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TWO CENTS.
SCRANTON, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 18. 1898.
TWO CENTS.
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MYSTERY OF THE FATE OF THE MAINE
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Cause of the Terrible Disaster Is
Still in Doubt.
THE TORPEDO THEORY POPULAR
It Thus Far Seems to Be the Most Plausible
Solution of the Sad Affair.
A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WILL BE MADE
Suggestions That an Infernal
Placed in the Coal Bunkers Will Be Given Proper
Attention List of the Survivors and Victims of the
Disaster So Far as Known by the Officers.
Washington, Feb. 17. So far as any- '
thins official is concerned, the cause
of the Maine catastrophe is at this
writing a matter purely of speculation
and conjecture. Rumors and theories
innumerable follow upon each other,
but It Is almost sure that the exact
cause of the explosion will not be
known until after the ofllclal Investi
gation, and perhaps not then, if the
damage should have been so great as
to leave no clue for a satisfactory so
lution. Early in the day came a dispatch
from Madrid which created much in
terest. It was to the effect that Pre
mier Sagasta had had an Important
conference with the minister of ma
tlne, Hear Admiral Bermejo, on the
subject of the voyage of tho first class
armored cruiser Viscaya to tho United
States. It is said at the Madrid min
istry of marine that a long telegram
In cipher has been sent to Senor du
Bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires at
Washington, directing him to give In
structions of a precise character to the
commander of the Viscaya so soon as
that vessel reaches the American coast,
ho that he may be prepared to avoid
all eventualities.
The charge d'affaires may go person
ally to New York to deliver these In
structions. At Key West the anthracite coal
supply for the United 'States warships
is being overhauled In a search for
infernal machines. It is pointed out,
however, that the Maine took her coal
un board there a week ago, and it is
not likely that the mechanism of any
Informal instrument would delay ac
tion so long.
Captain Bradford, chief of the bu
reau of equipment, says that the coal
taken on there was anthracite, "which
Is no more subject to spontaneous com
bustion than a pile of stones."
This coal Is kept at Key West be
hind a picket fence, very much ex
posed to any evil-minded person who
might desire to conceal n bomb therein,
something which could only be effect
ed with great dlfllculty after the coal
was stored In the 'bunkers.
A late dispatch from Key West says
that a number of the ofllcers and men
who were aboard the Maine at the
time of the explosion have been inter
viewed, and that It Is their unanimous
opinion that it was due to some inter
ior cause and not the result of the ex
plosion of the torpedo on the outside.
Admiral Sicard telegraphed Secretary
Long from Key West today that in the
opinion of Lieutenant John Hood, of
the Maine, who had arrived from Ha
vana, the Maine could never again be
utilized as a ship.
LIST OF SURVIVORS.
The first dispatch of the day direct
from Captain Slgsbee reached the navy
department at 2.20 p. m. It gave the
list of survivors, injured and unin
jured. Omitting names already sent by
Forsythe, from Key West, the list of
Captain Slgsbee Is as follows, those
followed with Interrogation marks be
ing unidentified from the department's
muster rolls:
Men uninjured now at Havana:
C .11, Bullock, Frank Rueh, K. Kushldn,
W. Anthony.
Men injured now at Havana:
Henry JecUon (?). Alfted J. Holland,
Juhn II, Hurbert, J. McDevltt, William
Anderson, Benjamin R. Wilbur, T. J.
Wuters, M. V. Weber, A. Anderson, Geo,
Koebler, A. N. Verlckson, Henry Will
iams. J. Williams, J. B. White, Thomas
Mack, F. Coffee. W. Allen, Daniel Crook,
D. F. Cahlll, Fred Jcrnee ('.'), C A.
Smith, J. 8. Hea, A. B. Henieas. John
Hrffron, J. F. Bloomer, II. Johnson (?),
Carl Mathlason. C. F. 1'llchcr, F, Cholt
zor (?), P. Loftus, X. McMuiius (7), W.
Mattlson, James Rowe, A. Hallon (?),
Carlos A. Febetale.
Captain Slgsbee adds that ho cannot
bo sure of correct Initial.
