Evening Star Newspaper, February 16, 1898, Page 2

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1898—14 PAGES. not war vessels. The Olivette, of the Plant line, reached Havana this morning early. The Mascotte. her sister ship, is in Hon- duras, on an excursion. Dr. Clendenin, U. S. A., and a surgeon from the cruiser New York left here for Havana on the Mangrove, the lighthouse tender. The Cuban population here is as much in doubt as to the cause of the disaster as all the rest of the people of this locality. Some people believe the Spanish caused the ex- plosion, and every one here seems to think the disaster will in some way result in end- ing the Cuban question. The Olivette is due here tonight from Havana on her regular trip to Tampa, but she is not expected to arrive on time, as heavy seas prevailed in the gulf owing to the storm, which will be bad for the Maine's injured men. Intense anxfety is felt here among offi- clals and civillans as to the cause of the disaster and its probable results. ft is stated here that the United States battleship Maine had hard coal on board and that, therefore, the theory that the disaster was caused by spontaneous com- bustion is not tenable. MANGROVE ORDERED TO HAVANA. Light House Tender, With Doctors, Off to Assist the Maine. KEY WEST, Fla., Fepruary 16.—The light hou: tender Mangrove sailed for Havana at 3 o'clock this merning, having on board several doctors. The steamer Fern has also sailed for Ha- vana, and the torpedo boat Ericsson left at midnight. with dispatches for the fleet. No details have been received here re- garding the disaster to the Maine, and the list of kilied and injured is unobtainable here. WARD LIVE OFFERS ASSISTANCE. Two Steamers Placed at the Service of the Government. NEW YORK, February 16.—President H. oth of the Ward line sent telegrams placing at their disposal the steam- y of Washingtcn, now in the har- Havata, and the Vigilanca, now en route to Havana. All thes facilities of the Ward line ter- minalg have also been placed at the dis- Sectional Bow Plan of Maine. ‘The forwerd magizine shown under the ten-Inch gun turret. posal of the government. The vessels can either be used as transports to Key West or 3 ther port for the sailors of the Maine. r any other purpose desired, and for ju long as the government re- quires them. AWAITING TIDINGS. Anxiety at the Homes of Capt. Sigabee and Lieut. Com. Wainright. Beth Capt. Sigstee, the commander of the ine, and Lieut. Commander Wain- wright have homes in this city. Capt. Sigstee’s wife learned the news of the dis- ® early from the morning papers and iously awaited tidings direct from her hrrbard at Havana. Up to 11 ¥clock this worning, however, the only information the family had obtained was from the official dispatches to the department and the Associated Press reports. At the home of Lieut. Commander Wainwright personal advices were also looked for through the mornir. hours. Both families received rany calls from friends. Consider: eagerness was shown a3 to the cause of the though in the absence of fur- it became,a matter of rere disaster, r advic speculation. GEN. BLANCO’S ANNOUNCEMENT. ‘The Spanish Legation Informed of the Disaster. The news of the Maine disaster was learned at the Spanish legation with hor- and was the occasion for many ex- pressions of the most profound regret nd condolence. Early in the day Senor ie the Spanish charge d'affaires, +ived a message from Captain General ». which had been filed at Havana o'clock this morning. it read as fol- low “With profound regret I have to Inform you that the American ship Maine in this arbor blew up by an undoubtedly chanc- e« accident, believed to result from an ex- plosion of the boiler of the dynamo. Im- mediately following the mt, all the disposable elements of the capital hasten- <i to the spot te extend every aid possi- ble. These included the force of the ma- ac rine fire brigade and all the generals in Havana, among them my chief of staff. Th have been deaths and wounded. I b ass’ sent an aid amp to offer every to the North American consul that he may wish for. I will forward fur- ther details as they become available. (Signed) BLANCO.” © expressed the most pro- at the occurrence to the As- ated Press reporter, to whom he gay the furegoing cable from G He said: & copy of Bianco. (t course, 1 look upon the horror as du2 ry t and solely and simpiy to hat is the’clear and un- ement of the authorities at - and all the evidence thus far bl> goes to sustain it.” ed if the disaster possibly could have y ad effect upon the relations be- mn and the United States, he re- with @ decided negative and the that the affair was wholly an soon after receiving the Blanco for the purpose of expressing his deep condolence to the authorities and communicating the captain general's dis- h to Secretary Sherman, and Mr. Day, ant secretary. To both of them “sed personally and officially the und regret. CAUSED BY FOUL MEANS. London Globe Comments on Causes of the Disaster. LONDON, February 16.