That the Maine had not been a victim of the failure of her own mechanism was not then certain.

Such misgivings were in the minds of many officers.

Indeed, a report of the total disappearance of two battling fleets would not have found the watchful naval experts of the world absolutely incredulous.

So much the higher, therefore, was the heroism of those who led straight to battle that complex and as yet unproved product of the brain--the modern warship.
While negotiations with Spain were in their last stages, at the orders of Secretary Long a swift vessel left San Francisco for Honolulu.

There its precious cargo was transferred to the warship Baltimore, which then made hurriedly for Hongkong.