The following was received from tho
navy department at 3.35 p. m. from
Captain Slgsbte:
General Blanco called on me person
ally at the hotel Inst night, and also
tho muyor of the city. They have
requested mo to permit tho govern
ment here to give u public burlul to
the dead already found In order that
public sympathy may he expressed
thereby and due honor shown tho
dead. Ground for the burial has been
secured. It Is assumed that I am ex
pected by tho department to bury tho
dead here? In fact would bo Imprac
ticable to transport remains to tho
United States. Means and facilities
era lacking, I have accepted tho of
fer of the authorities and there will
be a publlo funeral at 3 o'clock today.
All here from the Maine will go; also
a delegation from the Fern. Fifteen
bodies recovered during operations.
Machine Might Have Been
Operations
weather.
pi evented by rough
In answer, Secretary Long sent the
following:
Telegram received and action ap
pioved. Express to Captain General
Blanco and to tliu mayor and people
of Ha vma tho thanks of this depart
ment and Its .pprtclutlon of their ac
tion In extending the honors you havo
reported to those lost on board the
Maine.
MARINES ON BOARD.
The navy department this afternoon
gave out a final and complete list of
tho marines on board the Maine, in
cluding the lost and the survivors, as
follows:
William Anthony, private, uninjured,
at Huvana.
Sergeant Meehan and Privates Galvin,
Lutz and McKay, uninjured, now at Key
West; Corporal F. P. Thompson and Pri
vates. McDevltt and Grlmon, slightly
The following are given as "believed
hurt, now at Key West,
to be lost":
Private II. A. Van Horn, Corporal Jo
seph Schoen, Private John McDermott,
Private J. J. Jordan, Private John Ben
nett, First Sergeant Henry Wagnor, Ser
geant J. T. Brown, Privates Henry K.
Sto.it. Cdward B. Suman, A. V. War
ren William McGulnness, John Coffee,
Frank Kelly. C. H. Lemltt, I'. A. Losko,
A. C. Wills, E. J. Kean, Joseph Strong
man. 13. B. Timpany, M. J. Downing, C.
E. Johnson, V. H. Bottling. James II.
Roberts, Paul Loftus, F. J. Newman,
George Brosnon, Copropal J. R. Bunm,
Corporal A. II. Rlchter. Drummer J. H.
Dieiklng, FIfer C. II. Newton.
Tho department received this aflcr
ncon from Captain Forsythe at Key
West the following detailed dispatch,
showing those survivors of the Maine
who are now at Key West:
Captain Slgsbee reports that tho fol
lowing named officers bud men wero
saved from tho Maine, and aro at Key
West:
Uninjured men, fifteen; Peter Meikel
son, Sea.; Charles Galpln, private mar
ine; Thomas Melville, C. P.; Michael Lan
nahan, L. D. S. ; Peter Larscn, Sea.; Mar
tin Iteden, Sea.; Louis Morlncic, Sea.;
Alonzo Willis, App.; John Turpln, M. Att.;
Westmore Harris, M. Att.; Michael Mee
han, sergeant U. 8. M. C; Edward Mc
Kay, prlvato U. S. M. C; Fresonanl Owa,
M. Att.; Dan G. Toppln, W. R. Cook. Jo
seph Lutz, private U. S. M. C.
Men slightly hurt, twenty-six: Frank
G. Thompson, Corp. M. C.j Chester Ger
mond, private M. C; John Herbert, Ord.
Sea.' George Schwartz, ship's cook; Al
fred Johnson, Sea.: W. II. Thompson, L.
D. S.; Charles Bergman, Bts. Mate.;
Haniy McCann, Sea.; Walter E. Rich
ards, App.: Arthur Hau, Sea.; Joseph H,
Kane, L. D. S.; Wllllum McDevltt, pri
vate M. C; John D. Load, M. A. A.;
Chntles Lohman, C. P.; William Gartiell,
fireman; Oscar Anderson, Coxs.; Alfred
Hallbcrg. Coxs.; John Panck, fireman;
George Davis, Sea.; Ambrose Ham, App.;
James Williams, G. Mate.: Henry Will
lams, cabin cook, Henry Teackle, Sea.;
Thomas J. Durchan, L. D. S.; William
C. McNalr, Ord. Sea. ; Michael Flynn, Sa,
Men seriously hurt, five: Chas. Chrlst
ianson, fireman: Patrick J. Foley, App.;
George Fox, L. D. S.; Robert Hurchlns,
L. D. S.J G. J. Dressier, App.
Of the men seriously hurt, Foley Is con
sldered to be the only one In any danger.
Tho list has been compiled by Lieuten
ant Jungen and myself carefully, and is,
I think, conect.
