THE EXPLOSION ON THE CRUISER MAINE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9367, 18 February 1898, Page 3

THE EXPLOSION ON THE CRUISER MAINE.

255 Men Killed.

Excitement in Mew York.

(By Electric Telegraph. -Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) (Received February 18, at 11.20 a.m.) Nhu Yoiik, February 17. lhe explosion occuned in the Maine's bow under tho men's quaiters. Many were blown to sea m their night-clothes, and were rescued by Spanish warships. Al! the offeeis escaped, except two. After the explosion the M.une drifted upon a bank, and was soon enveloped in flames. The captain of the Maine cabled to the American Government that public opinion in judging of the cause of the explosion had bettor be suspended. Spain has e\prebsed gicut regtet at the disaster. The nows of the explosion on boaul the Maine caused a heavy fall in btockson the New York Stock Exchange. There was a recovery, however, at the close of the day. The Americun Government bus decided to accept the information to hand, pending an enquiry into the disaster. The ship's officers state that the explosion originated in the central magazine. A few of the crew weie enabled to reach the deck, but the men were mobtly ableep, and were jammed in the torpedo department. The captain was the last to leave the ship. Wvshi.vo'ion, February 17. The Hoube of Representatives passed a resolution of condolence with the relatives of the victims of the Maine disaster. ' The Cuban section of the Foreign Relations Committee fear the disaster will j result m serious complications. The total number of men killed was 255. Ninety of the crew were terribly scalded. A New York journal has offered 50,000 dollars for evidence that the explosion was a criminal outrage. The chief American newspapers acquit the Spanish Government of any implication, though they are cautious about accepting the accident theory. Sir J. Pauncefote, Butish Ambassador at Washington, has condoled with' President McKinley, aud expressed the intense bympathy of the British.