Young Peoples' History of the War with Spain

tleship

not take part with the Cubans against Spain, yet it seemed sometimes as if they were in danger on account of the disturbance in the island. So our country decided to send one of our battleships-a man-of-war-to stay awhile in the chief harbor of Cuba, so that the Americans might feel safer by having such a ship to help them if they should need help, as I have told you. Spain made no objections to this plan, and said she would send a ship in return to visit New York. The ship chosen from our navy was the Maine, commanded by Captain Sigsbee. On January 25th, early in the morning of a bright warm day, the Ma

astle,

r of famous buildings, one of which is the Cathedral, where the remains of Columbus were treasured at that time, but they have since been removed to Spain. All the buildings are low, for low

inmates are confined there. Many houses have large gates which open into beautiful gardens and court yards. Some of the streets have very funny names, such as "L

at looks like a large bunch of grass, slowly moving over the pavements, but as it gets nearer you will see the head of a donkey sticking out of one side, while his tail alone is visible on the other side. This is the way that food for horses and mules is brought into the city; no hay is used, only green feed. The milkman does n

Chapel,

ules that naval officers of all countries are bound to observe. Yet it was easy for the men of the Maine to see that they were not welcome guests. The Maine had twenty-six officers, and a crew of three

d "taps," the signal for "turning in," and soon the ship was quiet. At forty minutes after nine a sharp explosion was heard, then a loud, long, roaring sound, mingled with the noise of falling timbers; the electric lights went out, the s

ere he sat writing a letter, and against William Anthony, a marine who was on duty as a se

form you that the ship has b

harles D.

The Spaniards helped the sufferers in every possible way, taking them to the hos

and two hundred and fifty-four of the crew were los

ain Sigsbee to permit the city to give the a public funeral; and a plot of ground in Colón Cemetery, outside the city, was given to the United States free of expense fore

e, formerly of the Maine. They were laid away in Arlington Cemetery, near Washington, on December 28th, with simple religious services and the

nt. They were Lieutenant Commander Wainwright, who was the executive officer of the Maine and who afterwards sank the Furor and Pluton at Santiago; Lieutenant F.C.

f the "

e introduced Shea to President McKinley. Being asked for an explanation of his escape, he responded, as he had done to Father Chidwick w

was blown out. I guess I must have

p by the state of Maine. The keys to the magazines were found in their proper places in the captain's cabin, and his money and papers were also recovered. Finally, it was found that the hull of the great sh

persons thought that some of the Spaniards had wrecked the Maine on purpose. The harbor was full of "mines" or

ld about the explosion. They found that the ship was destroyed by a "mine," but

eral's Pala

tery connected with the horri

h, by the way, was the anniversary of the first battle of the war of the Revolution and also of the Civil War-Congress declared that the United States must interfere in the affairs of Cuba and help the Cubans to become a free and prosperous people. This declaration was signed by Preside

efore Mr. Woodford could deliver his message, the Spanish government sent him his passports, which was a polite hint to leave the country, and he did so, at once. This action on the part of Spain was