The following is tho list of the officers
of the Mnlno now at Key West, all un
injured: Lieutenant Jchn Hood, Lieutenant Carl
Jungen, Lieutenant George P. Blow, Lieu
tenant George J. Bluudcn; Past Assist
ant Engineer F, I'. Bowers; Assistant
Engineer J. R. Moirls, Nnval Cadet:
Bronson, Naval Cndet P. Washington,
Naval Cadet D. F. Boyd. First Lieutenant
Catlln, marine corps; Boatswain E. l
Larkln, Gunner J. Hill, Carpenter Gcorgo
Helms, Paymaster's Clerk McCarthy.
The state department this afternoon
received the following dispatch from
Consul General Lee:
Merrltt in Junior ofllcers' mess room,
Jenkins In ward room mees room at
the time of explosion. Latter left be
fore an officer who was saved. Must
have gone the wrong way. Lights out
Immediately end water rustling In,
Merrltt got to hatch with Naval Cadet
Boyd. Ladder gone Boyd climbed
through and tried to pull Merrlt up,
biit latter left go his hands, fell back
nnd was drowned. Bodies of these
ofllcers not yet found, possibly In
wreck. Sailors' funeral today at 3.
Will bo an Immenso procession,
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE.
The most important news of the day
was tho appointment of the naval
committee and the announcement that
it would forthwith proceed Att Havana
to Investigate tho explosion, The
board Is composed of Captain William
T. Sampson, of tho Iowa; Captain F.
E. Chadwlck, of the New York; Lieu
tennnt Commander Schroeder, of tho
Massachusetts, and Lieutenant Com
mander Mrlx, of the Vermont.
They have full authority to make tho
most searching inquiry Into tho cause
of the explosion.
It is probablu that the families of the
victims of the disaster will bo cared for
by the government as were the surviv
ors of these who were lort In the Sa
intian hurricane several J ears ago.when
B4 American officers and sailors were
lo(t from the NIppIc, Vondalla and
Ticnton. which were wrecked on that
occasion.
Representative McClellan, of New
York, Introduced a Joint resolution ap
propriating $150,000 for this purpose In
the house today.
LIEUT. BLANDIN'S ACCOUNT.
Thrilling Nnrrntlvo Related by One of
the Oiliccri or the Mnino.
Key West, Feb. 17. Lieutenant John
H. Blandln, of Baltimore, one of the
Maine's survivors, who is at the Key
West hotel, gave the correspondent of
the Associated Press this evening a
succllant account of the disaster, say
ing that not until now had he been
able to recollect the sequence of events
In the awful ten minutes following the
explosion Tuesday evening. Lieuten
ant Blandln was on the Trenton at the
time of the terrible disaster oft Samoa
In 1SS9 when American and German
vessels lost 244 men all-told.
Lieutenant Blandln says: "I was on
watch, and when the men had been
piped "below, I looked down the main
hatches and over the side of the ship.
Everything was absolutely normal.
"I walked aft to the quarter deck be
hind the rear turret as is allowed after
eight lr the evening, and sat down on
the portslde, where I remained for a
few minutes. Then for some reason
I cannot explain to myself now. I
moved to the starboard side and sat
down there. I was feeling a bit glum
and In fact was so quiet that Lleuten
nnt Hood came up and asked laughing
ly If I was asleep. I said, no, I am on
watch.
"Scarcely had I spoken when there
came a dull, sullen roar. Would to
God th'at 1 could blot out the sound and
the scenes that followed. There came
a share explosion some say numerous
detonations I remember only one. It
seemed to me that the sound came
from the port side forward. Then came
a perfect rain of missiles of all de
scriptions, from huge pieces of cement
to blocks of wood, stel railings, frag
ments of gratings, and all the debris
that would be detachable In an ex
plosion. "I was struck on .the head by a piece
of cement and knocked down, but I was
not hurt, and got to my feet in a mo
ment. Lieutenant Hood had run to the
poop, and I supposed, as I followed,
Ko was dazed by the shock and about
to Jump overboard. I hailed him and
he answered that he had run to the
poop to help lower the boats. When I
got there, though scarce a minute
could have elapsed. I had to wade In
water to my knees and almost Instant
ly the qunrter deck was awash. On
the poop I found Captain Slgsbee, as
ccol as if at a ball, and soon all tho
offlcera except Jenkins and Merrltt
Joined us. The poop was above water
after thet Maine settled to the bottom.