—The Globe this afternoon, commenting on the disaster to the United States battleship Maine, says: “It is impossible to refrain from the sus- picion that the explosion may have been caused by foul means. Although anchored, the Maine would have had steam up in of her boilers for the dynamos and wuxiliary machinery. “If an infernal machine had been hidden in the coal and thrown into the furnaces, obviously there would have been an explo- sion of the boiler, and, as a result, of a magazine. have That this terribie event should occurred in the harbor of Havana rs a solution of the mystery of in- tional importance.” Continuing, the Globe says: “The last serious disaster of this nature occurring in ace time was in 1881, when H. M.S. Pet- blew up in the straits of Magellan. The erdict of the court was that it was caused by the formation of coal gas, another sug- gestion being that a substance called xero- tine, a siecative, stowed in the paint room, was responsible. Upon this oceasion there were distinct explosions, and 143 out of the crew of 150 perished. “In the following year an explosion on board H. M. S. Triumph killed three men. In this case the disaster was traced to the vse of xerotine siccative.” The hi of afternoon papers here all hint that the disaster points to treach- ery, either Cuban or Spanish, and thé pa- pers allude to the excitement and _resent- ment at the Maine's dispatch to Havana. The newspapers also pubiish long descrip- tions of the Maine, with the names of her officers. They describe Captain Sigsbee as an eminent officer and publish accounts of his career. St. James Gazette's Views. The St. James Gazette leans to the sup- position that the disaster'was wrought by an explosion in the magazine, “which is beneath the forecastle and as far as pos- sible from the engine fires,” adding: “It remains, however, to be explained how a magazine, carefully guarded, could be fired. As bearing upon this, it must be borne in mind that the discipline on American war ships is usually, to English ideas, rather lax. “Another possibility which is readily sug- gested is that the disaster was produced by an agency outside the vessel, the ex- plosion of a submarine mine or torpedo, caused accidentally or otherwise. This again naturally suggests the thought that the outrage was perpetrated by a Spanish conspirator or Cuban insurgents incensed against the United States.” BLOW DID NOT COME FROM WITHIN. View of Lieut. Commander Speyers Regarding Maine Disaster. NEW YORK, February 16.—Lieut. Com- mander Speyers of the United States navy was aroused from his bed in the Navy Club and told of the Maine's destruction. “I cannot understand how such an ex- Inner Harbor of Havana. ‘The cross shows the supposed anchorage of the Maine. plosion occurred in the ship. he said, with the accent’ on the “in.” “I am not, however, familiar with the location of the magazine in the Maine. Sometimes there are magazines both fore and after in a warship, and it is barely possible that the forward magazines of the Maine ex- ploded. “But I do not understand how any am- munition in the magazine could have ex- ploded at this time. There is no reason that I know of why anybody should have gone to the magazine then. The keys of el's magazine are always kept in ‘ssion of the captain, and when the captain leaves they are turned over to the man left in command. »t having any further information, I nnot express any opinion on the dis- aster.” REAR ADMIRAL BROW VIEWS. Thinks the Explosion Occurred on Board the Ship. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., February 16.— Rear Admiral George Brown, who was the highest officer in the navy till his retire- ment last year, was informed of the na- val casualty in Havana harbor. The ad- miral was exceedingly surprised to hear of the destruction of the Maine, and from the meager news was loath to venture any explanation of the affair. “I can offer nothing but vague conjectures as to the probable cause of the destruction of the Maine, although it would seem tq me at this time that when an investigation is made it will be found that an explosion occurred on the vessel.”” The admiral was asked if it was possible that a torpedo lying in the harbor could have been accidentally exploded under the ship. He did not think this could have been possible. If a torpedo caused the explosion it must have been sent from shore, for torpedoes are not lying around joose in Havana harbor, where hundreds of ships are in and out. “I am sure no official Had anything to do with it if a torpedo was responsible. Oh. no,” said he, “there could have been no explosion of a torpedo by the dragging of the Maine’s anchor or anything of that sort. Nor are there any submerged mines in the harbor. I don't recall any similar affair of this kind in the history of the United States navy, either in time of peace or in time of war.” BLANCO SAYS IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. Captain General Positive in His As- surance to Home Government. MADRID, February 16—The captain general of Cuba, General Blanco, has cabled the authorities here, and has sent a similar message to Washington, saying that the disaster to the Maine was indisputably due to an accident. STATEMENT OF AN OFFICER. Capt. Sigsbee Was on Deck When the Explosion Occurred. NEW YORK, Fetruary 16.