages to flow from the visit of nationa-
ships to the Cuban waters, in accustom-
) tAPT. 'CWWICN LJWT.CcmH. Haltin'
II
ic* ■ >*•
CAPT. SAMPSON
Li £X/ T Cor^
TbTTLC; .
ing the people to the presence of our
flag as the symbol of good will and of
our ships in the fulfillment of the mis
sion of protection to American interests,
even though no immediate need therefor
might exist.
Accordingly, on Jan. 24, last, after a
conference with the Spanish minister in
•which the renewal of visits of our war
vessels to Spanish waters was discussed
and accepted, the peninsula authorities
at Madrid and Havana were advised of
the purpose of this government to re
sume friendly naval visits at Cuban
ports and that in that view the Maine
would forthwith call at the port cf
Havana. This announcement was re
ceived by the Spanish government with
appreciation of the friendly character of
the visit of the Maine and with notifica
thin of intention to return the courtesy
by sending Spanish ships to the princi
pal ports of the United States. Mean
while the Maine entered the port of
Havana on Jan. 2o, her arrival being
marked with no spec ial incident beside
ct k nn uial visits.
The Maine coni
lowing,
citenu nt
No appre<
attended
dene*
long
f<illowod tin
interrupted
of her visit that
istomary t
alutt
s and
lined in
(lie harlior
the tint e
wee!
:s Joi
•iatile exc
itemo
nt ex-
her sta;
v. Oi
n the
of relie f
and
confi-
■ resumpt
ion o
f the
friendly
inton
rouse.
Ibis inmu
•din to
effect
the ei in'
ail pi
•nernl
t the presi
•nee o
f our
ters shoe
i» jjiiiiiK* *
Id he
kept
it re all.
1 v M
iVana,
lining
eto take 1
• er pi
nee.
st !» in i
lie ev
i ning
n** was di
•tniv
ed 1 >•
Tributes of grief and sympathy were
offered from all official quarters of the
island.
The appalling calamity fell upon the
people of our country with crushing
force and for a brief time an intense ex
citement prevailed, which, in a commu
nity less just and self controlled than
ours, might have led to hasty acts of
blind resentment. This spirit, how
ever, soon gave way to the calmer pro-
•esses of reason and to the resolve to in
vestigate the farts and await material
proof before forming a judgment as to
the cause, the responsibility, and if the
fac ts warranted, the remedy due. This
course necessarily recommended itself
from the outset to the executive for only
in the light of a dispassionately ascer
tained certainty could it determine the
nature and measure of its full duty in
the matter.
The usual procedure was followed, as
in all cases of casualty or disaster to na
tional vessels of any maritime state. A
naval court of inquiry was at once or
ganized, composed of officers well quali
fied by rank and practical experience to
discharge the onerous duty imposed
upon them. Aided by a strong force of
wreckers and divers, the court pro
ceeded to make a thorough investigation
on the spot, employing every available
means for the impartial and exact deter
mination of the causes of the explosion.
Its operations have been conducted with
the utmost deliberation and judgment
and while independently pursued no
source of information was neglected and
the fullest opportunity was allowed for
a simultaneous investigation by the
Spanish authorities.
The finding of the court of inquiry
was reached after 28 days of coutiunous
labor, on March 21, hist., and hav
ing been approved on the twenty-
second by the commander-in-chief of
fhe United States naval force on the
North Atlantic station was transmitted
to the execr.tiv?.
Verdict In Brief.
It is herewith laid befere the congress
together with the voluminous testimony
taken before tfie court.
Its purport is, in brief, as follows:
When the Maine arrived at Havana
she was conducted by the regular gov
ernment pilot to buoy No. 4, to which
was moored in from d 1 * to G fathoms of
The state of discipline on board and
the condition of her magazines, boilers,
coal bunkers and storage compartments
arc p issed in review, with the conclu
sion that excellent order prevailed and
that no indication of any cause for an
internal explosion existed in any quar
ter.
At 8 o'clock on the evening of Feb. 15
everything had been reported secure
and all was quiet.
At 9:40 o’clock the v c?scl was suddenly
destroyed.
There were two distinct explosions,
with a brief interval between them.
The first lifted the forward purt of
the ship very perceptibly; the second,
which was more upon, prolonged and of
greater volume, is attributed by the
court to the partial explosion of two or
more of the forward magazines.
The evidence of the divers establishes
that the after p art of the ship was prac
tically intact and sank in that condition
a very few minutes after the explosion.
The forward part was completely de
molished.
