The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-02
SPAIN LOSES ANOTHER CRUISER
The Warship cristobaI Colon
wrecked on Colorado Reef.
The Crow and Soldiers Aboard Saved.
hut the Vessel q Total wreck-Insur-
gents Say the Cruiser Was DESTROYED
by Torpedo, But Spanish omoia,.
Heny This-The Story as Told From
Havana.

HAVANA, Ocs. 1.-Following close
upon the loss OF the Spanish cruiser
Barcsstegui, which WAS sunk in collis-
ion with the Spanish merchant steamer
Mortera, of Mora Castle, at the entrance
OF this hsrbor at midnight on Septem-
Der IL, resulting In the drowning of Ad-
miral Delgado Pereio, commander-in-
chief OF the Spanish naval forces In
Cuban waters, and dro wning OF the men,
comes the news OF the wreck and prob
able total loss of the Spanish warship
Cristobal Colon, & second class cruiser
of about 1900 tons displacement and
1000 horse power.
The Cristobal Colon formed part of
the feet OF the Spanish warships de-
tailed to watch the coast OF Cuba in
der to preveat the landing of flibus-
terinR expeditions from the United
States and elsewhere. The cruiser car
rted four twelve-centimeter Hontoria
gums, Two seven-centimeter guns and
two frapid-fring guns. Her crew Is
estimated to have numbered about 600
officers and men. but the exact figures
are not known here at present, as she
had lon board men intended for the
smaller patrol vessels of the Spanish
fleet and may have detailed men ashore.
The station Of the Crlstobal Colon was
the waters about Cape Antonio, on the
western extremity OF the island OF Cuba,
her commander having received in
situations to watch the CULTS Of Porrent
and Guadiana, south and north of Ca 90
antonio The disaster occurred off
Colorado point in the gulf of Guadiana,
south OF the town OF Mantua, in the pro-
vince OF Pinar del Rio, near which
territory Havana is situated
The exact details Of the disaster are
not yet known; but so far as can
be gathered the facts are as follows:
The Crissobal Colon appesrs to have
encountered severe weather off
Cape Antonio and to have put into the
gulf OF Guadiana for shelter There
she tried to ride out the fierce gale, but
was slowly driven towards Colorado
point, jutting from which there is
dangerous reef, known as the Colorado
rect. When the commander of the
cruiser saw that he could not make
Roadway against the storm he attempted
to anchor, according to the stories told
here, but the anchors would not hold
and the cruiser was driven ashore.
Another report has it that the Chris
tobal ran on the reef at night time when
her commander believed her to be far
enough off shore to continue steaming
against the force of the cyclone. In any
case, she ran ashore late last night or
early this morning in most dangerous
position and with heavy sea running.
Everything possible seems to have been
done to save the cruiser, but all efforts
In that direction were useless and she
was finally abandoned this morning
helpless wreck, pounding herself slowly
to pieces on the Colorado reef. Some OF
the crew swan ashore; others reached
land by means OF pieces OF wreckage
and in the boats; all the crew, soldiers
and men were saved by some means or
another.
The above are all the facts obtainable
here at present. and owing to the reti.
cence OF the authorities some inaccur-
acies mny have been created in the
story. But the m ain facts are correct,
and the wreck of this fine warship, so
soon after the sinking OF the Barcas-
tegui, has caet g feeling of intense
gloom over the governments officials
here. There are none too many Span
ish vessels in these waters, and the
present loss uf the Cristobal Colon will
be keenly felt by the government at
this crisis.
OF course the friends Of the insurgents
are circulating tho usual sensational
stories regarding this the latest dis
aster 10 the Spanish government. claim
ing that the cruiser was sunk by tor
pedo exploded by insurgents. In Of
fetal circles, however, this report is
classed as being nothing more than
en- invention OF the rebels" In spite
of this official assertion there is no
doubt that the government has net
thought Ii proper TO make public all the
facts in the case, and this may not be
done Until the official report OF the con-,
mander Of the wrecked cruiser has been
received and passed upon.
WASHINGTON Oct. Miss Lucille
Blackburn, daughter of Senator Black
burn, OF Kentucky, was married at noon
to-day atSt Matthew's Catholic Church
to Thomas f. Lane, chief OF division
OF the registration Office OF the Treasury
Department.. The wedding party wac
confined to fifteen persons made up of
relatives and Mr.. Logan Carlisle and
Lieutenant Niblack. The Rev. Father
Bart performed the ceremony at the
Normandie Hotel, andhlater Mr.. and
Mrs. Lane left for New York, whence
they sail for Europe.
Divorces Forbidden in South Carolina.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Oct 1.-South Caro-
lina occupies tho unique position among