—A special ca- ble to the Evening Telegram from Ha- vana says: “Vice Consul Springer has just assured me that all the officers were saved except Jenkins and Merritt, both of whom are missing. Mr. Springer says at least 300 were lest. “Captain Sigsbee was on deck when the explosion came. It was in the bow of the Plan of Havana Harbor. A sentry stationed at the bow was unhurt. In fact, he had seen nothing sus- pictous. “I have talked with some of the rescued vessel. officers and seamen. One officer, whose name I could not learn, said of the explo- sion: n: “I was in my bunk. When I got on deck fire had started forward. There was a good strong breeze. The call for all hands on deck was promptly obeyed, and the mea and officers were perfectly cool. All pos- sible efforts were made to check the fire, but without avail. “ “The flames spread rapidly and several explosions cccurred. Magazines were burst~ open and explosives were thrown over- board. In half an hour it was apparent nothing could save the ship. The first ex- plosion wounded and disabled many, but how many it is impossible to say. Many were struggling in the water. I was crowd- ed overboard and remembered nothing ‘mcre until reaching the wharf.’ ” THE BATTLE SHIP MAINE. Data Regarding the Big War Vessel Sunk at Havana. The second-class battle ship Maine is looked upon as one of the best ships in the new navy. H2r armament consists of four 10-inch guns and six 6-inch breech-loading guns as her main battery, while her sec- ondary battery consists of seven 6-pounder and eight 1-pounder rapid-fire guns, four gatlings, and besides this formidable array, four terribl2 Whitehead torpedoes. The thickness of her armor is twelve inches. draft of 22.6 feet, and 6,682 tons displacement. The Maine has two 10-inch turrets, in which the big guns are housed, and two military SAVED FROM THE MAINE. List of Survivors Sent by Captain Sigsbee. A telsgram was received from Capt. Sigs- bee this afternoon saying that the follow- ing officers and men were saved from the Maine: Capt. C. D. Sigsbee. Lieut. Commander R. Wainwright. Lieut. G. F. W. Holman. Lieut. J. Hood. Lizut. C. W. Jungen. Lieut. G. P. Blow. Surgeon S. G. Heneberger, Paymaster C. M. Ray. Chief Engineer C. P. Howell. Lieut. J. J. Blanden. Chaplain J. P. Chidwick. Passed Astsstant Engineer F. C. Bowers. Lieutenant Marines A. Catlin. Assistant Engineer J. R. Morris. Naval Cadet J. H. Holden. Naval Cadet W. T. Cluverius. Naval Cadet R. Bronson. Naval Cadet P. Washington, 4 Naval Cadet A. Crenshaw. Naval Cadet J. T. Boyd. Boatswain F. E. Larkin. Gunner J. Hill. Carpenter J. Helm. Paymaster’s Clerk B. McCarthy, Reden, Larson, Hallberg, Bullock, Melville, Willis, Galpin, Kushida, Noppin, Turpin, Harris, Lutz, Jertson, Holland, Herbert, McDevitt, Foley, Hutchins, Schwartz, Richards, Teackle, Flynne, Dresseler David, Michaelson, Sohman, Fox, Wilbur, Waters, Anderson, Christianson Koehler, Ericsson, Mack, Williams, White, J. Pauls, Coffee, Allen, J. W. Roe, Cronin, D., Cahill, F., Kane, J, Jernee, Smith, C Shea, G., Herness, Heffron, J. Bloomer, Johnson, Bergman, Mattison, Johnson, A, Pilcher, Holtzer, Loftus, McGinnis, Matiason, W., Furness, Good, Darkins Rau, MeNair, Gabrelle, Hallon, A, Senetch, Knese, A., Benjamia, McKay. ACCIDENT THEORY REJECTED. — Ay Congressional Views That Are Given Publication. The theory that the loss of the Maine Was by accident 1s generally rejected by men in Congress. The first impression that the thing could hardly have been done by design, which was held by a good many, gave way to a more careful consideration of all the circumstances that could be learned. Inexperienced judgment generally yielded to cpinions expressed by men rec- ognized, in a sense, as naval experts, who almost to a man declared that an accident under the con:litions surrounding the care of the ammunition of the Maine was al- most impossible. Probably nine men out of ten in Congress were inclined to think that the explosion was not an accident, though most of them did not care to be quoted for so grave a suspicion. In public declarations they pre- ferred, frequently, to give the benefit of the doubt to Spain and to consider the pos- sibility of accident. The feeling among men in both houses was necessarily intense, but it found no expression in any public act. Very few doubt that this terrible catastrophe leads to the very brink of war with Spain. If it does not appear beyond question that the explosion was an accident hostil- ity is expected to result, and the mere sus- picion of treachery is likely to excite pub- lic sentiment to the point where interfer- ence to check the whole bloody business in Cuba will be demanded. The gravity of the situation disposed men of all parties in Congress to avoid anything that might be hasty and leave room for re- gret hereafter. Balancing on the very brink, as it is felt that we are at this mo- ment, it is not the disposition of any one apparently to do anything that would make war inevitable. ‘The shock of the catastropbe has ren- dered jingoism a thing out of the minds of all, but the danger of the situation is brought to a closer view. The disposition shown evetywhere is to await full information before making a move of any sort in Congress. A general opinion seems to prevail that a fleet should be at once sent to Cuba, but that is a matter lying with the department. The lack of information leads to confu- sicn aad doubt, but there seems