The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 18, 1898, Page 5

DESTROYED BY DESIGN. THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 189S8. 5 THE MAN R R E TR careful and and others, doubts WHO BUILT THE MAIN (NSRS, S CAPTAIN FRANK L. FERNALD. retired Naval Constructor of d the finishingconstructionof lyn Nav ard, in an interview yes- shington street, said to a representa- ald, therecentl mmediately make an appropriation of a million and drydock the Maine. The ship is not & n Af of it for that matter, but there are two 8 she e raised. % ynly way to obtain a satisfactory investigation into the &% be to raise the vessel. If this is not done £ that this country has to depend upon, % ust upon the word of a diver. If the & e the cause of the explosion can be definitely & % ral experts will be given an object % told value to them. If she was sunk by'the ex- 2 we and destructive power to ironc sion occur will have a practical illustration of its lad vessels when exploded directly d in the magazine alone the re- essed upon the minds of pult in the construction: of the resuit will be of vast benefit ment, for these reasons i1l thus ners of future s owes it to the y be set at rest.” ctrical wires enter the magazine, the coal bunkers, with almost her- - sealed bulkheads, separate it > engines. precludes the fire or spark the- | ory of ignition, and if it was one of the engines that exploded first there must of a necessity have been some time be- fore the magazine exploded. The idea of smoldering fire in the ccal bunkers | is not worth considering. This, had it been the ca would have been dis- covered. You must remember that | ev one was even more upon the watch than usual. Now, I am of the | opinion that the magazine certainly ex- ploded—this was the forward one—and 1 do not believe that it would have ex- ploded as the result of any other explo- sfon. This fact brings up the question where were stowed the twelve torpe- does”that the Maine carried? I cannot remember that any especlal provision s made for them. F as to say The Call he | mity in , and while But there was back impartial and suggestion | poter was | foreign or the He rges against Spain or its ‘lusive were his the- that mat & erior explosion | ®lry i "only serves to complicate the have occurred before any | nany theories. Had the explosion ould have taken place in the | peen entirely from the interlor of the zine tk the mind is naturally | vessel she would not have settled as ced to revert to the torpedo or mine | fast as she did. The Maine contained no auxiliary boilers, and here is an- other fact that tends to exclude any nald is of the Impression | ;.. tya¢ the explosion was the resuit that the e ssion did not occur in the of any direct interfor cause. m ne t, or that it was the only | «The torpedo and mine theories are explosion n asked why he thought | the most plausible, but it would be thus he replied: cruel to hint at Spanish connivance. tertz could have been alt in that direction. ¢ “You ving as sh country Te T show that there could have been no ccess to the magazine except to those had a right truction of the Maine forbids en- 1ining the Idea that the explosion know that the stri ed aboard the ship. was taken to i magazines. The harbor may be full of mines, and any despicable wretch may have been mean enough to explode one of them without the knowledge or sarction of any officials of the Spanish Govern- ment. “YI know Captain Sigsbee well. He is a competent and truthful officer, and the public should wait the results of the investigation that is to be held, for in the mass of rumors and counter- rumors it is hard to form a correct opinion as to the cause of the explo- sfon. From the appearance of the side of the vessel, whether her side is blown the S| this the case on the Maine, \fety wa then was In the harbor of toward which our feelings I cite this fact »ne too friendly. to go into it. The caused through any None of the THIS IS THE LAST DAY. THE CALL’S great offer of ‘Scrib- ner’s History of the United States” at over 40 per cent discount from the reg- ular price closes to-day. Remember, you will never have another opportunity to buy at so low a price. Only $L50 down, balance $2.00 per month for 8 months; half morocco, $2.00 down and $3.00 per month for 8 montbhs. Examine the work at.room 