 In those days , naval cadets — the rank of midshipman would not exist for a few more years — by law had to serve for two years before they were eligible to take the examinations for the rank of ensign . Therefore , after graduation from the Naval Academy in June 1896 , Cluverius was posted to the cruiser USS Columbia . In 1897 joined the crew of the USS Maine . He was on board on 15 February 1898 when the ship suffered an explosion in Havana Harbor . Cluverius made his way out , splashing through water up to waist deep in the darkness , his path obstructed by wreckage . He joined other survivors on deck , and was rescued by the SS City of Washington . He was one of only 89 survivors , of whom 18 were officers . 