to be but one mind as to what should be done if it is not shown tha: the explosion was an ac- cicent. Not Among members of the naval committee ‘| who were examining plans of the Maine, Senator Money was quoted as stating that he knew that the harbor of Havana was planted with torpedces. It was said that if this was true Spain would have to be held to an accountability for the loss of the’ Mi iaine. . ae Lecal Pensions, Pensions were granted today to tha fol- lowing residents of the District of Co- lumbia: Original—William Rohde, $6; John W- oe %; Hugo Baldauf, Soldiers’ Home, HESITATE 10 TALK Members of Cofjgress Slow to Express inions, PREFER 10 BE SILENT Senator Hale Confident That the Disaster Was Accidental. LEADERS OTHER VIEWS EXPRESSED Se es The news of the disaster to the battle ship Maine in the harbor of Havana creat- ed a profcund impression at the Capitol. Senators and members of the House as a rule expressed the opinion for publication that the catastrophe was the result of accident and not of design, but there were scme opinions, generally expressed under the breath with the admonition not to puo- lish, to the effect that the affair looked very mysterious ard doubtful. As a rule sepators expressed the opinion that the department would and should make thor- ovgh investigation, and added that for the Present it would be unnecessary for Con- gress to take the matter up. The greatest interest prevailed as to the extent of the disaster, and many of them hurried to the Navy and State Depart- ments to learn if there were any further details. With only the first reports before them and a recognition of the importance of any utterances there was a hesitancy to express opinions at this time. The im- mense gravity of the situation in case later advices should show that the disaster was not purely accidental was admitted by all” public men. Conservative public men in the face of the appalling catas- trophe, the meager information at hand and its possible consequerces, therefore de- clined to express any opinion at this tims. Prefer to Suspend Judgment. Chairman Hitt of the foreign affairs committee, Chairman Dingley of the ways and means committee and m>mbers of the naval committee of the House all said taey preferred to await fuller information be- fore expresssing themselves. Mr. Hitt said it would b> well for the public to follow the cue given by Capt. Sigsbee and suspend judgment until the cause of the disaster was ascertained. Senator Platt of Connecticut expressed the opinion that the axplosion would be found to be the result of an accident from within, and he doubted that any one could have planned and carried out a plot to bring about an explosion on the ship. Ex-Senator Butler of South Carolina, who was a member of the committe on foreign relations in the Senate during his service, said that it.lwas decidedly strange that American ve&sels"have visited every port in tha worl and no accident befallen them, but that as soon as a vessel visited Havana this'‘great disaster snould occur. Gen. Butler Was ‘of the opinion that some bold man had gont aboard the Maine and placed a grenade with a slow match where it would explods’ the magazine. It was probable, he thought, that many people had been permittéd to visit the warship, and that somé oné of the visiturs had car- ried a grenade aboard. Senator, Hale’s Announcement. Senator Hale, chairman of the com- mittee on naval ‘affairs and a member of the committee ‘on appropriations, said that he had just,come from an interview with the Secretary of the Navy and that he felt confidentthat the Navy Department would institute “a ‘thorotigh investigation into the disaster. “There is no occasion,” said the sena- tor, “for:Congress te take the matter up. Surely something should..be left to the department, and this ts one of the things which, in ‘my opinion, should be so left. It is, of course, impossible from the in- formation received to say how the acci- dent occurred, ‘but I feel confident that the facts when developed will show that it was an accident. The Maine was, of course, prepareé for action in case action should be necessary, and had therefore many vulnerable points exposed. A bat- tle ship is little less than a volcano under the most favorable circumstances, and When legislating for the increase of the navy I always feel that a war vessel may prove to be almost as dangerous to those on board as to those whom it might en- gage in hostile, conflict. For this rea- son, I am sure the affair in Havana har- bor will prove a genuine sensation in naval circles aside from any political aspect of He The senator expressed the opinion that Congress would take steps to prevent the decrease of the navy, but did not under- take to say that there would be immediate efforts to replace the Maine. He said that whatever could have caused the ca- tastrophe he was sure that no friend of Spain could have been guilty of such con- duct, for the reason that if there had been no higher motive the act would have been @ very foolish and foolhardy one. He said the Maine has cust, according to his recol- lection, between $3,000,000 and $4,000,0u0. Senator Fairbanks: “The raports are so meager that it is impossible to determine the cause of the explosion or locate the