The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 19, 1898, Page 1

Call E— PRICE FIVE CENTS. G UNS THAT GUARD THE GOLDEN GATE. On the high land to the right is shown a portion of the line of works defended by 12-inch rifled guns; in the middle foreground is old Fort Winfield Scott, while across the entrance to the harbor is shown the bluff batteries, mounting a number of heavy rifled guns. This is the most elevated battery mounting modern guns in the world. TORPEDO SENT TO DESTROY THE MAINE No Longer Doubt That an Atrocious Crime Was Committed. ' Officer of the Deck Saw the Boat Circling the Ship, and Men Saw the Missile Coming. 2 EY WEST, Fla., Feb. 18.—1 visited the Marine Hospital this evening and, through the courtesy of Surgeon Guitieras, was permitted to see nine seamen of the Maine who are placed under his charge. I found i them as contented as their conditions would permit. They all assured me they were receiving every possible care and at- tention andseveral expected shortly to be discharged from the institution, notwith= y standing the fact they were among those most seriously wounded. From Frank G. Thompson, a petty officer of the Maine, now under treatment at the hospital, 1 obtained some additional facts connected with the disaster. He says that shortly before the explosion he was on the port gangway with twenty-five or thirty others who, like himself, had gone there to get a whiff of fresh air, as it was too warm below. They all turned in at 9 o’clock. Shortly afterward he heard the sentinel’s call of ““All’s well!”’ from the Spanish warship Alfonso XIII, which was answered by an encho from the fortifica- tions on either side of the harbor. Just as he fell asleep he felt a shock like an earthquake. Opening his eyes he saw what appeared like a hurricane of flames, by which he was hurled into the air, falling into the water, whence he was removed and taken aboard the Spanish war vessel. He is firm in the belief that there » were two distinct explosions and that the first, which lifted the bow of the Maine, did not occur in the maga- zine. He says the magazine had been visited but a short while previous and its temperature was cool. He had never felt that the slightest danger menaced ‘the magazine and he had previously seen it so | during target practice that he could scarcely place his | hand upon it. \ What appeared to have made the deepest impres- | sion on all with whom I have conversed in relation to | the matter is the fact that the explosion should have | occurred after the 9 o’clock * tattoo,’”’ when every man was in his hammock asleep and the lamps put out. ‘ Another singular feature is the talk about mysteri= ous boats and other floating objects some of the | Maine’s crew say they saw immediately preceding the |explosion. They say a small black boat entered the| | harbor and circled the Maine several times during the | evening. ‘“‘Quartermaster Ferris,”” Thompson states, ‘“hailed this mysterious boat twice as she approached the Maine on the port side, but received no response. Thompson also says that immediately preceding the explosion the officer of the deck—Lieutenant Blandin—saw through the gloom a brilliant object which looked, as the officer subsequently described it, as though a ship were afire on the starboard. Hecalled the cap~ tain’s orderly—William Anthony—intending to report the circum= stance to Captain Sigsbee, but before he could do so the explosion | took place and both were hurled into the water.” Both were saved and will undoubtedly give evidence which will | be material at the court of inquiry which, I am informed, will be | convened in this city. An official examination of the Maine has al-| ready been ordered. Six divers with outfits were sent to Havana | by the Olivette to-night. Public interest in the destruction of the Maine continues un- | abated. It is the all-absorbing topic of discussion in this city. One thing that tends to kecp up interest in the Maine’s disaster is the constant movement of the vessels of the fleet, the frequent arrivals and departures from this port being in obedience to instructions from Washington. The arrival or departure of torpedo boats to or | from the flagship New York, which still rides at anchor outside the | bar at the entrance to this harbor, never fails to attract a crowd of idlers who, although in entire ignorance of the object of the messen- ger’s mission, are convinced that in some manner it is connected with the