The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-20
A SPANISH CRUISER SUNK
Officers and Crew Go Down
With the Ship
ADMIRAL PAREJO DROWNED
Collision With a Coasting Steamer
Caused the Disaster
Immediately After the Vessels Came Together
the Cruiser Sank at the Entrance
to Havana Harbor



HAVANA, Sept. 19.-The cruiser Bar.
castequi was wrecked at m midnight by a
collision with the m erchant steamer Nor
terra in the canal at the entrance to Port
Havana. Admiral Delgado Parejo. with
other officers and number of the crew,
were drowned. The cruiser had been en-
ployed on government business in differ
ent parts of CUBA.
The Barcasrequi WAS third class
cruiser carrying five heavy and two rapid
firing guns. She was of 1000 tons dis
placement and built in 1876. The cruiser
left for Barcastequi at midnight with
Admiral DeIgado parejo on board. On
reaching the mouth of the harbor close to
Nero fort. the Barcastequi came in collis-
ion with the Mortera. steamer engaged
in the coastwise trade. rbe Mortera
SO oadly injured her she sank at once.
The Mortera, though badly damaged,
stood off to give assistanc. to those on
board the Barcastequi, and saved the
greater part of the crew. Admiral Parejo
and Captain Ybanez. Fist Lieutenant
Junco Soto and Canajo. DR.. Mad tiu
Purser Puero, the machinist, and thirty
six of the crew were drowned. Victor
Ascg. another officer, had leg broken,
but was picked up by boat from the
Mortera.
Admiral Dalgado Paiejo was comman-
der of the naval forces of the Spnish in
Cuba. He arrived on the island June
17th.
Divers are examining the hull of the
Barcastegui. Captain Vinal of the
steamer Mortera. in the course of an in
terview. said today that at IL 20 o'clock
last night when within two miles of the
entrance tf the harbor he saw aheaa on
his starboard q green light, which he
presumed was that of a steamer leaving
port. II oruered the engine to slow
down." said Captain Vinal, "and pro-
ceeded on our course, hearing two
whistles from the cruiser, to which we re-
piled. Turning into the harbor and
keeping in sight on our starboard tue
green light of the cruiser, we whistled
twice again, thus indicating that we
were turning into the harbor. when sud-
deny all of the lights of the cruiser were
put out. l Immediately ordered the en-
gineer to steam backwards but it was OF
no avail, for the steamers collided. l or
dered boat to be lowered and life pre-.
servers to be thrown overheard. After
the collision we ntangled with the
Barcastegui for awhile, but this situation
endangered the Mortera as we'll as the
cruiser and ordered the engines to GO
ahead. my intention being to try to run
that this could not be done with safety.
Backing off from the cruiser she sank
almost instantly; Admiral Delagado
Parejo was the last man to leave the
cruiser, being taken off in row boat"
The total loss. OF life is now set at
forty-six. When the row boat IN which
Admiral Delagado Parejo sat was about to
start for shore tho suction occasioned by
the sinking OF the Barcastegui carried
the boat down and all on board were
drowned.
The MANY steamers and flags that have
decorated the city in welcome of the SOL
diers who have arriv ed frG m Spain have
been taken down and replaced by draper
les of black. The city is in mourning
throughout for the admiral and the Off
GERS and crew of the BarcastePui. The
caIse of the extinguishment of the lights
on board the cruiser. which was describ-
ed by Captain Vinal OF the Mortera, was
occasioned by the stopping of the engines
to save the life Of sailor whose arms
had been caught in the dynamo.
The body OF Admiral Deleado Parejo
lies in state IN the chapel of the marine
hospital on an imposing catafaIque.
watched over by guard of marines.
Several masses were said today.
The dead admirals funeral chamber
was visited by thousands of all grades o
society throughout the day. Eighty
magnificent floral wreaths from the mu-
nicipal authorities. public institutions,
clubs and particular friends of the de-
ceased were laid on the bier.
This afternoon Captain Francisco
Ybane. the commander of the ill fated
cruiser, was buried with honors due his
rank. During the passage of the funeral
procession along the streets vast th rongs
of people filled the streets and the funeral
carriage was filed with wreaths from the
authorities and from friends of the de-
ceased.
The collision was due TO most unusual
war vessel had his hand caught in the en-
gine used to generate electricity for the
vessels lights. To save his life the en-
gine was stopped. This. of course, left
the vessel in darkness and before the
lights were started again the Mortera
crash ad intn her