The Maine has blown up. Captain Sigsbee and
various officers saved, and he says he believes about 100 men were
killed and injured. The vessel is now burning and is sinking to the
bottom of the bay. The detonation was tremendous. All Havana alarmed.
SIGSBEE ASKS FOR
SUSPENSION OF JUDGMENT.
Wants to Know All the Facts Before
the American People Lay the
Blame Finally Upon Spain.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15. -- I called upon Secretary of the Navy John T.
Long at an early hour this morning, and he confirmed the Herald's dispatch
that the Maine had been blown up and destroyed in Havana harbor. In answer to my questions, he said:
"Yes, I have received a report from Captain Sigsbee of the Maine, announcing
that the battleship had been destroyed by an explosion in the harbor of Havana.
The captain cables that some were killed and many wounded, and that the
Spanish soldiers did everything In their power to rescue those who were thrown
into the water.
"Moreover the captain's dispatch speaks of the great kindness of the
officers and citizens of Havana, who showered attentions upon the sufferers.
They cared tenderly for the wounded. The captain, in his dispatch to me, also
tells of the heroic work of the officers and men of the cruiser Alfonso."
"Mr. Secretary," I asked, "does Captain Sigsbee assign any cause of the
explosion?"
"No," replied the Secretary; "I presume that as yet the cause is a mystery."
The following was the dispatch received by the Secretary of the Navy
from Captain Sigsbee:
"Maine blown up in Havana harbor at 9:40 last night and destroyed.
Many wounded and doubtless many killed and drowned. "Wounded and
others on board the Spanish man-of-war and Ward line steamer. Send
lighthouse tender from Key West for crew and a few pieces of equipment.
Vessel still above water. No one had other clothes than those upon him.
"Public opinion should be suspended until further report. All the
officers are believed to be saved. Jenkins and Merritt are not yet
accounted for. Many Spanish officers, including representatives of General
Blanco, now with me and express sympathy. SIGSBEE."
The officers referred to in the above dispatch, are Lieutenant Friend W.
Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt.
From the wording of the dispatch the Navy Department think it is possible that they were on shore at the
time of the accident.
The Secretary of the Navy received another dispatch from Key West at
the same time with the above, but its contents were not made public.
The orders for the light-house tenders were at once sent to Key West
in plain language, thus avoiding the delay that would have arisen from the
use of a cipher.
Secretary Long received Captain Sigsbee's dispatch but a few minutes
before the Associated Press dispatches were handed him. He received the
news with apparent calm, and his first act was to comply with Captain
Sigsbee's request that assistance be sent from Key West. He wired Captain
Forsythe at Key West to proceed with the naval tender Fern to Havana harbor.
Secretary Long then sent for Captain Dickens, and the two discussed Captain
Sigsbee's brief telegram. No other naval officers were present, and besides
the Secretary and Captain Dickens the naval colony here is ignorant of this
disaster, the greatest which has befallen the American navy since the
storm in Apia many years ago.
The Secretary is inclined to believe that most of the officers of the Maine
were on shore at the time of the accident, as it was still in the night.
While neither the Secretary nor Captain Dickens is inclined to discuss the
probable cause of the accident, several suggestions were ventured. They
believe that it may have been caused by a fire in the bunkers, heating the
bulkhead near a magazine, or that an accident may have occurred while
inspecting high explosives for torpedoes. Of course, this is mere speculation, and
the Secretary is anxiously waiting a more detailed report from Captain Sigsbee.
Later the Secretary sent another telegram to Key West, directing that the
tender Mangrove also be sent to Havana.
Secretary Day received the following dispatch from General Lee:
"The Maine blew up at 9:40. The explosion occurred well forward, under
the men's quarters, consequently many were lost. It is believed all the officers
were saved, but Jenkins and Merrit are not accounted for. The cause of
explosion is yet to be investigated. The Captain-General and the army and
navy officers rendered every assistance. Sigsbee and most of his officers are on
board the steamer City of Washington. Others are on the Spanish gunboat and in the city. I am with
Sigsbee, who has telegraphed the Navy Department. LEE."
OFFICERS OF THE NAVY
HOLD HURRIED CONFERENCE
Great Excitement Created at Key
West by the Receipt of the
Startling News.
KEY WEST, Feb. 16. -- This has certainly been the most eventful night ever
witnessed in Key West. The excitement commenced shortly before 10
o'clock last night, when the first report was received that the famous tug
Dauntless had arrived at a port on the east coast and was taking on arms and
ammunition for Cuba.
The celebrated little filibuster was reported to have arrived at Palm Beach
this morning with a load of men and would sail before any attempt could be
made to detain her. The information was immediately conveyed to the
commanders of naval vessels in the harbor, who commenced to make preparations
to intercept the filibusters.
It was ascertained there were only a few vessels here available. There were
the torpedo boats Cushing and Ericsson and the supply boat Fern, which
arrived yesterday from the fleet at Dry Tortugas. All the other naval
vessels had been scattered at different points in the gulf.
Then came the report that the battleship had been blown up. This news
was first received by the commandant of the station, who in turn
communicated the information to the several officers in command. A telephone
message was sent the commanding army officer at the barracks.
