The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-17
TAKEN PRISONER BY CUBANS
ESCAPES HALF-NAKED INTO
THE JUNGLE.
Days and Nights Without Food OF
Sleep-Risks Life With Sharks
and Is Finally Rescued
by Guerrillas.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Sept. 16.1The Herald's
Washington correspondent sends the
following: Lieutenant X. c. Colwell,
naval attache of the United States in
London, has forwarded to the Navy
Department story Of the escape of
an officer and several members of the
crew of the Almirante Oquendo after
her destruction on July 3. The story is
taken from the Heraldo of Madrid, to
whom it was furnished by Midship-
man Navia, the officer in question, who
returned to Spain on the Alicante, and
has just been released from quaran-
tine at Corunna. This Is Midshipman
Navia's story:
THE flagship opened fire while we,
being last, were still some way from
the harbor mouth; yet before we clear
ed the entrance we were struck by
few shells. When Captain LaZana
heard that the forward magazines were
ablaZe, he followed the lead of the Te-
resa, heading for land and running the
vessel ashore. l jumped overheard and
swan ashore. When l landed l was in
my shirt and under garments Twenty
sailors gathered around me and we
went inland along a narrow path that
led toward a hill. Observing a tree on
L
concluded it was by Mambizes Spanish
name for the natives) and suggested
that we should alter our route.
Some, through not hearing me, went
on, and l soon saw the first man squat
down, crying to those behind: Look
out; l am covered by gun and we
are told to halt The man who held
the gun ordered US to stop until he
had warned his party, and soon re-
appeared with couple of negroes arm
ed with Mausers. We We're then or
dered to go forward one by one. While
the advance party did SO, we behind
sided off into the jungle, fleeing from
the insurgents. Those who went for
ward were Drained by insurgents, a
great number Of whom were close at
hand.
"At midday I found myself accom-
panied only by an engineer and ma
rine of the Oquendo. We were now
overcome by thirst and sought riv-
ulet, where we might Stake it. For
tunately we found one, and while
drinking were joined by stoker from
the Vizcaya. We followed the stream
seward and came on mango fruit, of
which we ate, though it was still I'M
ripe.
might fell and we lay down to try to
sleep. The cold was terrible and the
noise of the bush, with the attacks of
mosquitoes and land crabs combined to
drive away slumber. Next day, the
sun giving us our direction, we con-
tinued our painful journey, not -hav-
ing anything to eat or drink all morn
ing Climbing a tree to find out where
we were, we saw an arm or the sea
ahead, which we took to be Cabanas
Bay, and we made for it with the In
tention of crossing at its narroWeSt
part. AS we neared it we could occa-
sionally see a shark rise to the surface.
This made my companions hesitate
about entering, but at last l persuaded
them, two of us assisting one of the
marines who could not swim. When
we were half way across big fish rose
behind us and gave US great fright,
but we were all SO desperate that we
scarcely cared whether we lived or
died. Thanks to God, we got safely to
the opposite shore, though how we es-
capped l know not, for 1 was afterward
assured that the bay swarmed with
sharks and caymans.
"A sailor now guided us, but when
night fell we were again lost In the
bush We lay down and slept in our
wet clothes, but were awakened by the
firing of heavy guns. This gave us our
direction, for we took them to be the
guns of Socapa- After sleep we re-
sumed our journey in the direction
whence we had heard firing during the
night and were again all morning
without solid food, though we did get
some water.
"A sailor climbed a tree and made
out Fort Moro distinctly. This news
sustained our courage and we pushed
on. We came to a small beach, but
there our strength failed and we sank
exhausted to the ground. Yet, just
when we had finally given ourselves up
help came in the shape of some Spanish
guerrillas, who discovered us and re-
lieved our wants, afterward taking us
off in boat to Mexico, where ended a
journey l shall never forget"