Upon the evidence of a concurrent
external cause the finding of the court is
as follows:
At frame 17 the outer shell of the
ship, from a point ll l 2 feet from the
middle line of the ship and 6 feet above
the keel when in its normal position,
was forced up so as to be now about 4
feet above the surface of the water;
therefore, about G4 feet above where it
would be had the ship sunk uninjured.
The outside bottom plating is bout
into a reverse V shape, the after wing
of which, a bent 15 feet broad and 82
feet in length (from frame 17 to frame
25), is doubled back up in itself against
the continuation of the same plating ex
tending forward.
Ar iramo is the vertical keel is broken
in two and the fiat keel is bent into an
angle similar to the angle formed by the
outside bottom plates. The break is
now about (! feet below the surface of
the water and about GO feet above its
normal position.
Mine Caused Wreck.
In the opinion of thr
couh
h t!
f, e-
t !i
in tf
dod
I'ly I’pl Ued to tiler:,
ir.ovi ml luniks of
m i i s ii.< inunici-
melon in th city.
suggested by honor and the
relations of the two govern-
aot«»m
frienlj-
ments.
It will be the duty of the exeentiye to
advise the congress of the result, and in
the meantime deliberate consideration
is invoked. Wjluam McKinley.
In neither senate or house was there
any debate on the reference of the presi
dent’s message and other documents to
committees having charge of our Culmn
relations.
FULL TEXT OF THE
MAINE COURT’S REPORT
Findings as Sent to Congress by Pres
ident McKinley.
forward part of the ship (..re, however,
established by the. testimony:
That pxirtion of the port side of the
protective deck which extends from
about frame 80 to 41 was blown up, aft
and over to the port. The main deck
from about frame 30 to about frame 41
were blown up and slightly starboard
folding the forward pjurt of the middle
superstructure over and o»i top of the
after part.
This was, in the opinion of the court,
caused by the partial explosion of two
or more of the forward magazines of the
Maine. *
5. At frame 17 the outer shell of the
ship from a point ll 1 ', leet from the
inc'
hands of three different sets of men, aa
it is too important.
Guns are being turned out rapidly
and prepared for shipment to the war
ships. Several large 18-inch guns are
being given the finishing touches and a
large number of a smaller caliber will
soon be ready for busin- -s.
PILOTS TO THE PRESIDENT.
middle of the ship> and (! feet above the
keel when in its normal position, has
The following is the full text of the ! keen forced up so as to be now about 4
feet above whore it would be had
opinion of tiie court, this effect
lave been produced only bv the
explnsien of a
bottom of the
iinil Minit what
. l.
situated under the
it about frame 18
:e port side of the
Tin
no:
lice
be conclusions of the court are:
s ol rka Maine was not due to
on the part of any of tho
■ members of her crow,
be ship was destroyed by the
of a submarine mine, which
c piartial explosion of two or
o - rward magazines, and
rcpxirt of the court of inquiry:
Key West, Monday, March 21.
After full and mature consideration of
all the testimony before it the court
finds as follows:
1. That the United States battleship
Maine arrived in the harbor of Havana,
Cuba, on Jan. 25, 1898, and was taken
to buoy No. 4, in from 5^ to 6 fathoms
of water, by the regular government
pilot.
The United States consul general at
Havana had notified the authorities at
that place the previous evening of the
, intended arrival of the Maine.
2. The state of discipline on board the
Maine was excellent, and all orders and
i regulations in regard to the care and
, safety of the ship were strictlv carried
j ofit.
1 All ammunitions were stowed in ac
cordance with prescribed instructions,
, and proper care was taken with which
ammunition was handled.
| Nothing was stowed in any one of the
magazines or shell roans which was not
permitted to be stowed there.
The magazines and shell rooms were
always Ipxjkcd after Laving been en-
fered, and after the destruction of the
Maine the keys were found in their
proper place in the captain's cabin,
everything having been reported secure
that evening at 8 p. :n.
| The temperature of the magazine? and
, shellrooms were taken daily and re
ported. The only magazine which had
an undue amount of heat was the after
! 10-inch magazine, and that did not ex
plode at the time tho Maine was do-
' Proved.
| The torpiedo warheads were all stowed
in the after part of the ship under the
wardroom, and neither caused nor par-
i ticipated in the destruction of the
Maine.
| The dry gun primers and detonators
were stowed in the cabin aft, and re-
' mote from the scene of the explosion.
I Waste was carefully looked after on
board the Maine to obviate danger.
Great Care Exercised.
Varnishes, dryers, alcohol and other
combustibles of this nature were stowed
on or above the main deck and could not
have had anything to do with the de
struction of the Maine.
