The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-27

Havana, Sept 26-The following are the
particulars of the accident Off Ell Norro,
Cuba, OH wednesday last, W hen the Spanish
war vessel 'sarchez Barcaiztegui sank, as
brough, out by the Investigation.
The Sanchez Earcaiztegui left the bay of
Havana with Admiral Manuel Delgadoy
Parcjo and his staff. He was about to
make q circular cruise around the island.
She cleared from her moorings at go on
Wednesday night, steering for the narrow
channel leading TO the open sea.
She was under easy steam, or half speed,
when the lookout Eoticed red and white
light on the signal station at the entrance
TO the harbor, indicating that steamer
was standing in for the entrance OF FL
Canal, or channel She was steaming in
from the northeast end of the island. She
was only two cabelengths away.
Instnatly Capt Ibanez, of the Sanchez
Barcaiztegui, ordered the helm to star
board, thus steering in TO his right and close
in on El Moro, leaving ample room for the
incoming steamer to pass on his port side.
He duly announced his course by single
blast OF the nhue, indt oeibs tHc siShoa
under the International code.
TOGETHER WITH A CRASH.
Both ships were rapidly nearing each
other, bow TO bow. Capt. Ibanezs signal
failing TO elicit an instant reply, he repeated
the single blast, but as less than the usual
time interval elapsed between the two, the
incoming steamer, the Mortera, interpre-
tated it as ole signal of two blasts, ndi-
eating the port helm.
She answered by two whistles and
changed her COURSE. This made the collision
inevitable. They kept bow to each other,
Capt. Ibanez realizing the great and instant
peril gave the order for fun speed astern
and ordered his wheel hard over to meet the
new and unexpected condition of things
Ere he could stop his headway the two iron
steamers came together with dreadful
blow and crash.
Even in the face of instant death full and
perfect discipline was maintained on board
the Sanchez Barcaiztegui. Capt. Ibanez
gave orders TO clear away and lower the
boats. Lieut.. Ricardo Garcia Junco was ON
duty forward and he knew that an i'm
mense hole had been knocked in near the
bow plates The forecastle was full OF
water.
REFUSED TO GO FIRST.
All the boats were f1oated. Lieut.. Gar
cia's orders were loud and clear and were
heard on the Mortera. She had backed
off. Then followed n remarkable scene.
The rough and-ready sailors entered on
a contest of generosity and heroic self
denial.
II will wait for the last boat; l have
no one to mourn me-" said one. Another
cry was heard: You that have wives and
children get into the boats"
The captain and his officers surrounded
the venerable admiral on the bridge. The
latter insisted on being the last to leave
the ship.
Adm iral," said Lieut.. Garcia, "if
your excellency wishes, you can be lowered
to boat" which he declined, saying:
Thanks, my son, although aged, can
help myself" Then the admiral addressed
the crew: Haste. men, let all save them
selves" The ship was sinking under them
into the deep W aters off the MORO. Almost
by force the admiral as placed into boat.
Still, many remained on board, when gen.
eral cry W ent up that the ship was sinking.
A third boat, containing the admiral, was
still alongside when an effort was made
to clear her.
BRAVE OLD ADMIRAL
When but a few yards away the gallant
ship gave a final lurch and disappeared
amid a sea of creamy foam The suction
caused by the sinking of SO large a ship
drew in everything near by, including the
boat containing the admiral, who, with all
the crew, were lost. Scenes at such mo-
ments are simply indescribable. The sur
face of water was studded with heads
struggling in the waves, sweeping in from
he Atlantic.
This solemn and dreadful scene was
made simply awful by the appearance Of
many sharks. The harbor and coast of
Cuba is known for its man n-eating sharks.
Some of thep unfortunate men were
seized by the legs and drawn under;
others sank beneath the waves. While this
fearful scene was being enacted the brave
and gallant captain of the Aotera, Jose D.
Vinola, had lowered all of his boats and
forty-fIve officers and men were rescued
that but for his assistance would have
been drowned within 100 yards of
large and populous city. All were loud
in their praise of Capt. Vinola.