Captain Slgsbee ordered the launch and
gig lowered, and the ofllcers and men,
who by this time had assembled, got
the boats out, and rescued a number
In the water. Captain Slgsbee ordered
Lieut. -Commander Walnwrlght for
ward to see the extent of the damage
and If anything could be done to rescue
those forward or to extinguish' tho
flames, which followed close upon the
explosion and burned fiercely as long
as there was any combustibles above
water to feed them.
THE LAST SAD ORDER.
"Lieutenant Commander Walnwrlght
on his return reported the total and
awful character of the calamity, and
Captain Slgsbee gave the last sad or
der, "Abandon ship," to men over
whelmed with grief Indeed, but calm
and apparently unexclted,
"Meantime four boats from the
Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII, arrived,
to be followed soon by two from the
Ward line steamer City of Washington.
The two boats lowered first from the
City of Washington were found to be
riddled with flying debris from the
Maine and unfit for use. Captain
Slgsbee was the last man to leave his
vessel and left In his own gig.
"I have no theories as to the cause
of the explosion. I cannot form any.
An examination by divers may tell
something to a court of Inquiry. I,
with others, had heard that the Ha
vana harbor was full of torpedoes, but
the officers, whose duty It was to ex
amine into that, reported that they
found no signs of any. Personally, I
do not believe the Spanish had any
thing to do with the disaster. Time
may tell. I hope so.
"We were In a delicate position on
the Maine so far as taking any pre
cautions was concerned. We were
friends In a friendly, or alleged friend
ly port, and could not fire upon or
chall nge the approach of any boat
boarding us unless convinced that her
intention was hostile.
"I wish to heaven I could forget It.
I have been In two wrecks and have
had my share. But the reverberations
of that sullen, yet resonant roar, as If
the bottom of tho sea was groaning In
torture, will haunt me for many days,
and the reflection of that pillar of
flames comes to me even when I close
my eyes."
Later reports today from the wound
ed show them to be doing well, except
Patrick Foley, whose skull is frac
tuted. It Is feared ho will die.
The ofllcers from the Maine here aro
at tho hotels or are quartered with
nrmy or navy friends, and tho seamen
nnd others have been provided for at
.he barracks or have been sent to the
crqlser New York.
A distribution of clothing will be
made to them as soon as possible. The
ofllcers can buy nil they want here In
tho way of clothing.
OFFICERS ARE RETICENT.
Regarding the explosion, the officers
of the Maine are reticent.' They are
evidently under orders to keep quiet on
the subject, but the men talk more
freely, and they are almost unanimous
In Insltlng that the explosion was
caused by a large torpedo planted be
fore the Maine arrived at Havana.
The naval men here say that would
bo possible, but is not likely. The
anchorage of the Maine was designated
by a buoy and the location of the buoy
was fixed by the harbor officials. It
Is added that any officials perfectly
posted as to currents and tides might
plant a torpedo at night, so that under
certain conditions of tide It would be
under the forward part of the Maine
as she swung to her moorings. Once
plnnted, It Is further stated, such a
torpedo could be exploded from the
shore or from a boat at any tlmo fixed
upon by those in tho secret. All this,
however, Is regarded as being unlikely
to occur, and as being almost Impos
sible without the collusion of Spanish
officials.
Tho Maine, according to the reports
received here, was split open forward,
therefore, it is added, It Is difficult to
see how such a result could be at
tained by a torpedo from the outside,
and therefore it Is pointed that the
explosion seems to have come from
within, although tho keys of the maga
zines were In tho hands of Captain
Slgsbee at 8 p. m.
WHAT DID C0NQ0ST0 MEAN ?
VY'nrnod General Leo Thnt Trouble
Would follow Visit of the .Maine.
New York, Fob. 17. Sylvester Scovel
wires the World from Havana:
"I shall now quote what Secretary
Congosto, then the acting governor
general, or fulfilling the functions of
that responsible position, said to me
the night before the Maine had ar
rived. Cor.sul General Lee had told
him that afternoon that a warship
would come.
"Congostc belligerently objected.
General Lee then said:
" 'Rememoei, if any trouble docs oc
cur, I shall have the whole fleet here
in fouv hours.'
