The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 17, 1898, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TH SIGSBEEL FEARFUL OF TREACHERY Did Not Want to Load Coal in the Harbor of Havana. His Dread Was That Some Demon Would Put a - Stick of Dynamite in the Ship’s Bunkers. ASHINGTON, Feb. 16.—“I don’t want to be V U obliged to take coal aboard from Havana. It would be a risky e> Not that I suspect any one in au- thority, but there is responsible rabble in and it would be an ea ter to get a couple nite in the coal bunkers without knowing it.” dyn These were the words of Captain Sigsbee as we stood on the bridge m'l the Maine just a week ago to-day. He was particularly careful to explain in his conversation with me that an accident of any kind, no matter how caused, might be attributed to Spanish intrigue and might serve to widen still more the breach between the two countries. The position of the commander of the Maine at Havana was a particularly delicate one. It was necessary to as- sume a free-handed politeness with the Spanish authorities and officers, who, in turn, were careful not to respond with more warmth than official etiquette re- quired. On the other hand, leading Cubans were s to show the Maine’s officers social attentions, but were prevented by the frowns of the Spanish official classes. On several oc- casions well known Cubans of conspicu- ous social and commercial positions de- clined invitations to dinner when they learned that either Captain Sigsbee or General Lee was to be among the guests. Officers who made official calls on the Maine were usually greatly at- tracted by some object on the other side of the street when Captain Sigsbee or his officers were met strolling about the city. Several young Spanish girls with American connections about a3 fortnight ago asked if they might invite some friends in the army and navy to visit the Maine. Captain Sigsbee was only too glad to have the ice broken and not only extended a general inv tation, but made extensive preparations for his guests. On the evening before the day set for the visit the leading military club in Havana was se- riously debating the propriety of the visit, and it was decided that it would be injudicious, to use a mild term. On the next day the young ladies visited the ship quite alone, excepting for their chaperons. While Captain Sigsbee constantly maintained that under no circumstances would he abridge shoreliberty, healways went in citizen’s clothing except when making official calls. He argued that as the two countries were at peace he should be allowed to go anywhere the captain of any other naval vessel in the harbor could go. The silly incident the autonomists at- tempted to make out of his failure to call upon them when he was in the Palace on his first official visit to the Captain-General was another illustra- tration of the unpleasant position in which he found himself. Aside from these trifling affairs noth- ing occurred during the entire stay of the Maine that would in the slightest indicate any lack of cordiality between the Governments. It has been a day of intense excite- ment at the Navy Department and in all departments of public life. The appalling nature of the disaster and the gravity of the situation that would arise should investigation give a basis for the undercurrent of suspicion ADVERTISEMENTS. Pears’ Why 1s Pears’ Soap—the best in the world, the soap with no free alkali in it— sold for 15 cents a cake? It was made for a hos- pital soap in the first place, made. by request, the doctors wanted a soap that would wash as sharp as any and do no harm to the skin. That means a soap all soap, with no free alkali in it, nothing but soap ; there is nothing mysterious in it. Cost de- pends on quantity ; quan- tity comes of quality. All sorts of stores sell it, especially druggists; all sorts of people use it, especially th t Enow Whaths St i s T of treachery and foul play that ran through all minds had a sobering effect upon public men of all shades of politi- cal opinion. The fact stands forth, and s little less than remarkable, that not a single resolution was introduced or a single speech made in either House of Congress, save one of condolence with | the families of the killed, offered by | Mr. Boutelle and adopted by the | House. Public men expressed their opinions with reserve when approached, but everywhere there was a demand for an investigation and full details in the ight of which the horror may be justly viewed. Secretary Long undoubtedly summarized the general opinion of the majority of the naval experts in finding it impossible just now to state the cause of the destruction of the Maine. There are a great number of theories, but most of them are of a character that makes it easy to prove or upset them by a single investigation by a diver. Secretary Long has taken immediate steps to make an investigation. Late this aiternoon he telegraphed to Ad- miral Sicard at Key West