"It was then that for the first time the suspicion of foul play came to the reporter's mind.

"Having induced a boatman to take him to the side of the burning vessel the reporter saw a sight most horrible and not possible to describe.

"Near the ship were already two boats of the 'Maine' with a few officers and men who were rescuing their shipmates. The 'Alfonso XII.,' not far distant, had also sent some of her boats, which were assisting Some of the sailors who were rescued were taken to the 'Alfonso XII.,' others to the City of Washington,' some to 'Regla,' the steamship 'Colon,' and to the wharf of the Machina. It is marvelous how some of them could swim, as they were nearly all very severely hurt. One man had both legs fractured, another had an ankle shattered, and nearly all were severely burned. All of them received. the best attention wherever they were taken.

"The sanitary corps of the Fire Department, as well as of the Spanish marine corps, stationed themselves at the Machina

and there gave the first medical attention to the men as they were brought in. After receiving treatment the men were carried in litters or ambulances to the hospital of San Ambrosio or to the 'Alfonso XII.'

"The Maine' immediately after the explosion began to burn fiercely. Every few minutes a shell would burst, scattering the burning debris all around.

"Notwithstanding the imminent danger of being struck, a boat of the Maine' was constantly encircling the ship looking for any one who might be in the water. A few firemen got on board and

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THE "MAINE " COURT OF INQUIRY IN SESSION. The Members of the Board are shown listening to Ensign Powelson's Story of the Disaster.

rescued two sailors. One of the firemen had his clothes and hair burned.

"Although over two hundred men were still on board, not a sound of a living being could be detected on the ship. Just then an officer on one of the 'Maine' boats approached the ship, and with a voice that could be heard far away in the stillness of the night called out:

"If there is any one living on board, for God's sake say so!'

General Lee.

"All waited for an answer, but none came, save the echo from the shore. Seeing that it was useless to try to save any more near the vessel, which was already the iron coffin of hundreds of men, the reporter departed from the scene and went on board the 'City of Washington,' where Captain Sigsbee was.

"The face of the captain showed the mental suffering he was

undergoing, and although he was burned about the head he never complained. When he was asked about the cause of the explosion he said:

666
'I cannot tell you.

retired.

All was right on board. The men had just The keys of the magazine were all in my room.'

"From the 'City of Washington' the reporter went to the Palace, where all the authorities both civil and military had congregated around General Blanco. As the reporter was going up the steps of the Palace he passed a group of officers who were discussing the incident. One of them said:

"I guess this will bring the war that we all wish.'

"At the Palace everybody said that the cause of the explosion was the bursting of a torpedo that one of the Maine's' men was cleaning. This was absurd. Everybody knew that no torpedoes are ever cleaned at 10 o'clock at night.

"This morning the bay was swarming with little boats searching for the bodies. About ten had been found floating in the water at 9 o'clock. The part of the deck of the 'Maine' that was still above water was like the crater of a volcano. It was still smoking at 10 o'clock this morning.

"The sailors in the hospitals are bearing their sufferings with great courage. Not a complaint is heard. They all talk fight, and they believe that the 'Maine' was blown up purposely.

"At 3 o'clock this afternoon an immense crowd gathered in front of the City Hall. It had been announced that the funeral procession of the victims of the 'Maine' disaster would start from this place.

"The municipal government of Havana occupies only the west side of the big old two-story building called the Palace, which is the traditional residence of the Spanish governors-general of the island. In front is the well-known square called the Plaza de Armas. At the rear of the building is Mercaderes street, and O'Reilly street is on the east side. The entrance to the City Hall is on Obispo street, which is too narrow for so great a number of people as gathered there to-day.

"The correspondent visited the hall in which the twenty-two bodies lay in state. So unwonted a spectacle will probably never be seen there again. The bodies of the poor American sailors rested in the Palace of the Spanish government in Cuba. The hall was filled with wreaths and flowers sent by private corporations, banking and mercantile houses, and Cuban and American ladies. There were also wreaths sent by the Spanish army and navy. The public was allowed to pass through the hall and see the bodies of the victims. The utmost order and decorum was observed.

"When the correspondent left the City Hall he received information that eighteen more bodies had been rescued by the divers from the bottom of the bay. A few moments later he learned that fifteen