1208 Claus Spreckels Building. Special Notice to Out-of-Town Readers, We will accept orders dated not later than February 22. Full sets sent on approval free of expense. State binding preferred. THE CALL HISTORY DEPARTMENT. in or out, it will be easy to determine | if a torpedo was exploded under her.” THE POWER OF THE TORPEDO. ‘Wonderful Destructive Force of the Most Deadly Instrument of Modern Warfare. The destructive power of the torpedo is not a mere matter of conjecture, and when put to work in a confined space in the solid earth or directed under | water against any floating or solid ob- | ject the damage it' causes is simply phenomenal, when the small quantity of explosive material is considered. Torpedoes played an important part in our civil war, several vessels being de- stroyed by contact with submarine mines or through the agency of spar torpedoes, or a submarine boat provid- ed with a torpedo. One notable in- stance is that of the Housatonic, sunk off Charleston February 17, 1864, by a rebel torpedo boat. The description of the diver subsequently sent down was that he found a hole in the ship’s side between wind and water of about eight feet square. During the Russo-Turkish war the Russians were successful in several in- stances in destroying Turkish vesgels, but it was not until the revolution in Chile broke out in 1891 that the sink- ing of the Blanco Encalada by a tor- pedo illustrated the tremendous de- structiveness of this under-water pro- jectile, On April 23, 1881, the Blanco Enca- lada. while lying at a buoy in Caldera was struck by a Whitehead tor- pedo fired from the gunboat Almirante Lynch. The latter was only 100 yards distant, and the torpedo struck the Blanco Encalada amidship, sending the ship at the bottom in less than five min- utes. The attack was made at mid- night, and although the ship's crew was up and serving the guns to repel the attack, yet 120 lives were lost by the sinking of the ship. The Blanco Encalada sank in forty-five feet of water, and the divers sent down re- ported an irregular shaped hole in the hull feet in length by 9 to 12 feet in width. The vessel was subsequently raised and repaired. A still later incident is that of the Brazilian turret armorclad Aquidaban, a smaller vessel, but similar in design to the Riaemullo and the Maine. On April 16, 1894, the Aquidaban was at- tacked by nine Government vessels off Santa Catharina Straits, coast of Bra- zil. Several torpedo s were launched against the rebel ship, but only one hit her, fired at a distance of twenty yards. The torpedo fired was of the Schwartz- kopf type, containing a charge of 125 pounds of guncotton. It struck the vessel on the port side, twenty feet from the stern, and she at once settled | down by the head in 24 feet of water. The watertight compartments aft of where the damage was done fulfilled their intention and the officers and crew managed to escape. Shortly after the ship was raised, and after a tem- porary overhauling was able to proceed under her own steam to Rio Janeiro, where she was docked and repaired. The accompanying illustration shows the part of the bow of the vessel and | the extent of the damage to the hull. The torpedo struck about twenty feet from the bow and the injuries extend- ed thirty feet aft. The protective deck was uninjured, but all the plate frames and longitudinals on the port side were crushed inward and the forward watertight bulkhead was carried away, but the next bulkhead stood in- tact and only two compartments were flooded. The extent of the hole in a perpendicular direction was about | twelve feet. The ship being built of steel and sheathed with wood three inches thick, it will be observed that the ragged and splintered ends of the planking make the hole appear much larger than it was in the hull proper, as the concussion ripped off and broke the planking, but the actual size of the opening made in the hull was about sixteen feet in length and twelve feet in width. On the starboard bow, about two feet above the keel and on a line where the torpedo struck, was a hole two feet in diameter, leading to the reasonable assumption that the tor- pedo had penetrated the hull and made its exit. Assuming as an illustration that the sinking of the Maine was primarily due to a torpedo it may be readily seen how such a missile