re- sponsibility if any one is at fault. A thor- ovgh investigation doubtless will be insti- tuted by the proper authorities. It is a mcst deplorable accident and one which will awaken the most general sympathy.” Investigation. Demanded. Senator Warren of Wyoming: “If it sheuld develop that the Spanish had any- thing to do with the occurrence, both the United States navy and th> army ought to be summoned te take the matter up in earnest. If it should prove to be an acci- dent, it should be carefully investigated, for it is high ‘time that such accidents wer> brought to a close. It has apparently ccme to be tfue jthat our naval vessels caunot make, any move, cannot go up a stream or down a stream or out to sea, without grounding, or having some other accident befajl thgm. 1 hope,” therefor, that no time will be lost in determining the cause and placing the responsibilit for the oceurtenc’, whether ave. re hand of a foreigner or a member of our own forces.” |. Senator Pasdo: *ft is a deplorable occur- rénce, but it ts impossible to say whether any one can b3 held responsible or blame- worthy. Certainly @ most rigid investiga- tfon should be made into the accident by the Navy Department, and ff ‘it should subsequently appear that legislative action 1S necessary, Congress should take ‘ths matter yeaa At g the present, however, it is fair to umé-that the President and Navy Department will take the propar steps in the matter.” Senator Clay of Georgia:.“The presump tin is that the Navy Department will give fareful and thorough attention to the mat- ter, and that it will make such report as it may deem necessary. If then it becomes Fecessary for Congress to act, k-am sure there will be no hesitaticn in dealing with te- matter. There is no prcof that the Spanish are in. any way responsible for;this Serious calamity, and w2 should be slow to make charges” % “proof to substanti- ate them. ..I therefore content myself with saying that investigation is all that is need- ed'for the ‘present, and that this investiga- tion should be rigid, letting the blame rest where it may.” Senators Chandler, Mason and Carter . fices and post roads, and of course were talking about the accident. Senator Chan- dler said that no one could tell now how the accident occurred. It might have been a torpedo under the bows of the ship, or it might have been an accident while han- dling ammunition. “But they are not likely to have been handling ammunition at 10 o'clock et night,” put in Senator Mason. “Oh, they might have been,” continued Senator Chandler. “If ‘the explosion was from within it was no doubt an accident; if from without, then no doubt it was by design.” A Mystery Not to Be Solved. Senator Carter said it was a most serious and awful disaster. He expressed the opin- icn that no amount of investigation would ciear up the mystery of how it occurred. The explosion would leave no trace of what took place before, and the burning ship would obliterate all possibility of learning much of what took place. Mr. Morgan Wa: Two Battle Sh Senator Morgan of Alabama, a member of the committee on foreign affairs, said: “In the absence of definite information as to the causes and results of the Maine catastrophe I would not venture an opinion upon it. If it was an accident, as the first dispatches seem to indicate, it was most deplorable; if it was due to treachery, as some are inclined to believe, it was most heinous, and ro penalty would be too severe for those responsible for it. But whether the calamity was due to accident or treach- ery, I should like to see introduced in Con- gress today a jcint resolution providing for the immediate construction of two battle- ships equal in size and equipment to the Maine and costing not a dollar less than the ill-fated Maine cost. That resolution I would have passed by both branches of Congress today. Such a response as that to last night’s calamity in the harbor of Havana, whether it was due to accident or treachery, is the one to make in the cir- cumstances. One of these vessels should be constructed on the Atlantic and the other on the Pacific coast, and there should be not the slightest delay in their building. Action of that kind by us would indicate to the world that whenever or wherever one of our tentacles was cut off two would at once grow in its place. “No,” continued Senator Morgan, “I do not care to comment upon the matter until I am in possession of the particulars. It is too serious a problem to be dealt with by wild guessing and speculation. It seems almost out of the question that it the result of an accident. Is it usual for a ship of the Maine’s class to carry her magazines in her bow, where the explosion seems to have occurred? But I can say nothing of that now. I cannot guess and cannot spec- ulate. It is an awful calamity. Let us await the particulars.” Mr. Perkins Puzzled. Senator Perkins of California, who has been a navigator all his life, and knows thoroughly every detail in the construction and handling of great ships, said: “I can- not conceive that such an explosion as that which, by the earlier dispatches, is report- ed to have wrecked the Maine and sent to instant death so many of her crew could have resulted from an accident. The chances, it seems to me, are %v in 1,000 that the calamity did not result from acci- dent. It has been suggested that the explo- sion might have occurred while ammuni- tion was being handied, but that is scarce- ly credible, as ammunition on a warship ly- ing at anchor is not handled at 10 o'clock at night. Then, too, the ammunition on a warship is fixed ammunition, which is not in contact with anything at all likely to produce an explosion. Every electric wire and every spark of fire on board the ship is far distant from the magazines, and there is no possibility of danger by those means being communicated to the ammuni- tion. The discipline of both officers and men on the Maine, as well as on every other vessel, is such that the explosion could not have been caused by any action of any one of them. Not Due to Accident. “The magazines of the Maine and other ships of her class and the mechanism which operates them are constructed with all tae nicety of a watch. By the simple pressure of an electric button any magazine on board the vessel could be instantly sub- merged and po fire could gain such head- way as to endanger any of the magazines without discovery. I am firmly of the be- lief that the horror in Havana harbor last night was not due to accident. JF can scarcely conceive, either, that it was due to the treachery of Spanish officials or was brought about through their cognizance. However, the situation in Havana is so critical and the Spanish feel so keenly what appears to many of them an affront that the Maine should have been in the harbor that it seems not unlikely the catastrophe was due to the action of Spanish sympa- thizers. That it was not an accident I feel assured, and that it was due to treachery I am convinced.” Mr. Mills Thinks It Was Intentional. Senator Mills of the committee on for- eign relations expressed the opinion that the occurrence was the work of a torpedo. “I would not say,” he said, “that the Span- ish were responsible for it, but some one must have been who had free access to the waters of the bay. I don’t think it could have been due to an accident, and I think Congress should immediately take the mat- ter up for a thorough investigation. If the vessel had gone into the Havana harbor in a time of hostilities between this country and Spain precautions would, of course, have been taken, but there was no more reason to expect anything of the kind there than there would be in one of our own har- bors. Yes, we should probe the matter to the bottom.” Carefal Inguiry Needed. Senator Gorman of Maryland—“It is a most eppalling disaster, but no one at- tempts at this distance and before any more facts are given to place the responsi- bility. This will require careful inquiry, and I should not wish to express an opin- jon until it is made.” Senator Morrill—“‘In my opinion the oc- currence is the result of an accident. I have no idea that any Spaniard had any- thing whetever to do with it.” Representative Newlands of Nevada, member of the committee on foreign affairs, said it would be very hard to convince the American people that the explosion was an accident. He would not wish to express an. opinion until further information was re- ceived. % Considered in Committee. The incident formed the principal topic of consideration by the Senate committee on foreign relations at its meeting today. The affair was not officially before the com- mittee, but it was nevertheless allowed to displace almost all other business. The opinions generally expressed by members of the committee in this informal conference were to the effect that the occurrence is one of very serious import and that it may result in grave complications unless Spain can make it very plain that no Spaniard was in any way responsible for it. A prominent member of the committee said after the close of the meeting that Spain would. be expected to make an explanation that would entirely clear up the mystery, and that if she did not, this country have a right to demand such explanation. Mest of the members of the committee re- fused after the conference to express any opinion concerning the occurrence. “It is too serious to talk about at present,” sirgular that such accidents happen at such times.” At the House end of the Capitol all inter- est in the debate on the bankruptcy biil was overshadowed by the discussion of the disaster. Speaker Reed, Mr. Dingiey and members of the foreign affairs committee eagerly ® ught information, but obtained little that was satisfactory. A Torpedo, Says Mr. Cummings. Mr. Cummings of New York, a member of the naval ccemmittee, unhesitatingly gave it as bis opinion that the ship had been blown up by a floating torpedo. “It would have been easy,” said he, “for some one to have floated a torpedo down upon the ship as she lay at anchor. The torpedo would explode as it swung against the ship. I beliey2 the Maine was blown up.” Representative Hilborn’s View. Representative Hilborn of California, who is @ member of the naval committee, said to a Star reporter: “It is improbable that the explosion oc- cirred from within. The magazin? may have exploded, but if so, that was probabiy the result of a first explosion from the out- side. There was nothing in the magazine to cause an explosion. There was nothing but brown