Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1898 — MAINE IS BLOWN UP. [ARTICLE]

MAINE IS BLOWN UP.

DESTROYED BY EXPLOSION IN HAVANA HARBOR. X The Cause of the Explosion, Which Occurred on Board, Is Not ApparentMany Reported Killed or Hurt—All Havana Shaken by the Shock. United States Warship Destroyed. Ai 11:15 o'clock the other evening a terrible explosion took place on hoard the United States cruiser Maine in Havana harbor. The battleship was destroyed and probably more than 100 of the 3(X) men on hoard met instant death or were drowned before they could be rescued. The men on the Spanish warship Alfonso XII. bellied in the work of rescue. As yet the cause of the explosion is not apparent. The wounded sailors of the Maine are unable to explain it. It is believed that the cruiser is totally destroyed. The explosion shook the whole city. The windows were broken in all the houses. The correspondent of the Associated Press says lie has conversed with several of tlie wounded sailors and understands from them that the explosion took place while they were asleep, so that they can give no particulars as to the cause.

Wild Scenes in Havana, The wildest consternation prevails in Havana. The, wharves are crowded with thousands of people. It is believed the explosion occurred in a small powder magazine. ('apt. Sigsbee and the other officers were saved. It is estimated that over 100 of the crew were killed. Admiral Manterola ordered that boats of all kinds should go to the assistance of the Maine and her wounded. The Havana firemen gave aid. tending carefully to the wounded as they were brought on shore. It was a terrible sight. Gen. Solano and the other generals were ordered by (.'apt. Gen. Blanco to take steps to help the Maine's crew iu every way possible. Tincorrespondent of the Associated Press went near the Maine in one of the boats of the cruiser Alfonso XII., and saw others of the wounded, who corroborated the statement of those first interviewed that they were already asleep when the explosion occurred. Capt. Sigsbee says the explosion occurred in the bow of the vessel. He received a wound in the head. Orders were given to the other officers to save themselves as best they could. The latter, who were literally thrown from their blinks in their night clothing, gave the necessary orders with great self-posses-sion and bravery. The first theory was that there had been a preliminary explosion in the,Santa Barbara magazine, with powder or dynamite, below the water. Admiral Manterola believes that the first explosion was of a grenade shell that was hurled over the navy yard. Report of Captain Sigsbee. The Secretary of the Navy at Washington received the following telegram from Capt. Sigsbee: “Maine blown up in Havana harbor 9:40 and destroyed. Many wounded and doubtless more killed and drowned. Wounded and others on hoard Spanish man-of-war and Ward line steamer. Send lighthouse tenders from Key West for crew and few pieces of equipment still above (water). No one had other clothes than those upon him. “Public opinion should be suspended until further report. All officers believed to he saved. Jenkins and Merritt not yet accounted for. Many Spanish officers, including representatives of Gen. Blanco, now with mo uml express sympathy. “SIGSBEE.” The officers referred to in the above dispatch are: Lieut. Friend W. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Darwin 11. Merritt. From the wording of the dispatch the Navy Department thinks it is possible that they were on shore at the time of the accident. One of the Best in the Nuvy. The Maine was a battleship of the second clnss and was regarded us one of the' best ships in (lie new navy. It was built at the Brooklyn navy yard. It carried a complement of twenty-nine officers and 370 men. It had four ten-inch breeeliloading rifle guns, seven six-pouml and one eight-pound rapid-fire gmrs, or nineteen guns altogether. The ship had a speed of 17.4 knots an hour, its displacement was (>,082 tons, and horse-power 9,293. It was 318 feet long and nt the extreme breadth measured 57 feet. Its draft was 21 feet (i inches. Its coal hunkers had a capacity of 898 tons. Twelveinch armor protected its sides. The vessel cost $2,500,000.