directed against that part of the ship containing the magazines, shell rooms and gun-cotton storeroom would affect the contents of all these compartments. An explosion would naturally result from such a di- rect concussion which would shatter the bottom and demolish all transverse and longitudinal bulkheads forward of the forward boiler compartment and cause the ship to sink at once. In the cases of the Blanco Encalda and the Aquidaban the blow from the torpedo was not struck near the magazine and shell rooms, and as a consequence the ships though disabled and sunk were not destroyed beyond repairs, and the harrowing sequence in the Maine catastrophe did not happen to these ships. It is curious to note that these three explosions and sinking of ships took place at night. The work of the torpedo in the Japan-China war is a repetition and demonstration of its frightful effective- ness. Its mission is not to penetrate a ship’s hull, but to explode its charge when brought in direct contact with the objective body, and its work of de- struction far exceeds that of an eigh- teen-inch hole, its own diameter. STEPS TO GUARD - THE SPANISH CRUISER. No Torpedo Will Be Sent Hurrying Through the Water at Night to Sink the Viscaya. NEW YORK, Feb. 17.—Spain’s pow- erful cruiser, the Vizcaya, which s expected to arrive to-morrow, will be carefully guarded while in port by Government tugs manned by United States marines and the shore near her anchorage will be patrolled by de- tectives. Lieutenant Sharp, representing As- sistant Secretary of the Navy Roose- velt, called at police headquarters just after midnight and asked to see the official in charge. He was accompanied by an ensign, who did not give his name and by a man of dark beard and complexion, who, it is thought, was an attache of the Spanish Legation. Lieu- tenant Sharp conferred with Captain Vreedenburg for half an hour. The captain declined to discuss the matter afterward. d It was learned, however, that the lieutenant said Mr. Roosevelt had di- rected that two Government tugs be detailed to patrol the water about the Vizcaya during her stay in port. He desired the Chief of Police to as- sign detectives to duty at points along the shore, in order to make any annoy- ance or any untoward accident impos- sible. This precaution, it is thought, is due to a desire to prevent curious persons or cranks from approaching the cruiser or the boats which may ply between ship and shore. The tugs will be manned by marines. No steps were taken in the matter by the police to- night, but the lieutenant’s request will be submitted to Chief McCullagh, who will assign the necessary detectives In the morning. MAGAZI EXPLOSION UNLIKELY Chief Engineer Jones Tells of the Precautions to Guard Explosives on a Warship. BOSTON, Feb. 17.—William R. Jones, a chief engineer of the United States navy, who assisted in fitting out the battleship Maine, sald to The Call cor- respondent to-day: “There are certain facts that must be taken into consideration. In the first place I do not see how it was possible for the magazine to explode. This por- tion of the ship 1s guarded with the greatest restrictions, both as regards construction and regulations about en- tering the room. Owing to the nature of the explosives and projectiles em- ployed for modern guns, the magazines | are located near the battery, so that the ammunition can be conveyed to the turrets as conveniently as possible. “The magazines are built very solid and are thoroughly insulated from all electric wires. In fact no wires or lights of any description are permitted in the room. Light is furnished through a glass bulkhead near which, but not attached to tne walls, is an electric light. The place is carefully watched, and to enter the roams re- quires the concurrence of three or four officers. “The papers says that it was an acel- dent. I do not understand what acci- dent could take place If the regulations were .observed. It would be next to impossible for the magazine to be fired by electricity from the dynamo. In the first place, the room is thoroughly in- sulated. Again the powder is so sealed up that no speck could reach it. A fire in the coal bunkers that had got beyond control might ignite the pow- der, but every part of the ship is pro- tected by electric fire indicators, and they would