"Shortly after I saw Secretary Con
gosto, and he was very mad. He was
also indiscreet. He said to mo:
" 'If your people would only let us
alone it would all right. Spain has put
up with mote than any other nation
would have done. I have warned you
that there will be trouble if the Maine
comes here. Now bring your ships
here. If you want war you can have
it. You will find Spain hasn't' forgot
ten how to flsht.'
"I took these words at the time as
the angry utterances of an overtaxed
diplomat. Now they seem to mean
something.
"Two days ago a Spanish daily here
claimed Senor do Lome wrote his fa
mous letter and caused its capture be
cause he saw no gain In further delay
ing a brca'ri Lutween the two govern
ments." OPINION OF A GUNNER.
Elmer Mellstrup Thought the Harbor
ol Ilnvann Contained Torpedoes.
Detroit, Mich., Feb. 17. A speclul
from Bay City, Mich., says:
A letter was received today from El-
I mer Mellstrup, gunner on the battle
ship Maine, dated Feb. 11, In which
Mellstrup wrote that he would not be
surprised If they should be blown up
any day; that the ship was surrounded
with torpedoes and could not leave
the harbor without consent and direc
tion of the Spanish authorities.
Mellstrup's letter says:
"The Spaniards have a couple of gun
boats and a cruiser and there are two
German gunboats. The guns of Mora
castle are pointed at us as I write.
The whole bottom of the harbor Is
covered with torpedoes bo that If they
did not want to let us out we would
not be able to go very well. We are
lying between the Spanish and German
men-of-war, nnd they have picket
boats out all night watching us."
In a letter of Feb. 7 Mellstrup says:
"I do not look for any trouble un
less something very unexpected should
happen."
In a letter of Jan. 12 Mellstrup tells
of an accident aboard the cruiser Mar
blehead, when five men were Injured.
Commenting, he said:
"It Is a wonder some of tho ships
don't blow up, they are so careless."
QUEEN REGENT'S SORROW.
General Woodford Thanks the Ad
miralty tor Courtesies I'.itendrd.
Madrid, Feb. 17. The queen regent
presided at a cabinet meeting today.
The subject chiefly discussed was the
loss of the battleship Maine. The min
ister for foreign affairs, Senor Cullon,
read a dispatch on the subject from
Washington and the queen regent ex
pressed sorrow at the catastrophe.
The Spanish warship Viscaya will, it
is said, receive her final Instructions
"by semlphore" before she enters New
York harbor.
There is much comment here at the
alleged dispatch of a United States
torpedo flotilla to Havana from Key
West.
A Spanish minister, who declines to
have his name used, said to the cor
respondent of the Associated Press
here today: "All the ofllclal dispatches
agree that the loss of the Maine was
duo to an accident. We keenly regret
that the Jingo element, with palpable
bad faith, are endeavoring to make
capital out of tho catastrophe."
Tho United States minister, General
Woodford, accompunled by his secre
tary and the naval attache of the
United States legation, called at the
admiralty today to thank the govern
ment for the proofs of consideration it
has given and for the assistance of the
Spaniards of Havana In saving the sur
vivors of the Maine.
CONDITION OF THE SHIP.
Only theF.nd ofthe Main Musts Ito
mnin Above Writer.
Havana, Feb. 17. The night of the
disaster to the Maine a light wind from
the southwest was blowing and she
had her head pointed In a southeasterly
direction. She was moored In about
12 metres of water forward and drew
about 13 metres uft. The SDanlsh
cruiser, Alfonso XIII, was about 200
metres from the American battleship.
The correspondent of the Associated
Frees was In the cable ofllce filing a
message when th'e explosion occurred.
He taw from tho window of that ofllce
a great column of flru shooting up
wards, like a big blaze of flre works,
and ho huiled to the wharf and to the
quarters of Admiral Manterola. By
that time tho correspondent could see
the flames extending over the whole
ship, and a few moments after the
Maine sank.
Th'e explosion so disjointed and
twisted the battleship that her remains
now appear like a. pile of wreckage.
All tho upper deck structure, turrets
and guns are In a heap, and one boiler
has been blown out of Ub place and at
2 o'clock yesterday afternoon was atlll
smoking.
The foremast nnd bow of the Maine
have collapsed, and now only the end
of her main masts remain above water.
The boatB of the Spanish cruiser Al
fonso XIII. have picked up a quantity
of wreckage, including boats and a
flag, and today ten more bodies were
found In tho harbor and taken to the
morgue. It Is impossible to identify
them.