The medical stores were stowed aft
under the ward room and remote from
I the scene of the explosion; no danger-
: ous stores of any kind were stowed be-
! low in any of tho other store rooms.
: The coal bunkers were inspected daily.
I Tho fire alarms in the bunkers were in
working order, and tkcre had never
been a case of spontaneous combustion
I of coal on board tho Maine.
The two after boilers of the ship were
in rso at the time of the dr-aster, but
for auxiliary purposes o ily, with a com
paratively low piressr.iv of steam, and
being tended by a reliable watch. Those
boilers could not have < aused the ex
plosion of tho -hip. The four forward
! boilers have since been found by tho
divers and are in a fair condition.
| On the night of the dost ruction of the
Maine everything had, been reported se
cure for the night, at 8 p. m., by relia
ble persons, through the pro pi r authori-
I ties to tho commanding officer. At tho
time the Maine was destroyed the ship
i was quiet, and there fire least liable to
accident caused by movements from
those on board.
3. The destruction of the Maine oc
curred at 9:40 p>. in. on Feb. 15. 1S98, in
the harbor of Havana, Cuba, she iving
i at the time moored to tho buoy to which
; she had been taken on her arrival.
Were Two Explosions.
There were two explosions of a dis
tinctly different character, with a very
short but distinct interval 1 etvi; n them,
and the forward part of t! . ship was
lifted to a marked degive at tho time of
tho first ex >li sion.
Tho first explosion wr? more in the
nature of a report, like tl at (i a gun;
while tho second explosion was more
open, prolonged and of greater volume.
This second explosion was in tho opin
ion of the court caused by the partial
explosion of two or more of iho forwaru
be had it
sunk uninjured. The side bottom plat-
! ing is bent into a reverse in the V shaiie,
the after wing of which, 15 feet broad
and 32 feet in length (from/frame 17 to
1 25), is doubled back ujkiii itself against
| the continuation of the plate extending
forward.
Keel Broken In Two.
1 At frame 18 the vertical keel is broken
in two, and the flat keel bent into an
angle similar to the angle formed by the
! outside bottom plating. This break is
now about 6 feet below the surface of
the water, and about 30 feet above its
normal position. Iir*hc opinion of the
| cout, this effect could have been pro
duced only by the explosion of a mine
I situated under the bottom of a ship at
i about frame 18, and somewhat on the
pxirt side of the ship.
I 6. The court finds that the loss of the
j Maine was not in any respect due to
| fault or negligence on the part of any of
, the officers or members of the crew of
said vessel.
7. In the opinion of the court the
, Maine was destroyed by the explosion of
a submarine mine, which caused the
partial explosion of two or more of her
forward magazines.
8. The court has been unable to ob-
: tain evidence fixing the responsibility
for the destruction cf the Maine upon
any person or persons.
(Signed) W. T. Sampson,
Captain U. S. N., President,
A. Marix,
Lieutenant Commander U. S. N.,
Judge Advocate.
The court having finished the inquiry
it was ordered to make, adjourned at 11
a. m. to await the action of the conven
ing authority.
(Signed) W. T. Sampson,
Captain U. S. N., President.
A. Marix,
Lieutenant Commander U. S. N.,
Judge Advocate.
U. S. Flagship, New York, March 22.
Off Key West, Fla.—The proceedings
and findings of the court of inquiry in
| the above case arc approved.
; (Signed)
M. Sioard, Rear Admiral, Commandcr-
iu-Chicf cf the United States Naval
Force on fhe North Atlantic Station.
Slen Who Rendered South Valuable
Service Will Worlt Once More.
Wilmington, N. C., March 26.—At a
special meeting of the Cape Fear Pilots’
association,
Captain E.
J. K. Adkins as secretary, the following
preamble and resolution were unaui-
* mouslv adopted:
"Whereas, it appears to this body that
a war is very probable between the
j United States and Spuin and that men
; of our calling can be of valuable service
to the country, therefore be it
"Resolved, by this association. That
| we tender our service as a body and our
pilot plant to the president of the United
States and the secretary of the navy in
case of war with Spain. Wealsoassure
j the secretary of the navy that we stand
ready to tender to the navy of the
; United States such aid and assistance as
j our knowledge of the coast from New
York to Key West and ports on the gulf
of Mexico make possible; also inland
route from New York to Savannah.
We recall with pride the great services
rendered by our pilots to th° confederate
states during the civil war.”
Spain is able herself to resent Insults
and repudiate unjust pretension.” '
The Liberal also says:
"If the United States desires to assist:
Cuba the simplest means is to confine
the mission to Spanish Rod Cross, which
was recently helped in tho same objerl
by France, Russia, Hungary, Portugal
Venezuela and Argentine. Tho Spa mil
Red Cross is well organized in Cuba,
and besides many members are ready to
go there from Spain if necessary. / "
“However, if the United-States wants
war le f her say so frankly and not seek
charitable, or humanitarian excuses.”
