Times Herald from Washington, District of Columbia • Page 1

fff- J- "jf" 'T' -i I htMwnm tnte Fair tonight; increasing cloudiness Thursday not so cold in afternoon northwest gales becoming variable and diminishing. Circulation, yesterday, 40,005 NO. 79o. WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1898. ONE CENT.

-jt BLOWN WW SPAIN Every Evidence That the Maine Was Torpedoed. CAPT.SIGSBEE'S STATEMENT Two Hundred and Fifty American Sailors the Food of Sharks. UEUTS. JENKINS AND MERRITT DEAD Havana, Feb. 16.

Spanish treachery lhas succeeded hi dstroying one of Amurica's finest battleships, and in Infilling- a3 sailors of the American Na-vy. -The Maine, which yesterday rode iproiidly in Havana harbor, is today a 'dharred and ruined hulk, at the bottom of the sea. There is little doubt but that the Abstractive force which is responsible ifor the awful disaster was a nubmurine itmipedo exploded under the vessel's Ibow. The magazine is further baric under her coal bunkers. It did not explode.

Capt, Sigsbee, although seriously in-jwrcfi, directed the work of rescue, his coolnsss and courage is due ithe nfaet that many of the wounded were snatched from the very jaws oJ death. Too much cannot be said for the members of the ere' who were not wounded. They resiwMMied to orders width a daring and alacrity that was astonishing under the eireumstaHces. Five minutes after the explosion the Alphonso XII, the Spanish cruiser ly-ling not far away, launched boats and ihurrieg them to the sinking battle ship. They picked up the wounded sailors and those who were swimming.

The wounded, as soon they were brought ashore, were taken on stretchers to the Casa De Socorro, where all the physicians in Havana were summoned Amaag the least wounded was James iBowo. ship's cook. He said: "I turned in at 8 o'clock, and all was quiet. The next I knew 1 felt myself turning1 over and over and falling heavily upen the deck through a mass of unoke. I got on my feet and worked my way on deck.

When 1 got there the superstructure deck was dipping undej water, and I jumped overboard to keep from being drawn down in tin suction. "1 was picked up by a boat from the Spanish man-of-war. Four more were ipidkod up by the same boat. They were Daniel Cronln, a landsman; diaries Berryman, boatswain: Albert John, seaman, and Bloomer, a landsman. "The whole bow was blown out of ithe ship.

The last 1 saw, her bow was under and her stern sticking up. "Her big magazine could not have ex-jUsdfld, or tliete would not have been enough left of her to make tothpicks." explosion, which shook the city fnam one end to another, created the wildest excitement. All the electric Uights weie put out by the shock. Fire migtuo tushed madly fiom one direction to another, and no one knew for certain ifiom which dhectkm the explosion came. Some started the lopoil that it was the llluvnna arsenal, others sakl it was a shall, and it was not until 11 o'clock that the populace knew the explosion came from the Maine.

-WAS SOT FKOM THE INSIDE. The Hit ttau of Construction Officials s.uy the Theoty In Foolish. The early announcement in The (Times of the disaster in the Havana harbor credled a tremendous exeite-miout, and long before 9 o'clock, when (the offices in the State, "War and Navy IBuilding were opened, a crowd of exulted men were waiting to obtain admittance. Half an hour later the corridors of the large building wore thronged with newspaper men, Sena-toi-s. Representatives and prominent each asking the other for no.ws from Havana.

All kinds of impressions prevailed, the general one being that the explosion of the Maine was caused by a submarine mine that had bpon explod-fejliejieatb the battleship with a force ufflojjent tjO explode the small magazine beneath the forward turret of the vessel. This theory was discouraged as much as possible by officials, but not a single one of them would personally give for- publication an opinion as to tho cause of the terrible disaster. Two theories as to the cause of -the iZ. Frank l.tbbey Company, (Sixth fctrcet and New York avenue. explosion are hold at the Bureau of Ordnance, as well as generally in tho Navy Department.

The idea expressed by most of tho officers who will talk is that the battleship was blown up from Inside. This is the official view for publication, however. There are many officials who have a different private idea. A statement was, haw over, made at the Bureau of Construction to the effect that there was no possibility of, an explosion In the magazine from inside. The magazine was so constructed and so carefully guarded that this Is entirely out of the question, as far asi any human possibilities arc concerned.