powder, of which there were fifty thousand pounds, which burns, but will not explode except under peculiar con- ditions which did not exist her2. It isein- capable of belief that this powder ex- Ploded. The doors of the magazine are in plain view; the key is in the possession of the captain, and no one can get at the magazine without his permission. Th powder is in metal cases. If a man got in the magazine he would have to tear open the cases and build a fire to set the powder off.” Allusion to Hand G: ade. The allusion in the Havana dispatches to the firing of a grenade shell from the navy yard to the deck of the Maine cannot be understcod here. The Maine was anchored in the inner harbor not far from the cus- tom house, in the space usually assigned to war vessels, this place being selected be- cause it has six to seven fathoms depth. No other place in the harbor nas such a depth except the narrow channel out into the Atlantic, and this the Spanish authori- ties have kept clear of all vessels. There is no navy yard anywhere in the vicinity of the Maine's anchorage. The arsenal, from which the grenade shell may have come, is distant fully three-quarters of a mile from the Maine. The grenade theory of the explosion is not. received as prob- able. If the explosion occurred within the v3s- sel, there is a general belief that it was in the gun cotton in the torpedoes. If spon- teneous combustion could occur anywhere om the Main? it would be in the gun cotton. There were two large torpedoes on the Maine's berth deck, one on each side of the ship right over the forward boilers. Th> explosion of one of these torpedoes would probably be sutficient to cavse the explo- sion of the other cr ef the powder maga- zine in th? hold below. Explains the Two Explostons. This would account for the two explo- sions alluded to and for the terrible loss of life among the crew. These torpedoes al- ways contain a firing charge if not a ser- vice charge, and it is not improbable that on2 or the other of them exploded. They were the largest explosives near the center of the ship. There was no powder magazine amidship on the Maine. The guncotton used by the United States is all made at the torpedo station at New- port, and its manufacture is watched with all possible precaution. If the acid used is not all removed there is danger of spon- taneous combustion. That it may be self- explosive was demonstrated last year by the explosion of one of the guncotton store- houses at Newport. Prof. P. R. Alger of the bureau of ord- nance, Navy Department, a recognized au- thority on naval affairs, expresses it as his opinion that the explosion of a tor- pedo outside of the Maine could not have caused the destruction which occurred. The Dynamo Boiler. Another naval expert said that the dis- aster could be accounted for by an ex- plosion of the boiler which ran the dynamo. He explained that the ventilation of all the electrical appliances, lights, search lights, ete., were run by the dynamo, lo- cated about amidships. This in turn oper- ated by a donkey boiler, but more often instead of starting the donkey, one of the large boilers was used for the dynamo. There was a narrow passageway from the boilers and dynamo to the magazines for- ward. Across this was a bulkhead which eculd not, the expert believed, resist the ferce of an ¢xplosion of the boilers. = Se Sy CARING FOR THE SURVIVORS. To Be Brought to Key West by the Olivette. Word was received during the day that forty-five men from the Maine will arrive at Key West tonight on the Olivette. Capt. Forsythe, at Key West, telegraphed Secretary Long this afternoon that he has arranged with Capt. Morrill, commanding Key West barracks, to quarter and subsist survivors, who are expected there from Havana tonight. Secretary Long this afternoon sent the following telegram to Commandant For- sythe at Key West: “Admiral Sicard ordered to come to Key West with ship and serve out clothing as necessary. Should he not arrive before the Olivette you are authorized to purchase the necessary articles and serve out.” Se Lieut. Gleaves’ Report. Another telegram received was from Key West, Fia., and read: “Sigsbee wires admiral Maine blown up in Havana harbor last night and destroyed. Many wounded and doubtless more killed or drowned. Wounded and others on board Spanish man-of-war and Ward Line steam- ers. Send lighthouse tender from Key West and the Fern. Pieces of equipment above water. None has clothing other than upon himself... Public opinion should be sus- pended until further report. All officers be- lieved to be saved. Jenkins and Merritt not yet accounted for. Many Spanish offi- cers, including representatives of Gen. Blanco, now with me to express sympathy. “ALBERT GLEAVES, “Lieutenant, U. 8. Navy.” ————--—__<§_ Cleveland's Flags at Half Mast. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. CLEVELAND, Chio, February 16.