give warning of such dan- ger. . “The Maine carried about 300 tons of ammunition, but this includes the weight of the projectiles, There were also torpedoes on board. As far as the theory of an outward attack is con- cerned the slatement that a fierce fire raged would upset this idea. A torpedo exploded beneath the vessel would crush in the two hulls, which are braced together on the bracket system. It is hardly possible that such an ex- plosion under water would cause any fire or ignite the magazine. If the tor- pedo had been fired under the bow of the ship that portion of the ship would have been crushed in and the compart- ment filled with water. At 8 o'clock every night the water-tight compart- ments are closed and clamped down. To sink the ship by the bow it would be necessary to blow in several of the compartments. “On the other hand, an explosion from within would have caused fire, and it is surprising how much of a blaze the small amount of woodwork on board a steel ship will create. Then again, it would have been more likely to blow in the compartment doors. But here again we run across the question: How could there be an explosion of sufficient force to bring about the re- sults accomplished unless the magazine was fired? And that is scarcely in the bounds of possibility. “The theory of an infernal machine in the bunkers does not seem plausible to me. If such a thing had happened it must have been done in an American port, where the ship coaled. It would be next to impossible to accomplish such a thing in the harbor of Havana.” MANY MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE From Various Parts of the World Come Sincere Expressions of Sympathy. WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.—A number of messages have been received at the State Department from foreign Gov- ernments expressing regrets in connec- tion with the Maine disaster. Among them are the following: Secretary of State: I have the honor to inform you that I am commanded by the Queen to convey to the President the expression of Her Majesty's sympathy with the American people on the occa- sion of the sad disaster which has befall- en their navy by the loss of the battle- ship Maine and of so many members of her crew. I reauest that you will be good enough to transmit the above mess- age to Its hlfi‘h destination. % have the ho est consideration, sir, your most obedient humble servant. JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE. SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Feb. 17, 1898. Day, Washington: expresses sympathy for Malne disaster. Legation of the Republic of Haytl. Secretary of State: The news of the sad accident which has befallen the Maine has deeply touched me, and I beg leave to express my condolence and sym- pathy with the families of the unfortun- ate victims. My Government cannot fail to feel deep concern on account of the loss which the United States has just ex- perienced. Be pleased to accept, Mr. Sec- retary of State, the assurances of my highest consideration. J. N. LEGER. BERLIN, Feb. 17, 1898, President United States, Wuhfnnon: Let me express my sincere sympathy to you and your country at the terrible loss of the Maine and the death of so many brave officers and men o%vynur navy. 4 ILLIAM II Legation of the Greater Republic of Cen- tral America. Secretary of State: I have recefved in- structions” from the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America to {nform the Supreme Government of the United Stat s of America, through that both it and the ot the States which compose that repul lic feel profound 't on account of t! disaster which befell the Maine night be- fore last in the port of Havana. In obc{l; ng these instructions, I take pleasure nor to be, with the high- Archbishop Saens your Excel- vernments NE » » » & > » » Ed & L] ¢ Ld » & » . & » & Ed & & Ld ES & kS & & » » » *» & » Ld * » & & ES » L4 L4 & » * » » » | & kg » Ed Ed » » s Ed L4 EY FS » & ® & » » & » & » £ d & » £ S & » » » & » & » » » Ld L Ed » £y » » » * » » » » * kS * » & B » * » ® s Ed L d » Ld » [d Ed » » » Ed » » » * Y » * FS » » L d * » » * EY » L » »* & » » » | renewing to you, Mr. Secretary, the as- | surances of my highest consideration. LOUIS F. COREA. LONDON, Feb. 17. Sherman, Secretary, Washington: The First Lord of the Admiralty requests