deplorable accident. The presence on the strect of survivors with bandaged heads or injured bodies never tails to draw crowds. If the injured bluejacket possesses a garrulous tongue he is never without an attentive and éppreciative audience. Reports from the army barracks and Marine Hospital, where the wounded seamen are being cared for, show they are rapidly convalescing, and the majority, whose injuries were slight, will shortly be discharged from the institution as cured. Others, however, whose wounds are of a more scrious character, must remain cripples for life. CONGOSTO SENDS AN EXPLANATION. | According to His View, the Fire on the Maine Started From a Powder Magazine. Copyright, 155, by James Gordon Bennett. HAVANA, Feb. 18.—To the Editor of the Herald: Up to the present no in- spection of the Maine’s hull has been made by any divers. The arrival of | like the Maine, men cannot set fire to the powder magazine without having first perforated the double-bottom and “coffer dam.” The fire in this case was so instantan- eous that at the moment of the explo- sion of the gremade which shot out from the Maine, flames were sweeping over the deck of the vessel. That shows the fire started from the powder maga- zine. The Innumerable successive ex- plosions show that the fire was then reaching the reserve magazine and | rapid-fire ammunition. The body of the hull appears to open on the bow from the American divers is awaited in or- der that they, accompanied by Spanish divers, may proceed to make an exam- ination. Judging by the external appearance the explosion took place it can be af- firmed, without fear of making a mis- take of any sort, that the fire was caused either by a boller explosion, which set fire to the powder magazine, or else by some other cause, the nature sthich cannot be.positively stated. of the ship and the manner in which | within. The deck is raised, turned into | a sort of vault and covered with innu- merable fragments. A red-hot bolt fell on the port awning of the Spanish war- | ship Legazpi, which set fire to the awn- ing. Ancther bolt struck the side of a | boat, which had to be lifted from the water to save it-from sinking. | The Alfonse XII was anchored about two-thirds of its length from the Maine, and the Legazpi was by the bow, look- ing toward the Alfonso XII. Before at- tending to the safety of these vessels by separating them from the Maine, all the crews and officers in bogts occupied The explosion was Instantaneous, and in the case of a double-bottom vessel themselves only in the rescue of the Maine’s personnel. CONGOSTO. SURVIVORS ARE SENT _TO KEY WEST. Two More of the Wounded Sailors Die, While Bodies of Victims Are Sent to the Cemetery. HAVANA, Feb. 18.—The Mangrove sailed this evening for Key West with Edward Mattson, B. B. Wilbur, J. C. ‘White, Daniel Cronin, John Coffee, J. H. B. Lover, Fred Hernes, James Rowe, Charles Pilker and William McGuin- ness. Two more of the wounded sailors died to-day. Alfred J. Holland died at the military hospital. At 8 ’clock this evening 135 bodies had been recovered. Each is placed in a coffin and carried to the Colon ceme- tery, where Chaplain Chadwick of the Maine conducts funeral services. Among those identified whose names have not already been cabled are Carle- ton Jencks, Flynn (Michael or Patrick), Francis Phillips, Noble T.. Mudd, Themas J. Jones, Francis J. McNiece, Barry (John P. or Lewis L.), Charles Curran, Patrick Hughes, William Don- oghuey, Frank Sutton, Daniel Prince, Henry Cross, Charles F. Just, Daniel | J. Boyle, Willlam J. Horn, Joseph Scul- 1y, James T. League, Trubie Finch, Thomas J. Hearty, Walter Sellers, Charles Franke, Fisher (Frank or A. J3.). There remain at the San Ambrosio illiam Mattison, Francis D. Cahill, rederick C. Hober and James Wallen, still in a serious condition, but better than they were yesterday. George W. Koebler, John Heffron and Jeremish Shea are somewhat improved Dr. Maas does not despair of saving them all. The Bishop of Havana telephoned Chaplain Chadwick a license to hear the confession of our poor sailors. None have complained. On the contrary, all have expressed themselves as satisfled with assistance offered them under the circumstances. On the night of the disaster Captain Sigsbee requested Admiral Manterola to station boats around the wreck so as to prevent any one from approaching it without official leave. As a result only those with special permits are allowed to get near the wreck. Captain Sigs- bee himself going In the early morn- ing to the scene of the disaster was warned off, not being recognized, and was obliged to return and get a formal permit from the naval authorities. WORSE THAN MASSACRE OF THE ARMENIANS. Rev. J. Minot Savage Says There Is a Limit to the Nation’s Patience. NEW YORK, Feb. 18.