Captain Slgsbee went on board the
Alfonso XIII. yesterday and thanked
the Spanish commander, Captain Man
uel Ellas, for the services the Spanish
sailors had rendered on the occasion
of the great disaster.
Contrary to reports current yester
day, the divers have not yet made nny
Investigation of the wreck, und the
general opinion expressed In Spanish
circles Is that the explosion occurred
Inside the Mnlne.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS.
ring on Public Ituildlngs nt Half
Mnnt nnd Mnuy House Draped.
Havana, Feb. 17. The interment of
the martyrs of tho Maine took place
this afternoon. The flags on the pub
llo buildings were at half-must, and
many of the houses were draped in
mourning. All classes were represent
ed in the throngs that filled the streets
along which the funeral procession
pabsed to the cemetery.
The order of the procession was as
follows: The municipal guards on
horseback In full uniform; the city
flre brigade, the municipal employes,
the alderman in seven splendidly dec
orated cars, special cars bearing the
remains, the clergy, deputations con
sisting of the chief officers of the urmy,
navy and the volunteers, representa
tives of various ofllclal bureaus, a com
mittee representing the chamber of
commerce, a delegation representing
the grocers, the council of administra
tion, representatives of the treasury,
the press and various political organi
zations, then the chief ofllcers of the
Mnlne, the representatives of foreign
governments, the city magistrates with
their mace bearers, provincial deputies,
employes of the general and regional
Autonomic governments, the municipal
mace bearers, then General Parrado,
with four alde-de camps, representing
Captain General Blanco (whose per
sonal presence was not allowable un
der the law), having on his right
United States Consul General Lee, and
on his left the mayor of Havana; the
Marquis Lerrinnga, Admiral Monter
ola, General Salano and other officers;
two companies of marines and in
fantry. Tho funeral music was furnished by
the bands of the Isabel la Catollca and
Porto Rico battalions, which accom
panied the bodies.
THE VIZCAYA'S ARRIVAL
Du Ilotc Ordered to Prepare Her for
EvpntuiillttPR.
Madrid, Feb. 17. The premier, Senor
Sagasta, has hud an Important con
ference with the minister of marine,
Rear Admiral Bermejo, on the subject
of the voyage of the first-class arm
ored cruiser, Vizcaya, to the United
States. It Is said at the ministry of
Maine that a long telegram In cipher
has been sent to the Spanish charge
d'affaires, at Washington, Senor Du
Bose, directing him to give instructions
of a precise character to the command
er of the Vizcaya, so soon as that
vessel reaches the American coast, "so
that he may be prepared to avoid all
eventualities."
It Is impossible that the charge d'af
faires will personally go to New York
to deliver the Instructions referred to.
Washington, Feb. 17. Senor Du
Bose, Spanish charge d'affaires, has
heard nothing in regard to the Mldrid
cable relative to the Vizcaya. It was
expected that this battleship would
arrive In New York today or tomor
row, and would remain two or three
days before proceedlnlg to Havana.
The Legation Is also without informa
tion concerning the reported note of
Spain closing the De Lome incident.
MAINE WENT TO FIQHT.
Gun
Crews Bendy tor linttle on
Benching llnvnnn.
Reading, Pa., Feb. 17. Frank An
drews, aged 26, of Reading, Is one of
the seamen on the ill-fated cruiser
Maine, and today, almost simultane
ously with the news of the disaster, a
letter was received here from him by
his brother. He says:
"When the Maine received orders to
proceed to Havana we saw that all our
guna were In good order; cylinders
filled, shot and shell broke out and the
decks almost cleared for action. Every
thing was ready for business and we
turned In for a couple of hours' sleep.
We sighted Cuba at daylight, and all
hands were soon on deck.
"We had heard the Spaniards would
flre on us, so we wero prepared to re
turn It with interest. Our orders were
to enter Havana, and it had to bo done,
so there was no half-why about any
thing on this outfit. As we steamed
in under the guns of Moro Castle we
calculated how long it would take us
to silence It.
"Our turret gun crews were standing
nl their guns under the turrets, out of
sight, of course, while the rest of the
crow was lounging around the deck,
but at the first shot from the Spanish
they would have soon found their
places, and we could have shown them
one of tho neatest Yankee tricks that
was over played. However, nothing
happened, und we steamed in and
moved to a buoy.