to appoint a board of naval officers to proceed at once to Havana, employ divers and generally to make such inquiries as the regulations of the Navy Department de- mand shall be made in the case of a loss of a ship. It is expected that this work will take some time, and while there are officers who say that in their opinion it will not be possible, owing to the probable disrupted condition of the hull of the ship, to make out the cause of the explosion, the opinion of the majority is that the question will be easily settled by a simple observation of the condition of the ship’s hull plates in theneighborhood of the holewhich sunk her, whether or not they are bulged out, as would be the case if the explosion came from the inside, or whether they are driven in, as would result from the attack of a torpedo or the explosion of a mine beneath the ship. The majority of naval officers are inclined to the belief that the explo- sion resulted from spontaneous com- bustion of a coal bunke the over- heating of the iron partitions between the boilers and the magazine or from the explosion of a boiler, though the last theory finds little support. The list of the survivors that came to the Navy Department this afternoon in answer to a telegram was inaccurate and made out the loss of life eight more than the summary originally given by Captain Sigsbee in the earlier telegram, so Secretary Long telegraph- ed for a corrected list and also one that should show who were and who were not wounded of the survivors. It was found necessary to do this owing to the great number of pitiful appeals for information as to the safety of unfortunates on the Maine that came from all parts of the coun- try. The naval constructors, in the light of the dispatches thus far received, say it is by no means certain that the Maine cannot be raised and again carry the flag. They say that while she is a big ship, others as large have been raised, and at Havana the new floating drydock would receive her if she could be at once got above water. Captain Sigsbee evidently is taking an interest in the future of the ship, for he sent a telegram to Commander Forsythe at Key West that was promptly transmitted to Secretary Long suggesting that a lighthouse ves- sel or some such small craft be sta- tioned in Havana harbor to watch over the wreck. The latter, even if beyond resurrection, contains valuable ord- nance and other property that doubt- less can be secured by divers. It is said at the Navy Department that this disaster is the greatest of the kind in naval history since the sinking of the big British warship Victoria, by collision with the Camperdown, in the Mediterranean, off Malta, in June, 1893. By that accident the British ad- miral commanding, twenty-two officers | and 336 men lost their lives. The Spanish legation was early ad- vised of the horror by Captain-General Blanco, who expressed his profound re- gret and added that the occurrence was a chance accident, the undoubted cause being an explosion of the boiler of the dynamo. This was the only specific cause assigned from an official source during the day. M. Dubosie, the Spanish Charge A’Affaires, called at the State Depart- ment to express his profound regret, and the entire Spanish staff left their cards at the Navy Department as a mark of personal condolence. At all the foreign establishments there was the deepest interest and solicitude over the affair, and during the day Embas- sador Cambon of France, Sir Julian Pauncefote of the British Embassy and other foreign representatives called on the President or at the State Depart- ment to express their regrets. The disaster is remarkable in that only two officers lost their lives, and these were of the junior grades. They were Lieutenant Friend W. Jenkins and ‘' Assistant Engineer Darwin R. Merritt. The former was unmarried, I 1 L 3 i ”1/ il "///E'/"’// gy “INDIRNA* N S R s RN S e Lo = but leaves a mother and a sister. The latter, it is thought, also was unmar- ried, but the department was not ad- vised concerning his family. The President and several of his Cabinet associates held an extended conferénce about noon. It was not a Cabinet meeting, as no notices had been sent out, and only Secretary of the Navy Long, Secretary Gage, Attor- ney-General Griggs, Postmaster-Gen- eral Gary and former Attorney-Gen- eral McKenna were present. The dis- aster to the Maine was the only topic considered. It was determined to abandon the reception at the White House to-night and also the reception to the general public to-morrow night. At about 12 o’clock the Cabinet offi- cers came from the President’s office. One of them stated that the President had given directions that all official information relating to the disaster should be given to the public. He added that a private dispatch to Secretary Long signed Rea stated that the loss was over 270, but this was not official and Mr. Long considered the estimate too high. This was before Captain