me to | express admiralty's and his personal sym- pathy with our Government and navy in | the loss of the Malne. Various members | of the diplomatic body, including Spanish Embassador, have expressed regret. WHITE. | LONDON, Feb. I7. Sherman, Secretary, Washington: Prince | and Princess of Wales request me to convey to the President and Secretary of the Navy the expression of sorrow of | their Highnesses at the terrible accident which has happened to the Maine and of | their profound sympathy with them and | the whole American nation at the occur- rence. HENRY WHITE. | Imperial Legation of Turkey. | Secretary of State: Charge d’Affaires ad | | interim of Turkey has the honor to con- | vey to his Excellency, the Secretary of State, the deepest regrets of the Otto- man Government on account of the de- | plorable accident which has befallen the aine. February 17, 1888, Sherman, Secretary, Washingto: ident Faure asked personal interview, in | which he requesteu me to express his | warmest sympathy and profound sense of | condolence to President McKinley re- | garding the appalling catastrophe to the | | Maine, and to convey an assurance that the French people, especlally the French | navy, are deeply touched by the death | | of the gallant officers and men who lost their lives at their post of duty. PORTER. LONDON, Feb. 17. Sherman, Secretary, Washington: I have received the following message from the Duke of Connaught: ‘‘Pray ac- cept my sincere sympathy at the terrible accident which has befallen the warshi Maine. I deeply deplore the loss whic your navy and country have sustained.” WHITE. NEW YORK, Feb. 17. Secretary of State: The undersigned committee of Spanish residents of New | York respectfully tender sincere sym- | pathy and regret for the dreadful disaster | to the Maine, with appalling loss of life. JOSE F. NAVAREO. Chairman, ANTONIO CUYAS, Secretary, ARTURO CUYAS, CVIADRO E. CASTILLO. __For the Committee. Secretary Long received the follow- ing cablegram from the Russian Min- ister of Marine at St. Petersburg: I have just received the news of the Maine’s terrible disaster. I beg you to accept my own and the Russian navy's sincere sympathy and condolence. VICE-ADMIRAL P. TYRLOW, Minister of Marine. Secretary Long received the following during the day: I regret with all my soul the horrible catastrophe of the Maine, and send my condolence for the victims and their fam- ilies. Spanish navy is in mourning for American navy. SOBRAL, Naval Attache, Spanish Navy. - PREMIER SAGASTA IS DEEPLY GRIEVED. Expresses the Sorrow of the Spanish Government Over the Maine Disaster. NEW YORK, Feb. 18.—The Madrid correspondent of the World sent the following authorized statement by Prime Minister Sagasta: “We are grieved and painfully sur- prised by the catastrophe to the Maine. We feel it doubly, because the sad oc- | currence took place in our waters. | “We cannot forget the sympathy that was shown to us by America when we lost our cruiser Reina Re- gente, and the Minister of Marine has I'conveyed to General Woodford the con- dolence of the Spanish navy. Our rep- resentative in Washington will convey to the American Government the sym- pathy of our sovereign nation and Government. You have noticed how general and sincere has been the atti- tude of our press in commenting upon this unfortunate catastrophe. I feel confident that this equally friendly conduct of the authorities and people of Havana will go a great way to con- vince America that we sympathize with her mourning for the gallant crew and officers of the Maine.” —_— Mayor Orders Flags Half-Masted. Mayor Phelan ordered the flags on the City Hall to be placed at half-mast yesterday in token of the city’s regret at the death of the brave sailors who went down in thie ill-fated Maine. Clinkers In the grate put out the fire. Dead tissue clogs and poisons the body. It must be expelled by skin, bowels, kid- neys and lungs or the first slight sick- ness will soon develop into a very serious matter. A cold checks the action of THE EMPORIUM. THE EMPORIUM. | IZNPP PR EERRVR PR RRPRRRRRRR PP RRRRR RO R YRR RPE T Yo Miss Marie Dokrman, Soprano, will sing at the Concert Saiur- day evening, February 19th. . Next week positively the last opportunity of seeing ““The Black- smith,” De Lorme’s famous §50,000 painting. A TWO DAYS SALE