The explosion, as far as known at this time, occurred in the forward portion of the Maine, and presumably tn the forward powder magazine. A torpedo could have blown through the plates, and would then have reach, ed the magazine and caused the powder to oxplode. The torpedo theory is held generally, and those who believe in it say that all suggestions to the contrary arc foolish. A torpedo under the forward end of the Maine would have gone through everything, and been enough explosion in Itself to cause the reck. Then for fire to teach the magazine would have been an easy matter.

Assistant Secretary of State Day, at 10 o'clock, made public a dispatch received from Consul General Lee, and said that he had no jther information to give out. He refused positively to say anything further. He and Third Assistant Secretary of State Adee went to Secretary Lang's office and consulted with him and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt for neatly an hour. No one will make known at present the result of this conference. General Lee's dispatch reads as follows: "Havana, Feb.

Midnightv "Asfistant Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. "Maine blown up and destroyed tonight at 9:40 p. m. Explosion occurred well forward under quarters of crew, consequently many were lost.

"It is believed all officers saved, but Jenkins and Merritt, not yet accounted for. "Cause of explosion yet to be investigated "Captain-General and army and navy officers have rendered every assistance "Sigsbee and most of his officers on board steamer City of Washington. "Others on Spanish man-of-war and in city. Am with Sigsbee now, who has telegraphed the Navy Department." Assistant Secretary Roosevelt said at 11 o'clock that nothing in addition to the early dispatches had been received at the Xavy Department. LATEST PROM SIGSBEE.

Communication From the Captain. Shows a Denth List of 253. At 12:30 o'clock Secretary Long received this message from Captain Sigsbee: "Advise sending wrecking vessel at once. Maine submerged except debris. Mostly work for debris now.

Jenkins and Merritt still missing. Little hope for their safety. Those known to be saved are officers, twenty-four uninjured crew, eighteen wounded now oh board waid steamer, in city hospitals, and hotel, 50 so far as known. All others went down on board or near the Maine. Total lost or missing, 253.

With few exceptions no officer nor man has more than a part of a suit of clothing and that is wet with harbor water. Ward steamer leaves for Mexico at 2 this afternoon. Officers saved are uninjured. Damage was in compartments of ciew. Am preparing to telegraph list of wounded.

Oliver leaves for Key West at 1 o'clock p. m. Will send by hpr (o Key Wel officers saved except myself and Wainwright, Holman, Ktneberger, Kay and Holden. Will turn over tlnee uninjured boats to captain of port, with lequest Tor safe keeping. Will send all wounded men to hospital in Havana.

"SIGSBEE." Mr. Long today sent a telegram to Captain Sigsbee, as follows: "The President directs me to express for himself and the people of the United States their profound sympathy for the officers and the crew of tho Maine, and he desires that no expense' be spared in providing for the survivors! and in the care of the dead." Acting Secretary of War Meiklejohii has not 'been officially ronsulted re-Bf ec ing the disaster to the Unless it is conclusively shown that tho explosion was not an accident he will not bu consulted. SKXOH QUESAD.WS OPINION. Sujs Havana Harbor Is Honeycomb. ed with Torpedoes.

Senor Quesada, secretary of the Cuban legation here, said this morning: "I have heard nothing delinite on the Maine explosion and do not want to talk in the air. It soeihs strange to me, howeier, that the explosion, if an accident, should hae occurred at night when all were asleep, and if it were the powder magazines, how could it have happened. "Do war ships usually blow un in that way? "Are not the magazines carefully guarded both day and night? "It would appear that something was wrong if this pai tof the vessel was not watched, and is it likely that it was not. "Perhaps Mr. de Lome will say that it is a celebration of hip departure.

I do not care to discuss the matter now, as it is a question for the American Government, but the great loss of life is most horrifying. "The whole bay Is honey-combed with torpedos. connected with the land by electric wires." '5s br to The Result of the "Friendly Call Tin SENATORS SPEAK. OUT. Xot Due to T.os of tile Malm Accident.

Senator Mills said it was WANT HAVANA BOMBARDED. parsing Xtivui Officeis Say Secretary Lous In Ovim emulous. The deliberate conclusion reached at strange now sucn an acciuem tuuiu w-i 'bt' i. noon today by the most eminent naval cur from within the Maine Jtself. It I would require further 'explanation.

Mr.l" on at th? Department, 51111s said, to persuade him the disaster considering the facts so far received was due to negligence on board the ship. regarding the Maine, is almost unanl- Senalor Perkins ot California, an out sailor and a man thoroughly acquainted IT WAS NOT AX ACCIDENT. Capt. Sumner Says the Explosion Could Not He Accidental. New York, Feb.