Sigsbee's dispatch placing the lost and missing at 237 was at hand. The Cab- inet officer said there were many evi- dences that the disaster was the result of an accident. Up to the present time, he said, no orders for sending an- other American ship to Havana had been issued. Consul-General Lee had cabled that the Spanish authorities had expressed to him their profound regret at the occurrence. Another Cabinet official said one of the dispatches stated that Captain Sigsbee was the last to leave the ship. The Maine horror formed the princi- pal topic of consideration by the Sen- ate Committee on Foreign Affairs at its meeting to-day. The opinions gener- ally expressed by members of the com- mittee in this informal conference were to the effect that the occurrence 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 commit- tee said after the meeting that Spain would be expected to make an expla- nation that would entirely clear up the mystery, and that if she did not this country would have a right to demand such explanation. Most of the mem- bers of the committee refused after the conference to express any opinion con- cerning the occurrence. “It is too serious to talk about at present,” said Senator Lodge. Senator Cullom said: *I cannot see how the explosion could have been the result of an accident, and I think the time is rapidly approaching when this country must do something.” Senator Clark only said, “It is sin- gular that such an accident should happen at such an inopportune time.” e CONSUL LEE ASKS FOR A COURT OF INQUIRY. Wants a Naval Tribunal to Investi- gate the. Cause of the Disaster. WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.—This cable- gram was received by the State De- partment from Consul General Lee at 9:16 to-night: HAVANA, Feb. 16.—Profound sorrow expressed by Government and municipal authorities, consuls of foreign nations, organized bodles of all sorts and citizens generally. Flags at half-mast on Goy- ernor-General's palace, on shipping in harbor and in city. Business suspended, theaters closed. 5 Dead number about 260. Officers’ quar- ters being in rear and seamen's forward, where explosion took place, accounts for greater proportional loss of sailors. Fu- neral to-morrow at 3 p. m. Officers Merritt and Jenkins still' miss- in . g. Suppose you ask that naval court of in- quiry be held to ascertain cause of ex- plosion. Hope our people will repress excitement and calmly await decision. LEE. The Navy Department to-night re- ceived the following: HAVANA, Feb. 16.—Every one, except nine officers, nine privates, one gunners mate and twenty-five ierlaxllxslyuwounded, removed to Key West vette. b & i SIGSBEE. The President has ordered that to- morrow and until further notice the flag at all navy-yards and on naval vessels, at posts, army headquarters and on all public buildings shall be half-masted. Late to-night the following dispatch from Captain Sigsbee at Havana, ad- dressed to Secretary Long, was re- ceived: s All men whose names hate not been sent as saved probably are lost. Have %lw:n up Jenkins and Merritt as lost. odies are still floatinf ashore this after- noon. I keep nine officers, one Frl\'u!e and Gunner’s Mate Bullock here with me. A dispatch from Captain Philip of the Texas, now at Galveston, states that the drafts of twenty-one apprentices which they carried from New York for the Maine are still on board the Texas. PITTSBURG, Feb. 16.—Lieutenant Jenkins, one of the officers of the Maine reported missing, is a Pittsbur- ger. He graduated from the Allegheny high school when 13 years of age and four years later was appointed to An- napolis by the late Congressman Bayne. He was 32 years old. His rela- tives are still living here. UNITED STATES. Displace- ment. Tons. 10,288 10,258 | | | _ First-class battleship Massachusetts . Indfana . Oregon | Towa ... Second-class battleships: Texas . *Maine Seagoing coast defende: | Monterey | Puritan . | Amphitrite | Miantonomoh . | Monadnock | Terror ... | _ Armored cruise; | Brooklyn .. New York | . Protected crutsers | Minneapolis . | Columbia | Olympia . | Baltimore Chicago . | Newark . | San Francisco . | Charleston Cincinn: atl Raleigh . Partially protected cruisers: Boston Atlanta . Marblehead Montgomery .. Gunboats partially protectes Bennington Concord Yorktow Machias .. Castine Petrel . Bancroft Torpedo gun vessel Vesuvius ... sedgsissbeimranasesd’ Torpedo boats—First-class Ericsson 3 A% Cushing , 105 SHIPS IN COMMISSION FOR NO . WAIT NEW YORK, Feh. 16.