. c .. . . t , | kknro quotes the minister for tho
held at Southport, with f colonies, Senor Moret, as replying to a
A. Grisson presiding and | question of the minister of marine, Ad
miral Bonne jo, with the remark, "the
stonn continues, but the barometer is
rising. ”
This is regarded as meaning that the
situation is not so unfavorable to Spain
as it was.
WILD SPEECHES
WAR.
Negroes Don’t Like Course President
j Is Pursuing Now.
Caarleston, March 29.—Officers of
the negro troops around Charleston held
a meeting here, at which wild speeches
were made on the war situation. The
action of President McKinley in trying to
arrive at a peaceable settlement in this
national crisis was, in a way, condemned.
The leaders aroused great excitement
with their fiery speeches. They ara
; bent on going to war. Colonel Robert-
! sea of the First Regiment National
I guards said that the honor of the coun
try could not be satisfied without war.
This appeared to be the keynote of the
talk.
New companies have Lorn organized
since Friday and a committee will wait
on Governor Ellerbe to submit the reso
lutions adopted at the meeting asking
for more arms. Guns and uniforms are
needed for 1,200 soldiers in the com
mand.
The negroes on the sea islands are
wildly excited and are making prepara
tions to leave ike fields for the army.
To Secure Torpedo Fleet.
New York, March 26.—A special to
The Herald from Washington says: By
direction of President McKinleyy, Sec
retary Long has Within 24 hours spent
something more than f 1,000,000 in the
purchase of 12 speedy yachts and sea
going tugs, which will be at once con
verted into torpedo boat destroj'ers and
picket boats. In directing the purchase
of yachts aud tugs, President McKinley
was guided by the information showing
that the Spanish torpedo boat flotilla
has sailed from the Canary islands for
Porto Rico.
Blacks Anxious For Battle.
Charleston, March 28.—The negroes
cround Charleston are wild to go to war.
Colonel Robertson, commanding ^the
; First regiment National guards of South
i Carolina, notifies Governor Ellerbe that
, he has 10,000 men ready to march to
ward Havana at the tap of the drum.
| All of these are not fullv armed, but tho 1
governor has been ashed to rush tho
guns here. Along the sea islands vol
unteer companies are being organized.
( Common broomsticks are being used for
guns on the drill ground.
MORGAN PREDICTS A WAR.
SAVANNAH jPEOPLE STIRRED.
Fine Benefit Entertainment For tho
Maine Monument Fund.
Savannah, March 28.—The report of
the Maine inquiry beard showing that
the destruction of the ship aud thedeath
of the men was due to a floating mine
beneath the ship, stirred up people here.
A grand benefit entertainment will be
held next Saturday evening for the
Maine monument fund at the Savannah
theater. "Star Spangled Banner” will
be sung.
Amateur and professional talent will
take part. All military will attend in
full uniform and the court martial mem
bers will occupy boxes. The Savannah
Evening Press is arranging the affair.
Three recruiting officers from tho
monitor Ampkitrite at Port Royal have
arrived here for the pnrpfi.se of enlisting
firemen, machinists and seamen for
naval service. They are Lieutenant V.
(X Chase, Lieutenant It. B. Higgins and
Dr. Lung, the physician at the Port
Royal naval station. They will begin
work at once.
The firemen and machinists secured
will be sent to other warships, but all of
tho seamen will be sent on board the
monitor Amphitrito, which needs about
50 men to fill her quota. They sav they
will take 100 seamen if they can get
WORK
ON DOUBLE TIME.
Will iviin
>i; iuv bus been obtainable magazine,
rortponsibili’y of tho do- 4. Tho
ho Maine upon any parse
of the Maine
ulenco bearin'-' upon
mis
being principi
did not»nablc
!y obtained fr
♦ )
lat too
nation
' ctro that the finding of the
p..ry and thy views of this
then in L - communicated
i.incut of her majesty, tho
I do not permit myself to
i: c c of justice of the
ill dictate a course of
Lite conch-ion
re com,
as to
•mors,
a defi-
eonn
i bl;
to
the
the wreck, although if win
that the after part ol tho ship v pre.o-
tical’y intact and sank in tba c ndiliou
in a very few minutes aftc.' the de-trac
tion of the forward part.
The following facts in re gard to the
Navy Yard il Washington
Day and Night.
