The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-20
STOOD BY HIS SHIP.
Heroic Conduct of Admiral
POrejo at Havana
Last to Leave Barcastegui Which
Sunk Yesterday.
FORTY-FIVE MEN LOST.
The Greater Portion of the
Crew Was Saved.
MEN LOST.

TAMPA, Fla, Sept. 20.-Ohcial news
received in this city states that in the
canal at the entrance of the harbor of
Havana, the Spanish gunboat, SAM
chez Barcastegui, collided with the
Spanish merchant steamship, Mortera.
The former was almost Immediately
sunk. The loss of life on the Mortera
is not stated.
The Barcastegui was third class
cruiser, carrying five heavy and two
rapid-6re guns. She was of l, 900 dis
placement. She was built in 1875. The
cruiser left Fort Barcastegui at mid
night with Admiral Delegado Parejo
on board On reaching the mouth of
the harbor the Barcastegui came in
collision with the Mo rtera, steam
er engaged in the coastwise tr ade.
The Mortera struck the cruiser on the
starboard, and SO badly injured her
that she sank at once. The Mortera,
although badly damaged, stood off to
give assistance to those on board the
Barcasteguiv and with her boats saved
the greater part of the crew. Admiral
Parejo, Captain Ybanez First Lieut.
enant Lopez Aldazajo, Second Lieuten-
ants Junco, Soto and Canajo, DR.. Mar
tin, Purser Pueyo, Machinist Zarzuela
and thirty-six of the crew were
saved. Vicl or Aroga, another of the
officers, had his leg broken, but was
picked up by boat from the Mortera-
Admiral Delagado Parejo was the
last man to leave the cruiser, being
taken off in rowboat. The total loss
of life is now set at forty-six.
When the rowboat in which the adj
miral was a bout to start for the shore
showed off, the suction occasioned by
the sinking of the Barcastegui carried
the boat down and all on board were
drowned.
Divers are examining the hull of the
Barcastequi. Captain VinaI of the
steamer Mortera said that at Ills
o'clock, when within two miles of the
entrance of the harbor, he saw ahead
on his starboard a green light which
he presumed was that of a steamer
leaving port.
Il ordered the engine to slow down,
said Captain Vinal, land proceeded on
our course, hearing two whistles from
the cruiser, to which we replied
Turning into the harbor and keeping
in sight on our starboard the
green light of the cruiser, we
whistled twice again, thus indicating
that we were turning INTO the harbor,
when suddenly all of the lights of the
cruiser were put out 1 immediately
ordered the engineer to steam back
wards but It was of no avail, for the
steamers collided. l ordered boats to
be lowered and life preservers 10 be
thrown overheard. After the collision
we were enfangled with the Bar
/ castequi for a time, but this situation
endangered the Mortera as well as
the cruiser, and ] ordered the engines
TO go ahead, nv intention being to
try TO run the Barcastequi ashore. I
soon found, however, that this could
not be done with safety to the Mortera.
Backing off from the cruiser she sank
almost instantly
/ The gay sbreamers and flags that
have decorated the city in welcome of
/ the soldiers who have arrived from
! Spain, have been taken down and re-
! placed by draperies of black. The
/ city is in mourning throughout for the
/ admiral and the officers and crew of
I the Barcastegui.
The body of Admiral Parejo lies in
! state in The chapel of the marine hos
! pital upon an imposing catafalque
watched over by guard of marines.
/ Several masses were said IN the chapel
during the day The dead admirals
! funeral chamber was visited by thous-
ands of all grades of society, the
stream of the mourning population
being uninterrupted throughout the
day.