—Flags on all public buildings in Cleveland are at half mast today, owing to the accident to the battle ship Maine in Havana har- bor. The action was taken by order of Mayor McKissen. ‘ aE SSE * Paul C. Searies, one of the leading busi- ness men of Cleveland, Ohio, and his wife are spending a few days in the city with their uncle, 8. A. Gee, at No. 615 Florida avenue northwest. SEES Grain, Provisions and Cotton Markets. Furnished by W. B. Hibbs & Co., bankers and brokers, 1427 F st, members New York Bt “corresi af Gacef Tatty ‘ IFINANCE AND TRADE Maine Incident Caused Depression on Stock Market, >——__ SLIGHT DECLINES IN WHOLE List Metropolitan Led Concession With an 8 Per Cent Loss, GENERAL MARKET REPORTS —— Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, February 16.—The disp tion to buy stocks was almost wholly dis- sipated by the unfortunate accident to the Maine, the incident serving to unsettle prices, and giving traders an opportuaily to attack the market at its point of ex- treme sensitiveness That the fatality was purely accidental was accepted for the most part, but the loss to the government, estimated variously from $4,000,000 to $6,000,000, was construed into an argument against improvement. The market was consequently influenced by transactions based on the presumption that an act hostile to the government had been committed and by the withholding of influential buying pending a complete ex- p-anation of the occurrence. Opening pric were irregular, but generally fractionally iow the closing parity of last night. Duliness became pronounced early in the Gey, the average level reflecting a conces- sicn of about % of 1 per cent. The Burlington dividend was awaited with considerable interest and served as a check to a general selling movement. Upon the announcement of an advance of %& per cent in the rate for the quarter, putting the stock upon a 5 per cent basis, as ex- pected, support was wit!drawn, and a de- cline of \% per cent followed. The selling responsible for the dectine was partly profit taking and partly for the short account, on the theory that all the good in the situation had been discounted. The yielling in the stock most worthy of an advance was naturally reflected in the general list. The noon hour was one of low prices and moderate activity. Metropolitan street rail- way sold down sharply for a loss of 8 per cent from yesterday's final figures, the ex- tent of this decline adding to the several unfavorable developments of the day. The entire Traction group declined substantially in sympathy with the tendency of this ac- tive member. The Union Pacific issues were under pressure for a time, notwithstanding the re- organization committee’s success in the Kansas Pacific matter. At the low level the buying of these shares was perhaps as good as any in the market, but the opportunity for manipula- tion has for the time being been displaced by facts of a nature to warrant extreme caution. Commission houses until recently among the most confident of the future of values were today counseling delay in ex- tending old or assuming new speculative risks. shington and Havana dispatches, until something reassuring is received from those points no real improvement is likely. The market is by no means demoraliz>d, but indecision is clearly apparent and the proverbial virtue of patience is worthy of consideration under just such cireum- stances. A day or two will in all proba- bikty dispose of all of today’s disturbing influences, but the range of prices clearly indicates the want of present incentive to buy. —— FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The following are the opening, the high- est and the lowest and the cluring prices of the New York stock market today, as re- ported by Corson & Macartney, members New York stock exchange. Correspondents, Messrs. Moore & Schley, No. 80 Broadway. Open. High. Low. Close. American Spirits... SKK OOK American Spirits, pfd... ..... ..-.. Wes American Sugar....... 138 13S 1363g American Sugar, pf American Tobacco American Cotton Oil, Atchison ........... Baltimore & Ome... Bay State Gas... Canada Southern ada Pacific. Chesapeake & O¥i0..-. C..C.C. de St. Lous... CM. & St. Paut. pfa... icago, RI. & Pacific. wo hic St. P., M.&O . 6 Consolidated Gas. General Electric. Mhnots Centrai. Metropolitan Traction.. 158 603g 153g Manhattan Elevated..... 116 MT lid Michigan Central 3 110K Missouri Pacitic Ry BIg National Lead Co. : Big 85) National Leaa Uo. pfd...... ge a Pt New Jersey Centrai.... a) ae New York Centrai lity iS Ley 116s Northern Paeitic. 26, 263, «BN Bb Northern P: 66, 66, 65, OH, Ont. & W WT (6 18% Pacitie’y 31 By BOS, BT Phila. & keadiny 21x; 215 BOR BO Puliman P. ist" isy" 183188 Bim By «Bl BI iy «(1g 245, 245 Tee BK 83% Union Pacific, pd. Gy Gls Wabash, pid... 002022 ee ay Western Umon Tei. 9s OR Siiver.. ee it Brooklyn R. Transit. ‘axe 4IN Chig. & G Western By 18K Sai Neg Washington Stock Exch: Sales—regular call—12 o'clock m.—Capital Trac- ton, 2 at 76%. U. S. Electric Light, 10 at 108. Pneumatic Gun Carriage, 100 1 cents; 100 at 31 cents; 10) at 31 cents; 100 at 31 cents; 100 at 31 cents, Mergenthaler Linotype, 9 at 146; 7 at 146. After call—American Graj ye, 100 at District of Columbia Bonds.—20-year fund 5s, 101g 80-year fund 6s, gold, 110 bid. 8.65x, funding, currency, 116 bid. Miscellaneous tan Railroad Ss, 118% bid. Metropolitan Railroad conv. 6s, 121 bid, 1224 asked. Metropolitan Railroad certifi- cates of indebtedness, A, 1 |. Metropolitan Railroad certificates of inde! eas, B, 118% bid, 114% asked. Belt Railroad 5s, 50 ‘bid, 70 asked. Eckington Rallroad Ge, 95 3 Erith