Message to the Senate Transmitting a Letter from the Secretary of the Navy on Personnel Losses on the U.S.S. Maine

EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 12, 1898.

To the Senate of the United States:

In response to a resolution of the Senate of the 4th instant, I inclose herewith a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, inclosing a copy of a report from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation.

WILLIAM McKINLEY.

NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, April 9, 1898.

The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Senate resolution of April 4, directing that the Senate be informed "of the total number of human lives that were lost by the sinking of the United States battle ship Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba, on the 15th day of February, 1898, the total number of dead bodies rescued from said ship, the total number remaining unrescued, and what effort, if any, is being made to rescue them," and in reply thereto inclose a copy of a report from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation covering the above inquiry.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,

JOHN D. LONG, Secretary.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION,
Washington, D.C., April 8, 1898.

Number on board the U.S.S. Maine at the time of the disaster:
     Officers __________________________________________ 26
     Sailors __________________________________________ 290
     Marines __________________________________________ 39
                                                                                                  —— 355

Number saved:
     Officers __________________________________________ 24
     Sailors ___________________________________________ 60
     Marines __________________________________________ 11
                                                                                                   —— 95

Number lost:
     Officers ____________________________________________ 2
     Sailors ___________________________________________ 230
     Marines ___________________________________________ 28
                                                                                                     —— 260
                                                                                                       ——— 355

Bodies recovered:
     Officers _____________________________________________ 1
     Sailors and marines __________________________________ 177
Died from injuries:
     Sailors and marines ____________________________________ 8
                                                                                                        —— 186

Of the number recovered there were buried—
     In the cemetery at Havana ____________________________ 166
     At Key West _______________________________________ 19
     At Pittsburg, Pa. (officer) _______________________________ 1
                                                                                                       —— 186

Number of bodies not recovered:
     Officers __________________________________________ 1
     Enlisted men and marines ____________________________ 73
                                                                                                     —— 74