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. â€"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?