CURIOUS RELIC FROM THE MAINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3282, 29 July 1911, Page 8

CURIOUS RELIC FROM THE MAINE.

GALVANIC ACTION SHOWN

As the remains of the battle-ship Maine gradually rise like a grim grey ghost above the slowly lowering level of the turbid waters within the cofferdam, the first discoveries are most interesting.

A curious relic of the great disaster lias been found. The explorers recovered plates and other cliinaware in the officers’ quarters. Some pieces were identified later as parts of the dinner service of the captain and wardroom mess. All were in a good state of preservation and were found piled up aa they had been left by the stewards after the last dinner.

Later the searchers found' on the spar deck adjacent to the port turret a small ammunition box, such as is customarily distributed about the decks. This contained a conglomerated mass of six-millimeter cartridge clips for the naval service rifle and a number of short knife bayonets in metallic leathercovered scabbards. The clips of cartridges were well preserved, but the steel bayonets were reduced to almost unidentifiable. masses of rust around which were clinging shreds of leather sackings. The disintegration of the bayonets is believed to have been the result of galvanic action between the steel and the brass cartridge cases in the medium of sea water. This gives rise to speculation regarding the effect of galvanic action, on portions of the hull still under water on which depends greatly the possibility that the hull may not retain sufficient strength to warrant the expectation of floating out any portion. Pathetically interesting was the discovery of ail officer’s dress sword, found behind the forward port side door leading from the officers’ quarters to the spar deck. This door was found closed, and on being forced open the sword was seen upright in the corner. The inference is that some officer hastening to the deck on the first alarm and buckling on his sword as he ran, was compelled to abandon it and escape iu the rush of water over the spar deck. The bronze sword hilt was well preserved, but only attached by shreds of the sword knot to the blade, which was merely a ribbon of rust inclosed in a black leather scabbard.

The only possibility of identification of the sword fis the chance that some officer may recollect having abandoned the weapon. A curious indication of the slight force of the explosion felt in the after part of the ship was an electric light bulb hanging intact from the roof of the superstructure. < Exploration of the interior continues to be interrupted by masses of mud and rubbish. Only the" clearing of portions of .the roof of the after superstructure has been completed, showing the effects of the fire oii the charred deck planks.

Other indications of fire are observed around the combing of the spar deck, supposed to be adjacent to the galley on the port side, in which cooking utensils are visible.

The water levels within the cofferdam to-night stands at eleven and one-half feet and it. is intended to reduce the level five feet to-morrow, which probably will result in further, interesting discoveries.