"We kept the ship ready for action
until United States Consul General Lee
came on board. He looked proud, and,
planking his foot down on deck, ex
claimed: 'At last!' We still keep our
ammunition ready and stand night
watches, ready lor business at a mo
ment'8 notice."
Capt. Sigsbee Had No Warning of
Torpedoes in Havana Harbor.
THE DENIAL OF A
Commander of the Maine
His Destination at the
THE LOCATION OF ALL
Their Presence Known Only to the Spanish Officers The
Wounded Sailors at Havana Will Be Looked After by
Clara Barton Visit of the Vizcaya State Department
Receives Many Messages of Condolence.
Washington, Feb. 17. Yesterday Cap
tain Slgsbee suggested to the navy de
partment, through the commander at
Key West, that It would be well to de
tail a lighthouse tender or some such
small craft to watch over the wreck
of the Maine. As the upper works aro
above water In places and much valu
able property is thus exposed, the de
partment has acted upon the sugges
tion and has authorized one of the ves
sels now at Havana, the Mangrove,
probably, to be used for the purpose.
It Is said at the department that the
naval court of Inquiry which Is to In
vestigate tho disaster can scarcely as
semble for the work at Havana before
next Monday. Lieutenant Commander
Marix, who left Washington at 11
o'clock this morning, can hardly reach
Key West before the end of the week.
and as the board must prepare Itself for
the work before leaving Key West, a
day is little time enough for that and
the transportation to Havana. It is
not yet known where tho board will
hold Its sessions at Havana, and this
detail has been left for Admiral Sicard
to fix. It may be held at one of the
hotels or perhaps on board the Ward
line steamer, the tender Fern, or the
coast survey steamer Bache.
The navy department authorizes a
denial of the statement attributed to
Captain Slgsbee, that he recommended
to the department before ho sailed for
Havana that no other ship than the
Maine be sent to Havana, because the
harbor was too dangerous, owing to
the number of torpedoes planted In the
bottom.
As a matter of fact, Captain Slgsbee
had not the slightest hint given him
thnt his ship was to be selected for the
visit twelve hours before his departute.
He was then at Key West doing patrol
work and had gone to Join the squad
ron at Tortugas before the telegraph
orders of the department for his ship
reached Key West. The telegram was
dispatched after him by means of the
torpedo boat Erlccson, and was deliv
ered to him at Tortugas that night.
Before daylight his ship was on tho
way to Havana and there was no cor
respondence with the department be
yond the acknowledgment of the or
ders. REGARDING TORPEDOES,
As to tho statement relative to the
number of torpedoes planted In Ha
vana harbor, It Is said at the navy de
partment that nobddy aside from the
Spanish offlcera in Havana knows what
.has been done to protect the harbor In
that manner. It Is customary to di
vide all great harbors Into sections
and In plans of coast defense to assign
plans for torpedoes on the bottom at
certain Intervals. Tho location of these
torpedoes Is kept a profound secret,
only a few officers of the army being
entrusted with the knowledge. If their
location were known it would be easily
for an attacking enemy to remove or
explode them without causing harm to
their own vessels. It Is not usual to
keep torpedoes actually In their berths
In the water in times of peace; they
are placed In the positions assigned
to them only as a war measure. Thero
are some exceptions to this rule, for
Instance at Hong Kong, where the tor
pedoes are at all times kept In posi
tion, and it may be presumed that tho
same precaution has been taken In
Havana harbor to guard against an
unexpected raid by a swift steamer
that might fall Into the hands of the
Insurgents. These torpedoes are not of
the contact type, as are the torpedoes
that are set to go off upon the touch
of the hull of a vessel passing over
them, but nre arranged to be exploded
only by means of electric currents sent
from shore by burled wires. These
fixed torpedoes are rcnlly mines and
carrying much larger charges than the
small automobile torpedoes discharged
from the torpedo tubes of warships.
VISIT OF THE VIZCAYA.
In view of the near approach to New
York of the Spanish warship which has
caused so much comment, although It
has been explained seml-ofllclally that
she is merely returning the courtesy
exhibited In the sending of tho Maine
to Havana, it may be proper to state
th"U tho naval regulations provide for
a proper reception to the ship. The
commandant at tho navy yard, Admir
al Bunce, will look otter the necessary
formalities. A salute will bo exchang
ed with the ship by the shore forts and
a rnval officer will be sent from the
na-. y yard to board the visitor and ex-
tend to. him the courtesies of the port.
