The New York herald., 1873-11-18
THE SPANISH IRON-CLAD.

The Arapiles In the Brooklyn Navy
Yard-IntervioW with Her COM
mander-The Opportunity to Annex
Her.
The Navy Yard was in . state OF ferment Vester-
day. Everybody engaged there, from the Com
mandaEt down to the dock aborer, appeared to
feel an increased sense OF his importance, and to
act under the impression that the eyes Of America
were upon him. The officers generally observed
stern retcence, as II they were overcharged with
weighty information, but under sacred pledge
to reveal nothing. few OF them however, wero
free to confess that they really could add nothing
to the general STOCK OF knowledge, and that all
this ordering about, this hurry and Dustle, might
mean war, though they were prepared to admit
that 1t might only be warike demonstration for
a pacific purpose. One oficer remarked.
with evident pleasure, that war was un-
avoidable while another thought that all this
''hum OF preparation" would only serve to let
some surplus steam OF and to show
the cruel Spaniard what our navy yards can turn
out in case or a sudden emergency. Although
great many additional men have obtained employ
ment in the yard, there is still crowd OF diers
lettering around the principal entrance, apparently
an xiOus Or work.
THE MOST INTERESTING OBJECT
to sight seers Is the Spanish ironclad Arapiles,
which Is lying IN the dry dock Se An helpless sea-
Spain waves as II in defiance from her mast aud
sentines are stationed on board, as II she were
craft.
A HERALD representative made his way across
down. the whole Navy Yard wore garo OF SCOT
and, after stumbling over logs and various debris.
found himself on board the Arapiles, and was
Captain Demetro de Castro Montenegro.
who received him very courte0usy. When
the HERALD reporter had mentioned the object or
his visit Captain Montenegro expressed his willing
ness TO give the Information desired OF him. The
commander Of the Arapies is IN appearance any
thing but the typical Spaniard. lie Is short,
stout middle-aged gentleman, with
MILD, BENEVOLENT, RErIRED-dRocER-LIKE coUN-
TENANCE.
The conversation began thus:-The HERALD rep
resentatve queried, 'Well, Captain, when will the
Arapiles be ready for sea ~
TO which the Conandante replied :-sT think il
Will be more than month before she Is ready, for
she has done great deal OF service and needed
thorough overhauling. My instructions are to sail
for Spain as soon as sne is finished"
suppose war should break out between the
United states and Spain before the Arapes can
leave this dry dock, what then ~ inquired the re-
porter.
question but he merely said 81 do not know any
thing about that" and then repeated his former
remark about his Instructions.
The HERALD representative again put the ques-
tion In the form OF supposltiOn :-"Suppose the
navy yard people here do not feel inclined to let
the Arapiles go--suppose we should want Just such
o vessel as the Araples and decide to annex her
as II she were part OF the island OF Cuba rather
than allow her TO leave ana TO bombard-say
Castle Garden or the summer residence or the
President at Long Branch-what would you do
about it, Senor Comandaner
The Comandante looked as II he thought this a
good joke. He smiled in good hum0reu way, but
repeated for the third time his answer about his
Instructions TO sail for Spain as soon as the
pairs OF the Arapes were completed.
The HERALD reporter thought this interview
rather up hill work. SO, after expressing to the
Comandante his unmeasurabe gratitude for the
important Information he had given to the HERALD
and the great American public the conversation
was brought to a close with mutual smles bows
and handshakings.