The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
he FOUGHT ON
The 0QUE|NDo
A SPANISH 4IDsHIPMAN's ACCOUNT
OF WHAT HE SAW.

Swimming Ashore - DOdging the
Cubans and Keeping Away From
the Hungry Sharks - Naturally
VIII Never Forget His Adventure.
The following account is given Of the
action in which Admiral Ce:vera's squad
ron was destroyed b. Midshipman Navia,
late of the Oquendo, and of the subse-
quent adventure he and few survivors
encountered in their successful endeavOrs
to make their way back to Santiago.
The young fellow is now in quarantine in
Corunna, having been brought home by
the Alicante. His story reads more like
chapter out OF James Grants novels
than a page of real life, says Madrid
letter to the London Post and when re-
lating his adventures to Senior Rodrigo,
of the Heraldo, Midshipman Navia doubt
ed whether they would be believed,
though he vouched for the truth of every
word he said. The narrative of his story
has been somewhat condensed below:
1.-THE flagship opened fire while we,
being the last, were still some way from
the harbor mouth, yet before we cleared
the entrance we got struck by a few
shells. I was in the forward central tor
pedo room, and as, according to orders,
the portfolios were shut, I could see but
little Of what was taking place outside.
We did not at once use our torpedoes,
for shortly after the action began heavy
projectile crashed through the upper deck
and destroyed the shield, near which 1
was standing. was knocked down by
the force of the explosion, receiving a
slight leg wound from a fragment of the
shell, while splinter of the starbOard
gangway was driven into my chest near
to the heart. On recovering my feet 1
found that the starboard torpedo tube
was smashed and that the deck was
strewn with dead and wounded, few
of whom were seeking TO go up the gang
ay, which was also destroyed. Very
shortly We all had to clear out OF the
room, as it became impossible to breathe
there, owing to a lot Of material taking
fire. I sunk half choked in the upper
deck near the starboard hatchway, but
was revived by some one turning hose
on my head.
ON rising again I found myself close to
the second commander, Don Victor SOFA.
who was encouraging the crew. and Senior
Nunoz, who put his arm round me, eX-
claiming, 'They are making man of you
to-day" At that moment a heavy shell
burst behind me, small particles lodging
in my neck and behind my ear. This shell
killed Don Victor Sofa, whom saw fall on
his face without uttering word. Right
across his body fell that of First Gunner
Don Cristobal When Capt. Lazaga heard
that the forward magazines were ablaze
he followed the lead of the Teresa, head
ing for land and running the vessel
ashore When this was being done was,
in the forward cabin whence two tor
pedoes were launched at an enemy who
sought to cut us off. We left the battery
and went on deck, where several were
stripping preparatory to swimming ashore.
I went back to the torpedo room and
stripped. When l got back on deck my
companions were gone. SO I got through
the port-cannon enbrasure and slipped
down chain to the water. Before going
I noticed Capt. Lazaga standing on the
bridge with folded arms, looking quite
calm; near him were several wounded OFF,
GERS. I never saw him again. A quarter
master whom I met later told me he saw
Lazaga lie down near the forward gun
and shoot himself. being deaf to the en-
eaties OF the officers that he should save
himself. Many of the Oquendo's crew
were swimming around me, and it took
me twenty minutes to reach land, as I
had to help some who could not swim.
When I was landed was On my shirt
and drawers. Twenty sailors gathered
round me, and we went inland along a
narrow path that led toward hill. OBJ
serving a tree on which the fruit had
been recently bitten, concluded it was
by the manc0bses (Spanish name for the
natives), and suggested we should alter
our route. Some through not hearing
me, went on, and I soon saw the first
man squat down, crying to those behind:
Look out; I am covered by q gun, and
we are told to halt" The man who held
the gun ordered us to stop till he warned
his party, and soon reappeared with a
couple of negroes, armed with Mausers.
We were then ordered to go forward,
one by one; while the advance party did
hrHof Ind Gid o1 M }nf0 tho i,,r0 10
fleeing from the insurgents Those who
went forward were Drained by the insur-
gents, great number of whom we're
close at hand. At midday found myself
accompanied only by an engineer and
marine of the Oquendo. We heard some
terrific explosions, and on gaining hill
top we saw American boats saving the
shipwrecked crews. We we're now over
come by thirst, and sought a rivulet,
where we might slake it. Fortunately we
found one and, while drinking, were
Joined by >stoker from the vizcaya-
We followed the stream seaward and
came on q mango tree, the fruit of which
we ate, though It was still unr1pe. While
80 engaged we heard talking, and saw a
couple Of armed mambises approaching.
They had not noticed us, SO we hurriedly
slipped into tho bush and began to climb
hill, from the top Of which we could see
the ships still burning. One was taken to
w an American, and my companions burst
out cheering. but quickly put q stop to
that lest the enemy should hear US. Night
FELL and we lay down to try to Sleep but
the cold was terrible, and the noise Of the
bush, with the attacks Of mosquitoes and
land crabs, combined to drive away slum-
ber was doing of when a large crab
bit one of my naked toes. I Jumped up
ana crushed 1t with stone. Next day.
the sun giving us our direction, we con-
tinued our painful 3ouRney, all the morn
ing having nothing to eat or drink In
the afternoon we came on a stagnant pool.
and though the water stank, we drank Il
eagerly. The stoker, who had BONA
ana blouse on, Wen through the bush.
thus opening way for U.S. who were next
TO naked. A native carrying basket Of
1000 once crossed our path, though fortu-
nately he did not see us. Had we only
had a pistol among us we should have
dined that day. Once we sat down to rest.
and SO weary were we that we fell asleep
Strokes OF an axe against tree awoke
US, and we saw close by two mambises
cutting wood. Climbing tree to find out
where we were we saw an arm of the sea
ahead which we took to be Cabanas bay,
crossing 1t in Its narrowest part.
Hearing voices behind, we hid to let
the speakers pass. and found they were
some OF ours, q qu4rtermaster Of the TIE.
resa and two sailors Of the Furor. They
were in better conditions than we, for
they had had the good luck to find some
food; but one Of the sailors had u piece of.
shell IN his leg and severe head.
wound. AS we neared the water we could.
occasionally see shark rise to the sur.
race. This made my companions hesitate.
about entering, but at last persuaded
them. two OF us assisting one Of the ma
r1pes who could not swim. When we were