—Rev. J. Minot Savage of the Church of the Messiah, responding to a toast at the banquet of the Pulp and Paper Manufacturers last night, said: “As one thinks of the sad disaster that has befallen the Maine in the har- | bor of Havana, he can but wonder at the patience of the people of the United States. We have been thrilled and stirred by the massacre of the Armen- jans, but one here at our door has been worse, yet we have had patience. “I do not advecate war, and I would like to see the day when all affairs could be settled by arbitration, but the limit of patience and humanity may come. Let us be ready to stand up for that freedom and manhood upon which the country rests. We ought to have dignity ‘and power with every country. ‘We should have a navy. If we cannot build one.rapidly enough let us find where they have one for sale. Let us buy one and then dare to assert our will.” g Dr. Savage's words caused intense enthusiasm, thé guests rising to their feet and cheering, AMERICA IS PREPARING FOR WAR Steps Taken to Guard the Defenses of This City About the Bay. No Chance for Spanish Treachery to Tamper With the Big Guns in This Harbor. | garded as imminent or probable, but it is | doubtless surmised by the military authori- | ties that Spanish ‘sympathizers might, in the | event ‘of a sudden outbreak of hostilities, | seek to place a charge of dynamite under the big rifled guns which command the ap- proach to_the harbor of San Francisco. The instructions by wire from Washington go further than directions for added vigilance in guarding the heavy ordnance. Orders came to have ammunition ready for immediate use. A careful inspection of all the batteries has been ordered by General Shafter. He was in Bakersfield last night and gave his orders by wire from that point. Every gun is being minutely in- | spected to ascertain if anything is out of | gear that may require the attention of a machinist. The stock of ammunition for the twelve and ten inch rifles and the mor- | tars is not very large, but is sufficient for any immediate requirement in the event of | hostilities between the United States and | Spain. The reserve supply for the batteries ‘i of this harbor is stored in Benicia arsenal. In accordance with orders from the department commander, Coionel Miles, com- manding the post at the Presidio, gave the necessary orders for posting the ‘additional sentries at the fortifications. Colonel Miles was asked by The Call yesterday if the extra vigilance ordered embraced a patrol along the shore of the Presidio to prevent persons from landing in small boats. He said, in answer to the inquiry, that the patrol system was complete and that the batteries were carefully guarded against the approach of unauthorized persons. He expressed the hope that the newspapers would have little to say concerning the extra precautions, as the publicity might tend to HE United States Government is making active preparations for war. On this point there is ~, not the shadow of doubt. Since the disaster to the battle-ship Maine in the harbor of Ha- vana the War Department has issued orders for immediate prepa- rations to resist attack and di- rected that extra vigilance be taken to prevent any persons treacher- ously tampering with the - modern breech-loading guns commanding the important harbors of the United States. It is definitely known that the department at Washington has wired General Shafter to use the . utmost vigilance in guarding the guns ot this harbor. The telegram from Washington to General Shaf- ter is elaborate and gives in- structions in detail regarding the desired preparations. General Shafter, who was in Bakersfield when the message came over the wire, at once ordered necessory precautions. In obedience to orders the guards at Fort Point, Lime Point and at the mortar and dynamite batteries were doubled. Yesterday the regular force of patrol ~ guards wgs largely in- ++ LR R SR SR SRR SR S SRR S R SRR R R P P P S U G P O S O U U O O O S S S R R R R R R ey creased. inflame the public. +| 4t the Presidio the officers who were An gtfack on Seq Fropgisco is nat vised of the prders trom the War Degarts,