The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-02

the loss Of tho Spanish cruiser Barcasto'
gul, which was sunk in collision with
the Spanish merchant steamer Mortera,
OF Moro Castle, at the entrance OF this
harbOr, at midnight on September IS,
resulting in tho drowning OF Admiral
DOlgado PatOio, commauder'in'chief oil
tho Spanish naval iorcea in Cuban
waters, and iorty.Slx men, comes the
news Of the wreck and probable total
loss Of the Spanish wRrship Cristobal
Colon, a second ::claGS cruiser Of about
1900 displacement aud 1000 horse
power, The Cristobal Colon formed
part OF tho foot OF Spanish wRrships do
tailed TO watch the coast Of Cuba in or
dor to prevent the landing Of tIibusIer-
Ing expeditions from tho Unlted states
and elsewhere, This cruiser carried
tour twslVe-centemsITo Ilonloria guns;
two seven.cenlemetTe guns and two
rapid ilr0 guns. Her crow is estimated
TO have numbered about 200 officers and
men, but the exact figures avO not known
h0rs at present ~ she had on board
men intended for the smaller patrol
vessels OF tue Spanish fleet aud may
have detailed men ashore,
Tho station OF tho Crlstobal Colon
was tho waters about Cspe Antonio, oil
tho western extremity Of the island oil
Cuha, hNr commander having special
Instructions to watch the gull oil Cor
rentes aud Guadiana, south and north
Of Cape Antonio. The disaster occurred
of Colorado Point, in the gulf OF Guadi-
ana, south OF the town OF Mantua, in the
province OF Pinar dol Rio, near which
territory Havana is situated. Tho exact
details oil tho disaster have not yet been
made known; bur, so tar as can DO gath
cred, tho facts are as iolows: For solne
days past = Cyclonic disturbance has
prevailed over these 'laiiludOi aud is
understood 10 have recurved In the CEN
trail part OF the gulf OF Mexico and
was looked upon as likely to enter
the United States through New Orleans
and ApalachicolL The Cristobal Colon
appears to have encountered tue seyere
weather oi Capo Antonio and to have
put into the Gull Of GuadianH for shell
tor. There she tried to ridO out tho
fierce gale and heavy seas, but was
slowly driven towards Colorado Point,
Oh which iutting there is II dangerous
reel known as Colorado ROel. When
tue commander OF the cruiser saw that
hu could not make heRdWay against the
storm, he attempted 10 anchor, accord.
ING to the stories told here, but the
anchors would not hold aud the cruiser
was driven ashore.
Another report has II that the cruiser
ran on the reel at night time when her
commander believed her TO be far
enough oil shore to continue steamlng
against the iorco OF the cyclone. In any
case, she ran ashore late last night or
early this morning 10 most dangerous
poIition aud with heavy sea running.
Everything possible seems To have
been done TO save the cruiser; but, all
efforts in that direction were useless
aud she was finally abandoned this
morning. helpless wreck, pounding
herself slowly to pieces on tho Colorado
reef. Some OF the crew swan ashore {;
others reached land by means Of
pieces Of wreckage, and in the boats {;
but, all the crew, officers, aud men,
we're saved By ono means or other.
hOcommander oil the CriItobal Colon
reached ManLuA during tho day with
the majority Of tho crew and nearly all
the remainder arc expected there be.
fore night. When questioned regarding
the disaster, the Spanish captain would
only say that tho Cristobal Colon was
driven ashore on tho Colorado Reef
owing to the violence OF tho cyclone
aud that il IL probable that sho will
provo total loss. Efforts, however,
will DO made to save her guns, otc.
Tho above are all the iaets obtainable
hero at present, and owing to the 70.
ticonco OF tho authorities, some mac.
Curacias may have crspt In tho story,
But, the main iacsa nro correct, aud tho
wreck OF this ine wlrthip, 80 soon
aztec tbs sinking OF thO BarRCastGgui,
haa cat . feeling OF in.cusO gloom over
tho government Officials here. There
Rru none too many Spanish vessels in
these waters at present and tho loss Of
the CTisioual Colon will be kcenly felt
by tho government II. this crisis.
OF coursn tho friends OF the insurgcntl
arc circulating tho usual sensational
stnfios regarding this, tho latest disaster
TO tho Spanish government, claiming
that the cruiser was aunR by torpedo
exploded by insurgents. In official cir
clos, however, this report Ia cl0Ssdl "a
being nothing mpp than an invention
oi tho tabels." and the dIBtinc, state.
meat 10 made that there IL absolutely
no rcason Tor tho doubling tho official
announcement tuado that tho CrlStobal
Colon WAS driven OH tho Colorado Ront
Ia, a. =, ,,i.i.t,,n ~ tlg, ,,,Yl.tty, st1 nat