The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 1

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SAN FRANCISCO: WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 1898. NO. 47. EHE BATTLESHIP MAINE BLOWN UP IN HAVANA HARBOR Lyin at Anchor Under the Guns of Moro Castle the Splendid Ship Sent to Protect Americans Is Torn to Pieces by a Terrific Explosion THE MESSAGE OF AWFUL PORTENT FROM CAPTAIN SIGSBEE. WASHINGTON, February 16.

The Secretary of the Navy received the follotving telegram from Captain Sigsbee: "Maine blown up in Havana harbor and destroyed. Many wounded and doubtless many killed and drowned. ounded and others on board Spanish man-of-war and Ward line steamer. Send lighthouse tender from Key West for crew and few pieces of equipment still aboze water. No one had other clothes than those upon him.

"Public opinion should be suspended until further report. All officers believed to be saved. Jenkins and Mcrritt not yet accounted for. Many Spanish officers, including representatives of General Blanco, now with me and express sympathy. SIGSBEE, CAPTAIN." Two Hundred Lives De stroyed by the Awful Hidden Force.

WHAT THIS DISPATCH MEANS, WASHINGTON, February 15. The officers referred to In Captain Slgsbee's dispatch missing are Lieutenant Friend W. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer' Darwin b. Merritt From the wording of the dispatch the Navy Department thinks It Is possible that they were on shore at the time of the believe that It may have been caused by 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 imere speculation, and the Secretary Is anxiously waiting a mors detailed report from Captain Sigsbee.

Later the Secretary sent another telegram to Key West, directing that the tender Man grove also be sent to Havna. ony here is ignorant of this disaster, the greatest which has befallen the American navy since the disaster 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 early 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 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 lighthouse 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 Stgsbee's dispatch, but a few minutes before the Associated Press dispatches were handed him. He received the nows with apparent calm, and his first act was to comply witb Captain Slgsbee's request, that assistance be seat 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 Slgsbee's brief telegram.

No other naval officers were present, and besides the Secretary and Captain Dickens the naval col Washington is Wild With Excitement and Cabinet Meeting Is Called i. ii i 11T--1 m- lt .5 Spanish Torpedo Do the Awful Work?" 77t United States battleship Maine, one of the best ships of war in the nav navy, ordered to Havana as a precautionary measure, has been blown out of the water. Whether the destruction of the Maine was the work of the Spaniards, the meagre dispatches do not state. In his report to the Secretary of the Naiy, Sigsbsbee says that public opinion shmUdle suspended until a further report can be made. But there is more than suspicion that a Spanish torpedo mmay have done the arvful work.

There has been a gathering in hot haste of the statesmen who control tlte destinies of the Government. The President of the United States has arisen from his bed and summoned his advisers while awaiting further The entire force of telegraphers at the National Capital have been called to duty that the fullest and most complete navs of the disaster in the harbor of Havana may be rapidly handled. There have been no such scenes in Washington since Sumpter ivas fired on. Communication with Admiral Sicard, in command of the squadron, has been established by Secretary of the Navy Long, and orders from Washington have been sent to the Admiral. The character of the orders issued cannot yet be given out.

Secretary Long at 4 o'clock this morning stated he believed the destruction of the Maine was accidental and not intentional. Senor De Lome the retiring Spanish Minister, whose written insult of tJur President of the United States was the cause of his recall by his Goz'-ernmcnt, was positive in his statement tlujt the blowing up of the Maine was not caused by a Spaniard. The lutrbor of Havana is a nchcork of sunken torpedoes, connected electrically 'with rite famous Moro Castle. If the finger of a Spaniard touched the fatcfl button the result cannot be foretold. jiii liiilli HAVANA, February 15.

At a quarter of 10 o'clock this evening a terrible explosion took place on board the United States cruiser Maine in Havana harbor. Many were killed or wounded. All the boats of the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII are assisting. As yet the cause of the explosion is not apparent. The wounded sailors of the Maine are unable to explain It.

It is believed the cruiser is totally destroyed. The explosion shook thtt'whole city. The windows were broken in all the houses. The correspondent of the Associated Press says he has conversed with several of the wounded sailors, and understands from the that the explosion took place while they were asleep, so that they can give no particulars as to the i Hi III" III WARSHIP DESTROYED IN HAVANA HARBOR. sight.

cause. The wildest consternation prevails in Havana. The wharves arerowded with thousands of people. It is believed the explosion occurred in a small powder magazine. Captain Sigsbee and the other officers have been saved.

ible as yet to give exact details. Admiral Manterola lered that boats of all kinds should go to the assist the Maine and her wounded, re Havana firemen are giving aid, tending carefully to the wu inded as thav are brousht on shore. It is a terrible General Zolano and the other Generals have orders by, Captain-General lilanco to take steps to help the Maine's crew in every way possible. Your correspondent has befea near the Maine in one of It is estimated that over 100 of the crew were killed, but itUr.