The New York herald., 1873-09-16
THE SPANISH PIRATES
Interesting Operations Of the
Navy Of Cartagena.
THE TORCH vs.. THE RUMAdClA.
"Better Have Honor Without Ships
Than Ships Without Honor"
The Finest Man-of-War Spain
Ever Owned.
A Contrast Between British Pluck and
Spanish Imbecility.
. Very Pertinent Questions by the
Herald Correspondent.
SPIRITUALlSM In THE CORTES.
Spaniards in q SelfSatiri-
cal Way.
Vhe Effect Of the Abolition Of Capital
Punishment.
Very Pertinent Questions by the
Herald Correspondent.
SPIRITUALlSM In THE CORTES.
Spaniards in q SelfSatiri-
cal Way.
Qhe Effect Of the Abolition Of Capital
Punishment.
THE FALL OF ESTELLA.

THE FALL OF ESTELLA.
During the celebrated insurrection of Cadiz,
when the troops and sailors were driven to mad
ness by the tyranncal military code OF ODonnel
and Narvaezs time, the rebels rose III arms to the
CRY OF
''SPAIN, WITH HoNoRw
Those who remember the naval battle Of Caao
viii probably remember also the noble words of the
Spanish Commander, Mendez Nunez, who said,
"Better have honor without ships than ships with
out honor ~
'Spain, with honor" is shouted by all parties
until the phrase has become wearisome through
very monotony, and until Spaniards have nearly
lost knowledge Of their intrinsic worth and the pure
patriotism which first shouted them. To the insur-
rectonists Of Cadiz they had deep meaning
They saw the nag OF Spain had become
besmutched and bedraggled in foul cutters, mixed
up with scandalous denominations, inhuman
tyranny and everything evil. and out Of their
heart OF hearts they uttered the patriotic cry
sVtua EspaHn con honrdf' Can Spaniards bear to
be told calmly what Spain 'without honorn meansf
If they are willing to be instructed in the full
definition OF the phrase they may see a way to the
remedy.
Let us glance at the waters OF Escombreras near
Cartagena. Above the mastheads Of the ships at
Great Britain the United States France, Italy and
Germany; but there are two large noble Ships
gtrded with thick iron and ribbed with STEEL
massive leviathans OF the ocean, created
for war purposes. There is no life on
their decks; neither banner nor pennant waves
rom the mastheads; there is q general look OF
grim and vicious sourness about them. These
ships are the iron-cads Victoria and Almansa
They are prisoners under charge OF the British
fleet They were Spanish ships two of the proudest
and the best in the Spanish navy which was once
the most powerful in the world
The Victoria is the finest ship that Spain ever
owned; she cost nearly double what any other ship
did. She Is ironclad rigate OF the first class OF
5000 tons register.
The Mmansa is a ship which mas won renown in
battle She was Of the victors near Callao,
and she sailed conqueror to Valparaiso. The
pennant OF Mendea Nunez, the great Admiral,
waved once from her main peak. She has thus an
honorable history but she and her sister, the Vic
t0ra, lie under the guns OF Great Britain until the
central government at Madrid feels itself strong
enough to take charge of them and keep them.
few milea outside OF the harbor of Cartagena
are
THE REBEL SHIPS
Eumancia Mendez Nunez ana the war steamer
Fernando e Catolico. They sailed out OF the port
at night TO meet the spanish Admiral Lobo. VINO
was reported to be coming from Gibraltar with the
Carmen. Cadiz Ulloa, Colon and the Navas de To-
losa to blockade Cartagena
The first named rebel ship the iron-clad Nu-
mancia, was the ship of Mendez Nunez at the
battle OF Callao; the second, the Mendez Nunez
was the frigate Resolution, which took such con-
spicuous part in the afrair of that memorable day.
and was named subsequently alter the gallant Ad.
miral OF the victorious feet.
utsi1 hot
loyal shipsS Did the three ships of the Murcian
Canton fight the five ships under LoboP Or did
Admiral Lobo when he saw the rebels, Shout
"Spain with honorl' and dashng alongside, did
he board themY Nothing OF the kind "Spain with
honor" IS no longer rallying cry to SpanIardsl
Lobo, as soon as he was warned at Malaga OF what
he might expect, sailed 10 the Balearlc Isles and
took shelter in their friendly ports
FIVE SHIPS OF THE SPANISH NAVY FLED
before three rebel ships Is this "spain with
honorf" or ''Spain without honorY'
Permit me to give Spanards, who might read
this letter, picture OF another scene which Is in
striking contrast 10 the one just described.
When the Victoria and Almansa were captured
by the British switsure and the German Frederick
Charles, and brought TO anchor at Escombreras
under the guns OF the lortresses OF rebelious
Cartagena, there lay a small English gunboat
called the Torch, carrying only four guns, within
the port Preparations were made TO recapture
the victoria aud Amansa by the excited rebels
The Mendez Nunez, Numancia, Tetuan and Fer
nando FL Catolico had their steam up and were all
prepared 10 launch out
MEANING BUSINESS.
The Torch slipped out OF the port and went for
orders 10 Captain Ward, OF the Swiftsure Soon
after her came boat from the Numancia bearing
threat from Contreras that the first foreign shin
that enters the harpor would be fred upon. Cap.
tain Ward ordered the little Torch up and gave the
commander o letter carrying O counter threat
would lombard the town." which was to be taken
TO the Junts The little Torch
PREPARED FOR ACTION
her four guns were cast loose and she steamed
boldly up the harbor, straight for the Numanca,
which had her steam up. The Torch never devil
ated but steered direct for her bows, as IF she In
tended to run her down. On coming alongside the
Captain ran up the tall iron-cads side, and, STEP
ping on board, was greeted with threats and cries
OF "Cut him down ~ death TO the foreigneri' but
the Captain turned coolly round and told his
Lieutenant TO signal TO the Swiftsure for Gders
what was TO be done should the Numancla IRE
upon the Torch
GETTING INTERESTING.
Ine answer was seen at the masthead OF the
ewiitsure instantly. IL was "Boardvi What the
crew OF the Torch, l2o men GIL told, to board the
Numancla, with her crew OF 600 The sailors were
prepared with carbines, cutlasses and pixies The
COMMANDER OF the Torch after telling the captain
OF the Numancia what Captain Wards intentions
were, asked MIN what he meant by having nj
steam up, TO which the pale faced rebel stammer-
ing, replied that II for the purpose OF moving
nearer the city. The British commander toog on
bis caD aved an adieu and. going back to tn