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“Maine Explosion Caused by Bomb or Torpedo” The front page of the New York World two days after the blast, trumpeted the news and graphically portrayed the destruction of the ship. The text insisted the explosion was not accidental, even though there was no evidence to back up the assertion. The extent of the destruction and the deaths of 267 sailors fueled war fever. © Collection of the New-York Historical Society, USA/The Bridgeman Art Library.