1C Captain Sumner, who is in charge of the Brooklyn navy yard, said today: "The Maine could not have been blown up by an explosion in her magazine. It is the rule of the Department to close the magazine at sundown, and It would not be possible for the combustibles stored there to have, exploded accidentally. "It was not an accident." Other officers nt the navy yaid here expiessed a like opinion. The news of the disaster cieated consternation gen-eially, and" extias with accounts of the explosion were snapped up eageily. The geneial opinion was that if any Spaniard was to blame for the disaster war could no longer be averted.

BODIES FOOD FOB SHARKS. THE CABINET IN SESSION. The Course of the President nnd Naval Officials Approved. A special Cabinet meeting was held at 12:30 o'clock, all the Secretaries, who are in town, being present. All the telegraph messages received up to that time wete tead.

and the message of the Presi dent ana the actions of the Navy Department approved. No expression of opinion could be obtained from the Cabinet officer? to the effect that the disaster was caused by a Others refused to make any statement. The meeting lasted an hour. It was agietd before the Cabinet left that at any change in the situation. (U.s.

of course, meaning any hint that Spain was at the bottom of the they should all be summoned for another meeting. Judge Day would say nothing whatever about the accdent save that he news had been made pubic as fast as received. Jilt LONO'S OPINION. The Remains ot tins American Tars Mny Not Be Recovered. Havana, Feb.

1C It is believed that the bodies of many of the American sailors who weie lost in the harbor will never be recovered. Cuban waters aie infested with shaiks and iany were seen in the water this morning. All passible efforts to find the bodies of victims before sharks can get them are being made. FLEET MAY GO TO HAVANA. lie Says He Docs Not Think It Was nu Accident.

Secretary Long Is known to have said that he is under the impression that it was not an accident This comes from an authoritative source, and wad received just as we go to press. Warm Vndcrwear "cut" for clearance. Joseph Auertiach, Chesapeake Naili, 1.50vn"KeK: 100 lbs. Chesapeake nails are tue" bestrmade. A Rmnor to That Effeet Circulating In Key West.

Key West, Feb. 16. Great excitement exists here over the Maine explosion at Havana. The torpedo boat Ericsson left here at midnight with secret orders for the fleet at Dry Tor-tugas. It is believed here that Admiral Sicard has been ordered to proceed to Havana with all of the vessels under his command, though no confirmation of the rumor can be obtained.

Another essnge From Gen. Lee. At 11:40 o'clock Judge Day received from Consul General Lee tlia following cable dispatch: "All quiet. Great sorrow expressed by authorities. Sigsbee has telegraphed details tb Navy Department.

Not prepared yet to report cause of explosion. "LEE." with the construction of battleships, scouls at the idea that is was an accident. "There Is," said he, "not one chance In a thousand that the Maine was blown up as the result of an accident. There has been treachery somewhere. It would have been Impossible for such an injury to have come from an explosion within the ship at that hour.

"At night the magazines are always closed. There are no electrical connections with thim. They arc so arranged that concussion would have no effect upon them, nnd at that hour of the night, with the ship lying peacefully in the harbor, there was absolutely no reason why the magazine should have been touched by a soul on board, "I know the ship and I know its commander. Every maji of the crew was a monitor unto himself no man can make me believe the Maine vns not the victim of treachery." "I cannot see hoy thisj awful thing came from withinjjthe ship herself," said Senator Thurston. "It is a serious matter, and I cannot help thinking the Maine went to the bottom aq the result of an act on the part of thoso inimical to America." "It may be cruel tb even suspect that the destruction of the Maine came from the outside, but no other explanation seems to fit the If the Maine took on board any coal at Havana there migljt be a possible explanation to the accident.

The Ward line of steameis, plying between Havana and New Yoik, has been the victim of numerous mysterious flres and explosions, and in almost every case investigation showed that they came from explosives mjxed wltg the coal that had been taken on at.Havana. It is doubtful however, if this would have been done-In case, even had the Maine coaled jn thatport. It Is undrstood thattb ship has not been compelled to replenish her fuel since leaving Key mnuB that she wax destroyed Ijy a mili tary mine operated from shore in a casement of a Spanish fortification. A' prominent naval officer said: "No mere accident could have caused such total annihilation. Spain is responsible for the Maine's destruction.

The Inference is irresistible by the simple law of chance, if by nothing else. "No warship in history has been so completely shattered by an accident. It was dlabJllically done. Fifty of our ships aie continually entering friendly haibors. The Maine alone entered an unfriendly one.