—The Herald's ‘Washington correspondent telegraphs: Residents of Washington, official and otherwise, have accepted the sober words of wisdom contained in the message of Captain Sigsbee announcing the terrible calamity which befell the battle ship | Maine in Havana Harbor last night. Opinions differ as to the cause of the IMMEDIATE SERVICE. SPAIN. | Displace- | ment. Tons. First-class battleships: PEMYO ocoererasesecsss 9,100 | counsel prudence and patience while | waiting for a thorough Second-class battleships: Numancia . Vitoria. ... Seagoing coast defenderr | None. Armored crusers: Imperador Carlos V Almafrante Oquend Vizcaya .. Infanta Maria ,100 | | Teresa. Protected cruisers Alfonso XIII. Lepanto .. | | Partlally protected eruise: Alfonso XII.. Reina Cristina Reina Mercedes Castilla Navarra, Aragon Gunhoats partially protected. Conde de Venadito Infanta Isabel .... Torpedo gun vessels; One Seve: One 45| Ly Thirteen 108 7 to 97 Torpedo boats—Second-class: ne EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS A SUBMARINE MINE. | Ingenious Theory Advanced by a Naval Expert at Cramps’ Ship- yard. CHICAGO, Feh. 16.—A Philadelphia special to the Tribupe says: A naval expert at Cramps’ yards, whose knowl- edge of warships of all nations makes him an authority, said: “It's mighty hard to reconcile the Maine and its subsequent queer effects. Now, first of all, if the explosion had occurred entirely in the ship and its whole cargo of ammunition had gone off, I fail to see how the lights of Hav- ana would have been extinguished. ‘Water does not carry a shock just that way, but the ground under the water does, and it looks more and more to me like a submarine mine. “Really, I don’t believe for an instant that the explosion originated on board the Maine, and much less in the bow section, devoted to the storage of tor- pedo ammunition. ~ Let me tell you something about-torpedoes: They are filled with gun cotton. Gun cotton is a very powerful explosive. The rules of the United States navy compel all gun cotton to be kept wet, or at least moist enough to be in a non-sensitive state, and as I know Captain Sigsbee well—know his regard for order and his high regard for duty—I know that the Maine gun cotton was wet. “Now, if we accept the theory that spontaneous combustion occurred in the coal bunkers adjoining the torpedo magazine, we must consider that this combustion had been going on long encugh unnoticed to produce heat in the magazine sufficient to dry gun-cot- ton to the sensitive point. The explo- sive point is somewhat about the point required to generate steam—212 degrees to 220 degrees. To produce this degree of heat and transmit it through the stories of an accidental explosion on the | | bulkhead would require several hours of smoldering fire due to spontaneous combustion in the coal bunker. “In any well-managed ship—and the Maine was well-managed—the condi- tions of all coal bunkers is ascertained as often as every ather watch, or once in eight hours. These conditions indi- cate that the margin of probability of an explosion from the causes mentioned would be reduced to the minimum. “To sum up, it may be said that an internal explosion is in the highest de- gree improbable. It may be barely pos- sible, but all the logic of conditions in- volved is against that theory. There- fore, whatever may be ascertained by the examination by divers or by other means of investigation, there must al- ways remain solid ground for the sus- picion that the loss of the Maine and the killing of a considerable part of her crew was due to treachery.” WEYLER HAD PLANTED TORPEDOES IN THE HARBOR JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 16— Some leading members of the Cuban Junta here and at Tampa say privately that in their opinion an investigation will show treachery in the Maine dis- aster. . “You will recall that some time ago,” said one influential member to-night to me, “just before Weyler's recall there was talk of an American man-of- war being sent to Havana. We had reliable information that Weyler se- cretly had torpedoes planted in the harbor, and it was known that if a warship went in an accident might occur. These same torpedoes are there now and doubtless in good working or- der. “We have started an investigation of our own and the entire truth will be known in a short time. It is for the interests of the Spaniards to at once deny any hand in this accident, but I know more than I can reveal at pres- ent. We who know of Spanish charac- ter gauge their denials accordingly.” | disaster, but controlling minds of all { battle-ship and the loss of 253 lives. | efficient battle-ships and the loss of so branches of the Federal Government investigation, which will definitely determine the di- rect cause of the blowing up of the While the first impulse of the Federal authorities has been to give proper and tender care to the dead and wounded, the cause of the disaster upon which 80 much may depend as to the future of Cuba and our relations with Spain, is also uppermost in their minds, and prompt measures have been taken to make an investigation, which will leave no room for doubt as to the primary cause of the destruction of one of our many of our nation’s defenders. ‘Whether by accident or design, the cal- amity in Havana Harbor will have an important bearing on the Cuban ques- tion, the extent of which time alonewill show. It is felt that if