What was the real cause that sank the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba? Jill Kauffman makes a very well thought out viewpoint on this controversial topic, which is due to the 250 men that were killed as a result. In her article “Battleship Maine Explosion”, she goes into much detail providing each side a fair opportunity, giving much needed information to form a conclusion. Kauffman states that, “On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine sank in Havana harbor, Cuba, after an explosion destroyed the front part of the ship” (1). The main issue on this topic is whether the explosion was caused by a mine that originated in Spain, or whether it was caused by an explosion on-board, according to Spanish officials. Arguments made that the ship did not sink due
…show more content…
There is multiple pieces of evidence that supports this claim, which include shells which were unexploded, as well as the coal bunker that was stable for three months was checked regularly. Kauffman shares Carl Rundquists statement on the explosion entry point, “The pieces of armor plate also showed they were blown from the outside from the way they were bent” (7). Most witnesses reported hearing two explosions, the first which was caused by the mine, and the second as a result triggered a second explosion. This also goes along with the notion that the USS Marine could not have been a direct result of an on-board explosion. Others, mainly the Spanish naval commission, believe that the explosion was caused on-board. Kauffman put in that, “Many critics of the Maine theory maintained that the destruction of the Maine was more likely the result of a fire in a coal bunker, which set off an explosion in a nearby ammunition magazine” (9). This is supported by the fact that the coal room was last checked 12 hours before the Maine
There is multiple pieces of evidence that supports this claim, which include shells which were unexploded, as well as the coal bunker that was stable for three months was checked regularly. Kauffman shares Carl Rundquists statement on the explosion entry point, “The pieces of armor plate also showed they were blown from the outside from the way they were bent” (7). Most witnesses reported hearing two explosions, the first which was caused by the mine, and the second as a result triggered a second explosion. This also goes along with the notion that the USS Marine could not have been a direct result of an on-board explosion. Others, mainly the Spanish naval commission, believe that the explosion was caused on-board. Kauffman put in that, “Many critics of the Maine theory maintained that the destruction of the Maine was more likely the result of a fire in a coal bunker, which set off an explosion in a nearby ammunition magazine” (9). This is supported by the fact that the coal room was last checked 12 hours before the Maine