Meanwhile the news rapidly spread over the entire city, and the cable
office became the center of attraction. The fact that the two torpedo boats
were getting up steam and would be ready to sail added to the excitement.
A hurried conference was meanwhile being had between several naval officers
present, and a line of action promptly decided upon.
The torpedo boat Ericsson was first to get under way. She steamed out
with open throttles and headed for the westward. While it is not positively
known where she has gone the impression is she has been dispatched to
the Dry Tortugas to notify Admiral Sicard of the disaster to the Maine.
The Cushing is puffing at the wharf ready to steam out and apparently only
waiting orders to proceed to Havana.
As I write this dispatch, at 3 a. m., the quartermaster of the supply boat
Fern is sitting in the cable office waiting to receive any message that may
come for the general.
Every Government vessel in the harbor is getting ready to sail for Havana
as soon as orders are received.
THE MAINE PRACTICALLY
A NEW BATTLESHIP.
Was Built in 1890 at New York, and
Had a Complement of
874 Men.
The second-class battleship Maine was built at the United States navy
yard at New York in 1890. Her dimensions are as follows: Length, 310 feet;
breadth, 57 feet; draught, 21 1/2 feet. The Maine was of 6648 tons displacement.
She was provided with engines of 9000 horse-power, and could maintain a
speed of seventeen knots an hour. She carried twin screw engines, vertical and
with triple expansion. Her armor was eleven inches in thickness. The fighting
machinery of the battleship consisted of four 10-inch and six 6-inch
breech-loading rifles. As a secondary battery she carried fourteen rapid-fire,
four revolving cannon and four Gatlings. The cost of the battleship was
$2,588,000. She had a steel hull and a complement of 874 men.
SPANIARDS ARE
NOW IN A MOST
WARLIKE MOOD
Clamoring for Conflict While the
Two Nations Are Closing
the De Lome Incident.
NEW YORK, Feb. 15. -- The Herald's Washington correspondent telegraphs:
The administration offices were deeply gratified to-day by the Herald's
announcement from Madrid that Spain would make a complete and satisfactory
disavowal of the De Lome letter. This is the only authentic information
which has reached here, the only official dispatch on the subject being the
one received yesterday from Minister Woodford stating that Senor Sagasta
had promised that a satisfactory disavowal would he made. In the light of
this and the Herald's dispatch this morning the authorities now no longer
hesitate to say that the incident is closed, and that all that remains is
the publication of Spain's reply, which will follow as soon as Minister
Woodford is heard from. With the arrival of the new Minister active
negotiations in connection with the proposed new commercial treaty will begin.
By this action Spain will attempt to show the world that the statements
made by Senor de Lome that she was insincere in her desire to negotiate a
reciprocity convention are untrue. When Senor Louis Polo de Bernabe is
formally presented to the President it is expected there will be an exchange
of addresses which will contain expressions of friendship and good will
and demonstrate that harmony exists in the relations between the two
Governments. Calderon Carlisle, attorney for Senor Canalejas, in the matter of
securing a return of the letter addressed to him by Senor De Lome
and which caused the resignation of the latter here as Minister, is
considering: what steps shall be taken to detect and punish the person or
persons who abstracted the communication from the mails.
"We know, of course," said an official in the State Department to me today,
"that Mr. Carlisle's object in obtaining the letter is to use it as evidence
in any prosecution that might be inaugurated against the person or persons
who stole the letter or who have had it in their possession. If the letter
was stolen, then the person or persons in whose possession it was might be
Indicted for being receivers of stolen goods. It seems to me that the Cuban
Junta made a mistake in turning that letter over to the State Department
without at least securing a promise for its return."
Mr. Carlisle declines to state what action he proposes against any of the
persons who may have been responsible for the publication of the letter.
PEOPLE CLAMOR FOR WAR,
GOVERNMENT WANTS PEACE.
Copyrighted 1898 by James Gordon Bennett.
MADRID. Feb. 15. -- Public feeling here against the United States is
very highly strung. In the public mind the firm conviction is that the
United States means to force war upon Spain and that the latter must
absolutely stand her ground; that in Cuba the autonomists would side
with Spain, fighting against United States troops, and that if the
Spaniards would encourage the landing of American troops in the
greatest number possible, now that the unhealthy season is coming on,
it would kill them off like flies.
At the same time ships of war could bombard the coast towns,
which, with the exception of New York, are considered unprotected, the
United States not having sufficient warships to guard them.
Great calculations are also made on the widespread ruin which
would fall upon businessmen in the United States, whereas the bourse
here would scarcely change, as would be the case with the United
States. A war would merely be the first step toward the solution of a
question which is slowly bleeding the resources of the country to death.
Such is the representative idea of public Spanish feeling to-day;
but, mark you, do not quote it as the Government's. The action of the
Government, telegraphed to you last evening, has not popularized it at
home. There are indications that the Ministers are not displeased to
get rid of a representative who could not sincerely reflect their feelings,
for Senor de Lome was a fervent member of the National party,
headed by Senor Romero Robledo and General Weyler. The Government
feels relief now at having one of Its own men, who truly represents
the most liberal ideas of the Cabinet, and who starts full of the
idea of the importance of pushing the commercial treaty, the details of
which he is far more fitted to deal with than was Senor de Lome.