the explosion was accidental, the sooner it is known the better it will be for the friendly re- lations between the United States and Spain. If it was not accidental, the sooner the responsibility is fixed the better. Among Tederal officials and experts in the navy, the weight of opinion, based upon official advices and press dispatches, is that an internal explo- sion, the exact cause of which it may be difficult to ascertain, was respon- sible for the destruction of the Maine. I can state authoritatively that the President and all his advisers not only prefer to think that the calamity was due to some mysteribus unavoidable accident, but they actually believe such to be the case. Secretary Long, in discussing with me the Maine disaster, said: *Captain Sigsbee has made no report yet ds to the cause of the terrible catastrophe which has befallen his ship, but it is suggested that public opinion be sus- pended until his report is submitted, which is very reasonable, as there are indications that the occurrence may have been the result of an accident. I should say that as far as indications go, the disaster was due to the explo- sion of the contents of the forward magazines.” Secretary Long announced that there was no present intention to send a warship to Havana to replace the Maine. This is matter of future deci- sion. Another official of the department with whom I talked suggested that Spain would regard it in the light of an unfriendly act if this Government were to send a battle-ship to Havana to re- place the lost one. “Besides,” he suggested, “we have no other vessel that we desire to lose.” Theories as to the explosion which sent the Maine to the bottom were ban- died about to-day at the Navy Depart- ment as thick as snowflakes in a driv- ing winter storm. In no quarter did T hear it suggested that the Spanish Government was in any way respon- sible. It seemed to be the general con- sensus of opinion among naval officers noted for their conservative views that the calamity resulted from an explo- sion in the interior of the ship. All the officers admit, however, that their theories may be without foundation. ‘With a view to determining whether the accident was the result of a torpedo placed under the bows of the Maine or the result of an interior explosion, Sec- retary Long telegraphed this after- noon to Rear-Admiral Sicard, com- mander-in-chief of the North Atlantic squadron, - who is at Dry Tortugas, di- - oy | A _BIT OF HAVAN A. 5 el Il mm— " calamity. .chronic constipation, W ONLY ING TO KNOW ‘Upo.n' the Res gation Will Depend the Fate of Cuba. ult of Investi- If the Maine Was Blown Up by Design Not Even the President Can Repress American Indignation. recting him to perfect arrangements for the appointment of a court of inquiry. This court will proceed to Havana in the Montgomery and investigate the Rear-Admiral Sicard is expected to go to Key West, in com- pliance with orders of the department, _ and commence to obey the depart- ment's orders in appointment of a court probably to-morrow. When this in- formation has been received the de- partment will send instructions to tha court as to the course to be pursued. Divers will be sent down to examine the hull of the Maine, to ascertain if her bottom was driven in or out by the force of the explosion. If the former, then a torpedo placed under the bow of the Maine will probably be held re- sponsible for her fate; if the latter, an explosion inside of the ship will be re- garded as the cause. Until complets reports of Captain Sigsbee and of the court of inquiry have reached the de- partment there is no likelihood that any representations will be made to Spain. During the court's investigation the department will concern itself as ta measures to be taken to recover as much as possible of the Maine's arma- ment. If the vessel can be repaired, which is greatly doubted, then the wrecking vessel which Captain Sigsbee has asked will probably aid him to save her. What will be the result in case it is demonstrated that the vessel was de- stroyed by a torpedo leading men in Congress, members of committees having to deal with foreign affairs of the Government hesitate to discuss. Although evidence seems to indicate that the loss of the vessel was due to an accident, even if she was torpedoed, it does not follow that the Government of Spain was in any way responsible for the act, and conservative men who make up the administration and those who eontrol the action of at least one branch of Congress—the House of Representatives—will not act hastily or without full knowledge of the facts. Pt i Vesuvius Goes to Key West. JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 16.—The dynamite cruiser Vesuvius left here to- night for Key West, there to await fur- ther instruction: Wills Filed For Probate. The will of Plaisance J. Chafoin, who died on the 6th inst., was filed for pro- bate yesterday. 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