She had overstayed her welcome in Havana. "The over-cautious statements of Secretary Long are to gain time for facing the dreadful emergency, but naval officers will de'mand speedy reparation. They insist that the President shall sand SicardV fleet to make a demonstration off Havana-and bombaul the pest hole on the slightest provocation. They Insist that the time for patiently awaiting disavowals which do not come is long past, and that now is the time for action before another ship Is lost." AWAIT OFFICIAL NEWS. THE NEWS AT THE JUNTA.

"Way's Mufflets for the colilHshap." $1 At.Ancrbach's, G23 Pa. ave. Maple Flooring, 4-4 anil of tho finest quality aud workinahfcuip. Many Cuban Believe the Explosion Was the Work of Spain. New York, Feb.

1C Great, inteieslwas felt at the Cuban junta Today in the disaster to the Maine. Most of the Cuban patriots did not hesitate to say that they thought that the whole affair was the result of Spanish treachery. Some of the more conservative, how ever, were inclined to believe that if the explosion was not the result of an accident it was merely the work of some Spanish fanatic. NO MAGAZINE FOHWARD. I.ient.

Commander Mnrlx Makes a Statement. Lieutenant Commander Adolph. Marix, who was relieved as executive officer by Lieutenant Commander Wainwright, said today to a Times reporter that there is no magazine In use on the Maine forward of the foremast. Coal! Conl! Conlt $5.25 per 2,240, delivered, Gayton stove, egg, and nut. Powhatan Coal 13C8 st.

'phone 620; or dealers generally. tfffrtt, 1 v1 Tui twlcntliof. 1 Pair Tonight; increasing -cloudiness. llepiiblicnn Repicscuttitives Say In-vesication Is Belli; Miirtc. The exciting news from Havana was discussed with keen interest by the members of the House this morning.

All of them were loaded with the extras, among which figured very conspicuously the 10:15 a. m. extra of The Timed. The disposition on both sides of the chnmbei was to expiess no opinion. Mr.

De Armond said that while the whole country was shocked by the news. It was impossible at this time to make any definite statement. He preferred to wait on official news. Mr. Maguire was of the same opinion.

He was surrounded by many members, and said that it would be time enough to act when the cause of the accident had been ascertaind with rasonable accuracy. This, in fact, was the view of all the members of the House who were for an expression of opinion. On the Republican side it was professed that the matter Is being thoroughly investigated by the State and Navy Departments. The galleries began to fill soon after the convening of the House. WILL BE SENT TO KEY WEST.

THE TIMES5 EXCLUSIVE NEWS. Abend of All Contemporaries, us Csitul. All the renders of The Times were informed through its columns today that the battleship Maine had been blown up in Havana harbor. No other American paper In the territory uIng eastern time can say as mucli. Jn other woidK The Times beat all its ri vals locally and out of town east of the Allegheny Mountains.

Western papers having the advantage of one to- three hours in the time fared better, and were able to print full and fairly accurate accounts of the disaster. The Times' regular mail edition contained more real information than first or second postscript editions of its so-calI-d local The moral of all this is that Th- Times does not depend on the moribund Chicago Associated Press for news from Cuba, but relies on its own special correspondents in Havana and in the field, hesjdes having the excellent Service of the Lnflin Bureau. None of the New York. Philadelphia. Boston or Baltimore papers had the account in their mail editions, and no other Washington paper had it hi it first inai! edition.

Readeis of The Times always get th? Wojiudcd Sailors Will Leave Havana ttt Once. Surgeon General Van Reypen, of Key West, telegraphed the Navy Department toda, as follows: "By approval of the Secretary of tho Treasury, all the wounded men of tho Maine will be received at the Marino Hospital at Key West." In reply to this, after obtaining consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, Surgeon General Wyman, of tho Marine Hospital Service, telegraphed to Havana that all the wounded that are able to be removed should be sent to Key West. They will go on the Olivette, and bo accompanied bj all the officers except Captain Sigsbee and Lieutenant Commander Wainwright. WtlKK ON WAHMIIPS. The Kearsa rj; KeutncKy.

Illinois Alabama and Wisconsin Buildliiz. The Naval Construction Bureau has issued ii repoit. showing tht progresr made on the construction of battleships and In couise of construction. The Kearsage, Kentucky and Illinois are being built at Newport News, the first two named being noi? than half finished, and the IUin is II ptr ctne ad-an-ed. The Alabama almost equally advanced at the Cramp works in Philadelphia, nnd the Wisconsin, at the Union Iron Works, In San Francisco, is nearly half completed.