V.’ ashi wr:c>>:, March 28.—Machinists
in tne guns hops at the navy yard will
be required hereafter to work 12 hours
a day. Tho new order takes effect at
midnight Sunday, win n a full forcoVrill
begin and work c TitiiiuoW.y until noon
Monday. A second shift will work from
no n until midnight, and they will re-
relicv. each other from day to day.
Ft r several i
Alabamian Says Hostilities Will Open
In a Short Time.
Washington, March 27. — Senator
Morgan, in speaking of the Cuban situ
ation tonight, said:
"Affairs are becoming more critical
every day. The Cuban question is
reaching a crisis which will culminate,
in my opinion, within a few days.
Trouble will be the ultimate result.
This I have contended ever since tho
matter was agitated, and in view of the
happenings of the past few days, my
belief is becoming stronger every day.
“War is certain to result from this
matter. The United States must inter
vene in Cuba. I think the president
will recognize the independence of the
republic. Whenever this is done the
flag of Cuba will be flying in all of our
ports.”
GENERAL LEE IS GUARDED.
Consul Protected as He Goes About
the Cuban Capital.
New York, March 29.—A dispatch to
The Herald from Havana says: Secre
tary General Concostoasked Consul Gen
eral Iah' to permit him to furnish him a
personal body guard. General Lee de
clined this offer and General Congosto
contented himself with increasing the
detail of plain clothes detectives which
for weeks has kept a care ful eye oa Gen
eral Loo at all times with a view to Lis
prot *< t -im ai 1 - bout the city.
Consul General L e. believing that a
serious crisis in affairs is li!: •;>* to occur
now at any moment, i- today preparing
a revised list of all Aiueri ;u.s now in
Havana, together with thoir n
so that incas f i may
be eommunieati wkii at liort notice.
There is an extra guaitl now around the
American ccnjubite.
“Fighting Bob” In Charge.
I Washington, March 25. — Captain
Robley D. Evans, letter 'known as
“Fighting Bob” Evans, reached here
this morning and was immediately or-
| dered to lake command of the Iowa.
Captain Sampson of the Iowa, and also
of the Maine court of inquiry, has been
ordered to command the North Atlantic
fleet, relieving Admiral Sicard, who is
ill. Commodore W. S. Schley in all
probability will Ik? placed in command *
of the squadron at Hampton Roads.
Spain Asks Further Delay.
New York, March 29.—Spain, al
though apparently defiant, has asked*
for further delay before the United
States does anything more about Cuba,
says the Washington correspondent of
The Herald. This request was mado
through Senor Polo de Bernabe, the
Spanish minister in Washington. Ho
promised in Spain’s behalf that she-
would lay before the state department
at an early day a plan for a more liberal
government of Cuba.
Guns Coining to Georgia.
Washington, March 29.—Senator Ba
con has received from Chief of En
gineers Wilson of the army department
a letter containing assurances that four
rapid tire guns will be sent to Savannah,
ns soon rs they arrive from England.
Two of those arc to be erected on Tybeo
island and two are to bo placed at somo
location yet to be determined upon for
defense of the Wilmington and Warsaw
rivers.
Thought the War Was On.
Raleigh, March 26.—Captain Davis,
who owns and sails a schooner, arrived
at Newborn today and at once inquired
if war bad been declnred, saying as he
sailed along the coast a warship was
lying off shore at Beaufort, close to Fort
M icon, and used i i. searchlights on the
fort, and at all other points along the
coast men were aloft with glasses ex-
amining (he -bore. The searchlights
were turned on C.mtain Davis’ crait.
An Klectlon
Baiicki.' n a, i’nain.
la Spain.
March ‘?9.-
clections to fill tho
three Monarchists :
were returned. The
dates were
Liberals G
province o
SIX
In tho
|es here,
three Raubli ms
eu. a no anarchist eandi-
ignomini i*u.'.ly defeated. Thov
tail: ‘<1 all other scats in the
. >pt no for which a Catalan.
SAUCY
They Dccl
TAL
cnAIUI
— i /U <• ii-t Kl.
ru:cr was lelarneo.
at Key
boon working tho force in thro shifts
of eight hours each, bin the failure to
secure the requisite number of hands to
puth the work as rapidly as they desire
causes the change in their plans. Cap
tain Pendleton, who is in charge, also
says the work should not bo in tho
ire
Care
Maokid, March 29.—
and The Liberal today r
that the mediation of
powers will be difficult
crisis in the far oast, adding: “Anvwav
s to Take
Imparcial
in saying
tho European
in view of thu
roe
>ain
Paris,
in
to-J
day
mish Is
<iUC5
j ugamst 4s, „ on tauuduy.