New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-14
THE REVOLT AT CARTAGENA.


ACTION OF THE CREWS OF IRON-CLADs N THE HAIR
BoR-THE vIGII.ANTE SEIZED FOR BEARING THE
RED FLAG-ANIMosITY AGAINST FOREIGNERS.
Rom THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oF THE TRIBUNE.l
MADRID. July Gas far back three months
70 several Spanish papers of the most respectable
ass mooted the question of foreign intervention in
10 affairs Of Spain, but they had no authority then
FIR treating the matter as they did, for Foreign
p,wers had not even exchanged any notes on the
a biect. and it was only for party interests that
journalists ventured wild and improbable asser-
lions about what they called the intervention
question" Since then the matter has constantly
been kept before the public, either by respectable
journals which looked at it from a common-sense
mint of view, OF by second-Tate newspapers which
wanted 10 air fine phrases excite the minds OF the
vulgar and uneducated. Although Intervention IN
the affairs of Spain has not, as said before, been
seriously thought of by the European Powers cir
cumstances have produced certain events which
may bring about some concerted action between the
Powers. Germany has taken the lead, in a manner
which the Spanish Government approves OF, but
which may lead to serious complications.
When Cartagena declared itself an independent
republic Gen. COntreras the selfelected President,
managed to induce the few troops that there in
garrison TO join in the movement and the regiment
of Iberia which had been sent to restore order re-
three or four large irOn-clads and smaller YES
ls in the harbor and it was hoped at first that the
crews of these ships would remain faithful to the
Central Government There is little doubt that the
iron-cad frgate VittoTia could have been saved If
her commander, Churruca, had been allowed to act
for himself The moment the town pronounced
itself he steamed out of haTbor not to be within
reach of the guns of the foesses on shore and also
TO place his men beyond the evil influences of bad
example. He had scarcely left the harbor when he
received stringent orders from superior officer to
return at TO his former anchorage.
At first be hesitated. but at last obeyed. He had
no sooner done than his men mutinied, and he had
toeave his ship. The crew also abandoned the ship,
and Contreras sent one of ms officers and about 80
men on board. The other ships followed except the
Viglante, a little gunboat, armed with a heavy
pivot-gun after the style of our gunbOats. The in
surgent commander of the Vittoria ordered the
Vglante to surrender; but her commander
mustered the crew on deck, harangued them,
and asked them whether they would remain faith
fui to the Government of Madrid; they replied
with loud viva for the Government and the Re-
public of Spain. He then sent message to the
VittoIia to the effect that he and his men were
ready to die before doing any such thing
as surrendering to rebels On this the commander
of the VittoIia appears to have sent HIM letter
the fleets Of the Republic of Murcla if he would sub
70 that authority, and at the same time threatening
him with attack il he opposed himself to these man
date. The faithful commander still replied that
~ fer was an insult to him, and that he would
no account accept it. The Vittoria was then
to make preparations for attack, and the Vigi-
not having steam up to escape, and too weak
"a resist the powerful monster was abandoned, the
commander and the men marching to a neighboring
station and coming at once to Madrid to present
themselves to the Minister of Marine Senior Oreiro.
While these events were taking place, the Fred
erick Charles, a German irOnclad frgate commanded
by Capt. Werner, who appears to be man of
decision and character. was cruizing about near
Alicante, and # appears that although the German
vessels have received orders not to interfere in
spanish affairs, they have also been instructed to
be very jealous of German honor and to assert
,r. power and authority if the slightest occasion
. arose. The occasion soon came. The Yittoria
e- cen steaming out of Alicante, where she had
IL d to force the town to rebel and to levy heavy
coltibution, with three flags flying at the mast
heads, red flag at the fore tricolor lmauve white
All redl at the main and Spanish ensign at the
nazzen. The red flag excited Capt. Werners suspi-
& and crossing the bows of the Vittoria, the Fred
i.Gcl Charles fired gun signal TO halt.
D. nan boat was then dispatched to ask the mean
these three flags to which the Vittoria replied
wering two of them and leaving the Spanish
"a alone flying, after which she was permitted
TO continue on her way When out of gunshOt
reach, she rehoisted the two former flags but
although the German vessel at gave chase, she
could not come up with her, and the Vittoria
anchored safely under the protection of the shore
batteries. The Frederick Charles remained cruising
outside, in the hope that the Vittoria would come
out again and even went out of sight sometimes to
induce the belefSon board the Spanish vessel that
she had gone away altogether; but all her efforts TO
draw out the rebels were ineffcacious; these were
waiting for the arrival of the Vigante, which they
had dispatched to Toueviera, small town on the
coast, to levy contribution of $4,000. This gun
boat, which was commanded by certain Galyez,
was returning from this expedition, and, ignorant
of what had happened TO the VittOria hoisted her
three flags to show the Germans who aud what she
was. Like the former ship, she was stopped, and,
Oh being INTERCEPTED, lowered the two cantonal
tags and left the Spanish ensign only flying.
Capt. Werner, however, was not to be caught q
second time that way, and he ordered the COM
mander TO come on board bis vessel Galyfz at once
obeyed and reported himself as the commander of
the Viglante which, he said was a man-of-war
belonging to the Republic of Murcia. Capt. Werner
then asked for his papers, but as the Republic of
Marcia did not trouble itself about those bagatelles
Gsvez could not produce any. He was then asked
what be was doing to which be replied with a sim
plicity worthy of English rogue before a magis-
trate that be was on a pleasure trip with some
friends Capt. Werner explained TO him that the
nations Of Europe could not allow those kind of
pleasure trips in ships armed to the teeth. and
politely invited Galvez aud his to pass board
his ship and allow themselves to be attended to by