Question

i was enclosing my letter in its envelope when the explosion came. . . . it was a bursting, rending, and crashing sound or roar of immense volume, largely metallic in character. . . . the electric lights, of which there were eight in the cabin where i was sitting, went out. then there was intense blackness and smoke. —charles d. sigsbee, captain of uss maine, 1899 why might this account be considered a reliable source about the sinking of the maine? what evidence does this source provide?

Explanation:

First Question (Why might this account be considered a reliable source about the sinking of the Maine?)

Charles D. Sigsbee was the Captain of the USS Maine, so he was an eyewitness to the event. Eyewitness accounts from people directly involved in or present at the event are often considered reliable as they have first - hand experience of what occurred.

The source provides a first - hand description of the explosion that led to the sinking of the Maine. It describes the nature of the explosion's sound (a “bursting, rending, and crashing sound or roar of immense volume, largely metallic in character”), the effect on the electric lights (they went out), and the subsequent “intense blackness and smoke”. This gives details about the immediate aftermath of the explosion related to the sinking of the Maine.

Answer:

This account might be considered reliable because Charles D. Sigsbee was the Captain of the USS Maine, meaning he was an eyewitness to the sinking of the Maine and his account is a first - hand, direct account of the event.

Second Question (What evidence does this source provide?)