An anfhoruge will be pointed out and
COMMON RUMOR
Had No Knowledge of
Time of Departure.
TORPEDOES A SECRET
all proper precautions will be taken to
make the stay of the ship safe and
comfortable. It Is pro1able itlint she
will lio In the North river naval an
chorage unless she receives other or
ders from the Spanish legation.
The officials at tho navy department
devoted the day to the effort to cor
rect the lists of living and dead und
to answering frantic telegraphic tip
peals from relatives of men on the bat
tleship. The disposition of the nurvlv
ors has been arranged for as well as
could be from this distance. Tln
wounded sailors in Havana, when not
In condition to be brought back to Key
West, will be carefully looked after by
Miss Clara Barton, who has been given
carte blanche to bu any and every
thing necessary.
As for the Maine herself, notwith
standing discouraging reports as to her
condition, the navy department will
make the effort to raise her.
At the navy department, specific de
nial was given of the report emanat
ing from Madrid that a torpedo flotilla
was about to leave Key West for Cuba.
Only two torpedo buats, the Cushlug
and the Ericsson, are at Key West,
and these have not been and will not
be ordered, according to present plans,
to Cuba. It was strongly asserted
that no present purpose existed of
sending nny warship there.
Senor du Bose, the Spanish charge,
had received no Instructions up to 6
p. m. as to going to New York and
stopping the Spanish ship Viscaya from
entering the port, and reports to this
e'fect were discredited.
So far as could be learned the only
information as to the situation In Ha
vana that reached the president direct
came through the Associated Press1.
The evening was absolutely devoid of
Interest so far as ofllclal circles wero
concerned. It was said at the navy
department thnt no news was expected
before Saturday, when some results
begin to appear as a rehult of the court
of Inquiry at Havana.
The state department has received
messages of condolence from Queen
Victoria, through Ambassador 'Paunce
fote; Emperor AVIlllam, the British ad
miralty, the Greater Republic of Cen
tral America; the Prince and Princess
of Wales, the Sultan, of Turkey, the
President of France, the Russian min
ister of marine, the lord mayor of Lon
don, General Blanco and the colonial
government of Cuba, and a great many
other rulers and high officials.
HOSTILE CIRCULAR.
Copy ot the Incendiary Handbill Clr
ciilnted About Havana.
New York, Feb. 17. Medical Director
Wood, of the naval hospital, Brooklyn,
Is In possession of tho copy of a clr
culary, incendiary and outrageous,
which was passed about the streets, on
railway cars, and other places in Hav
ana. A translation of the circular was
sent to Director Wood by an officer on
the Maine, who picked It up while on
a train returning from a bull fight. The
circular is as follows:
Spaniards!
Long live Spain and her honor!
What are you doing that yo allow 5 our
selves to be Irsulted In this way? Do you
not see what they havo done to us in
withdrawing our brave and beloved Wey
ler, who at this vury tlmo would have
finished with this unworthy rebellious
rabble, who are tramping on our flag and
our honor? Autonomy Is Imposed on us
to set us to one sldo und to give posts of
honor and authority to those who Initiat
ed this rebellion, theso Ill-born autono
mists, ungrateful sons of our beloved
country. And, finally, thebo Yankee hos,
who meddle in our affairs, humiliating
us to tho last degree nnd for still greater
taunt, order to us 0:10 of tho ships of war
ot their rotten squadron, after Insulting
us In their newspapers and driving us
from our homes.
Spaniards! The moment of action has
orrivedl Sleep not! Lot us show those
vile traitors that wo havo not yet lost
shume, and thnt wo know how to protect
with energy befitting n nation worthy
nnd strong as our Spain Is and always
will be.
Death to Americans! Death to Auton
omy! Long live Spain! Long llvo Weyler!
Mrs. Jungen, wife of Lieutenant Carl
Jungen, watch' ofllcer on the Mnlne, Is
at tho home of her uncle, Medical Di
rector Wood. In answer to questions
as to whether any of her husband's
letters Indicated a feeling existing In
Havuna against tho American officers,
she bald:
"Oh', yes. In ull the letters from my
husband ho has spoken of the bitter
feeling against tho .Americans, which'
were everywhere apparent. This was
among tho lower class of Spanish, un
derstand Weyler"s followers. In a let
ter dated as late aa Feb. 10 he used
the significant expression 'If wu don'ta
away from here noon there will b
tioublc.'"
I