EX- TRAORDINARY of the BRIGHTEST and DAINT- IEST of RIBBONS FRESH FROM the LOOMS. Ribbons will be used more than ever this spring—dresses will - be trimmed with them—the new model hats from Paris are almost entirely trimmed with them—Sashes were never in such high favor—Fringed Scarfs for the neck. We opened three cases of Spring Ribbons Wednesday, which included some beautiful new Jacquand Bayaderes in stripes and plaids; choice Gauze Ribbons for dress trimmings; Fringed Sashes and some charming patterns for neckwear and millinery—First showing to-day. FOR TWO DAYS ONLY. Beginning at 8 o’clock Friday morning, and. unlil we close Saturday night, we offer— All-silk 4-inch Fancv Ribbons—plaids and checks—Moire and Roman effects—all new styles. Not less than 3coo yards to seiect from, at 25C d stripes. Very latest style Fancy Ribbons, in plaids, gauze checks Not less than 2020 yards to select from, and cannot be duplicated for 35 anything near the selling price........ C 2300 pieces of Silk, Satin and Gros-Grain Ribbons of in a particuiariy large assortment of colorings. the best quality— At 5¢—s50 pieces No. 7, width 114 inches; worth 1oc a yarl. At 7y4.c—450 pieces No. 9, width 184 inches; worth 12:4 ard. At 10c—600 pizces of No. 16, 24 inches wide ; worth 20c a yard. At 1235c—700 pieces No. 22, 25 inches wide ; worth 25¢ a yard. On sale in Main Aisle of the rotunda—75 feet of extra counlter space for these two days, and exira sales- Dpeople to wait on you. |75¢ Storm Serg-; Suits for 3%. 50c for Two Days. On Friday and Samrd.u'[ _On Friday and Saturday only we will sell in the Un- If the lot lasis that long, derwear Department, first Wil sell— or— | 16 pieces of s53-inch all pure wool {Storm Serge in dark and medium Children’s Union " we Children’s Jersey Ribbed Union |heavy navy only. Tais is the Serge Suits—ecru and naturai gray—seams | that created such a furor two weeks all covered—pear! buttons—silk tape | ago, when we offsred it for one day around the neck—all sizes for children |only at soc a yard. At 75¢ a vard from 3 to 9 years—those that | there is no better valus in the were 50c a suit for. 2 39C ! city. For2days the price will be.. 50C BUTTER AND EGG SALE. Friday and Saturday only these extraordinary Gro- cery Spectals. The very best Fancy Ranch Eggs—on Friday and Saturday 225C dozen for....ccoeus, The finest Creamery Butter made—on. Frid SE S M 45¢ Your money cheerfully refunded if vouw are mnot satisfied. Best Quality Klondike Outfits At the lowest prices which the best can be sold for. Send for our profusely illustrated Klondike book containing new map, routes, dis- lances, where best claims are and iheir value, bow 1o oulfif, new mining laws, steamer fares, elc., elc. Free, cily or country, upon application by postal or letter fo Advertising ‘Bureau, The Emporium and Golden Rule Bazaar, San Francisco. . y and Satarday The Emporium and Golden Rule Bazaar. BAASSARS SAGAGIAEASAEISAN R AR AdL SASAALSASAN these organs. They need that health- ful stimulant, Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey, which prudent people know to be a shield against grip, bronchitis and pneu- monia and other ailments on the winter list. It prevents congestion and gives appetite. Just what is needed when coughing, fever and short breath give warning of danger. Sold by druggists and Grocers. There was a clergyman in a Long Isiand village who suf- fered from dyspepsia to such an extent that it positively seemed sometimes as though his doctrine was not sound. It was, however, only a stomach trouble, and had nothing to do with the mind. Being convinced of this, one of his parishioners, a lady, presented him with a small quantity of Ripans Tabules and the relief he ex- perienced was such that all the congregation noticed an improve- ment, and now, although his salary is small, this clergyman and his wife devote a portion of it to keeping the medicine closet stocked with a suitable supply of Ripans Tabules. Doubtless there are many cases where what has been thought heresy was in fact notHing more nor less than dyspepsia, and Ripans Tabules cure dyspepsia. One gives relief. A T SR TR T N RSB ER R SRR AR A LS AU At e A SR AR GBI E ARG G S LS AR LA SRR TR R ARR R AR SR L AR AR SR AR AR R G S B E L AL RS < LT 1 ] b4 b4 b4 ® * BAAREEAARER A AR R R AR AR LA AR A AR LR SRR R E G