U.S.S. Maine Sunk

The sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, on Feb. 15, 1898, helped provoke the Spanish-American War, even though no one at the time could be certain that the Spanish were responsible. Though 94 men (including 16 uninjured) survived, 261 were killed by the explosion.

Yellow journalistic newspapers loudly proclaimed Spanish responsibility, while privately the newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer said that no sane person would believe that Spain would take such provocative action.

Two months later, the United States declared war on Spain. The demise of the Maine was a contributing factor. While it is not possible to conclude with absolute certainty what caused the disaster, many modern studies have asserted that a coal bed fire adjacent to a boiler resulted in the explosion that sank the ship.

Below is a photograph of the wreckage visible above water in Havana Harbor before it was cleared.