Speaking of gunboats, 1t Is announced fthat the Princeton Is nearly ready to leave the yard, and the submarine boat Plunger Is only a little further behind. Many of the torpedo boats are near completion and ready for trial. The Rowan, the Talbot, the twenty-knot Gwin and the Rodgers are all in an advanced state. DE LOME GETS THE NEWS. Hypocritically Deplores It lr(-fesscs Love for America New York.

Feb. 1C Dupuy de Lome was pale with anxiety when the news of the explosion was brought to him. "This is dreadful, awful," Jie said. "I pray God it is some mistake. No Spaniard did this.

Spaniaids desire peace. There will be no Avar. There can be no war. This appalling disas ter forces me to a declaration that I love America as I do no country save my own." EFFECT ON SPAIN. oC The Disaster HeactH In Furor the Navy of That Country.

One of the ayal bureau chiefs said this morning: "Whatever the cause of the disaster to the Maine the Important fact looms up most prominently that America has lost one of her finest battleship, and if any balance of naval power existed between the United States and Spain It has disappeared to Spain's gain. The Iowa, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Texas are now our only in the Atlantic. The Brooklyn nnd New York are the only armored cruisers. Our other ships are simply commerce-destroyers, not built for standup lights. Whether Spain was even remotely responsible for this or not she Is th great gainer.

"The Maine Is the first ship thp new American Navy to go. Sho Is the first ironclad In the werld to be totally destroyed by explosives. Aocidtnts of less disastrous character have our-red In European warships, but no ma. gazine of an ironclad has ovr ben annihilated." THE VI.CAYA EXPECTED, New Yoik nt the Mercy of the Bii Spanish Cruiser. New York.

Feb. 16. The Spank armored cruiser Vizcaya is due at this port today and naval men say the elty will practically be at her mercy in th" event of sudden hostilities with Spain-No warship that could cope with her is within 300 miles of New York harbor. It is rumored in naval eiroles. however, that the cruiser Brooklyn will meet her at sxti and escort her toport.

If this be true the wisdom of mtch. a proceeding is now apparent. A STAHTLINC; CABLEGRAM. Secretary Lout; tho Recipient a Significant Message. An unsigned cablegram from Havana was received by the 3ecrry of the Navy this morning.

wMefe stated that the exploek.n took nir forward of the magazine. If this is true it is very significant according to the oStciate af he deportment. SKNOB DC BOC'S TIIHORY. He Tells Naval Officials That it Donkey Engine Exploded. Senor Du.Bose was an early arrival at the Stae Department this marates.

He saw Judge Day, and Inform aim that he had received a dispatch from Havana which sakl in effeet that the disaster to the Maine was due to the explosion of the boiler with the donkey engine, whfoh runs the dynamo. This boiler wasfrtratF magazine of the Maine. THE WHITE HOUSE QUIHT. Nothing There to Show That Disaster Had Occurred. Up to 11 a.

m. there was nothing at the White House to indicate that ay-thing extraordinary had happened. Representatives Grosvenor nl Cannon were the first members of Congress to call. Mr. Cannon wa asked if it were not likely that the Howe of Representatives would take eognhiance of the exciting vent.

He said: "No. 'The Great Providirs. Ruinous Competition YOU "We is an expression often hear used. welcome competition. It only erves to show how far lower our prices are than anone else can quote.

1 ke this Chiffonier as an instance: Mr' ZZOffL I rzi cb T'-v-" 1 1 .5 -i- vS Fly mi BuslnesK College, 8th and K. None better, $25 a year; day or night. Cypre Boards, 12 18 20 lus. wide. Any thickness dreseed- Dispatchcs to He -Made Public.

At VI o'clock Secretary Long made the announcement that the Piesident has directed that every dispatch leccived by the State or Navy Departments be given out without reserve, all day. Xl stated that the public will receive all the information that the Government does. No Matter What Prices Arc Given, YoucoiiiC rlj-iic here. Ourprlcc? are towel. ThU Beautiful Oak Chiffonier, with trench ptotc mirror, live large drawers, worth J11.00, for $6.35 And we give credit whenever you wish.

You can make the terms to suit your circumstances Weekly, monthly, any way you wish to pay, is satisfactory to us. MAYER PETTIT, 415417 Seventh St. The Ontlook for Buildings Everywhere Is bad. We arc the first to cat price..