The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-07-29

~ NSA AhAM UA&0CNCU00Iy SUIllQdUQ IQAL was
ever given to brave men. We were or
dered to enter the very gates Of hell for
no other purpose, as can conceive, than
to crafty the politicians and sensation
mongers In Spain who clamored for some
offensive demonstration. Some of my
comrades think there was an intention to
bring about disaster that would furnish
2; an e excuse e. make peace, but I believe
Sailors Were Not Made Drunk.
sE did the sailors demonstrate? Was II
true that you had to make them drunk to
prevent mutiny p
No, indeed" exclaimed my friend, in
sdignantly. They are the bravest men
in the world. They knew nothing about
our plans. Not man on board any of
the ships, except the commanders, was
most certain death until the cruisers start
ed for the open sea that Sunday morning,
and even then very few of them asked
questions. The word was passed around
that we were going out to fight the YAM
KEGS, and the poor fellows were enthusi-
astic over the prospects of a battle"
L. Were no protests sent to Spain p
Yes, several very earnest protests.
After we received our first orders the
admiral called conference of the cap
tains and we concluded that they were
based upon misapprehension. We
could not conceive that our government
would order our total destruction when
nothing could be accomplished. Cervera
sent long cablegram to Madrid explain
ing the situation and demonstrating that
it would be impossible for our little feet
to escape destruction from an enemy that
outnumbered us four to one. The only
reply we got was peremptory order to
attack the Yankees Immediately. Again
Cervera sent protest and threw the
entire responsibility of our sacrifice upon
the government at Madrid
Knew They Were Going to Death.
Did you expect to escape?
mo; we expected to die. As I have
said, the sailors knew nothing of the
fate that awaited them, but there was
not an officer on the feet who did not
feel that his end had come There was
only one chance, slight possibility that
one or perhaps two Of the vessels might
escape. The arrangement of the Yankee
heet was favorable. The lookouts told
us that the New York had gone to the
east and the Brooklyn was the only ship
in sight that could outsail the siowest
of our vessels. 1t was the intention to
ram the Brooklyn Immediately and sink
or disable her, even though one of our
vessels went down with her. Then it
was hoped the others could outrun the
battleships. Our plan failed because we
could not get near enough to the Brook
Ign. She did not close in on us like the
Texas and Oregon, but stood off at long
range, and when the Maria Teresa start
ed for her she made a wide sweep and
ran away. Cervera asked Commodore
Schley why he did not come nearer. but
got no satisfaction. But the Maria
shells from the Texas, which met her
at the mouth of the harbor, and the Ore
gon was great surprise. We had no
idea that any battleship could make her
speed. 1t was something we were not
prepared for. 1t was the Oregon that
prevented our escape"
Z what was the matter with the Span-
lsh gunnery! Why did your shots do no
more damage?
First, because we had only few long
range guns. There were none on the Co
lon and only two each on the other ships.
Then we had no proper range-fnders, and
our sailors lacked practice. The gunnery
OF the Yankee feet was marvellous. Moth
ing finer was ever seen in the world
My Spanish friends declined to discuss
the effect upon the people and govern
ment of Spain of Commodore Watson's
expedition, but they showed great anxiety
when told that he would certainly bonn
bard Cadiz or Malaga or both. They
shrugged their shoulders and muttered
imprecations upon the politicians of their
country, who they said were directing the
war. At the same time they asserted
proudly that Blanco's army in Havana
a battle. No Spanish officer, they said,
would order his men to lay down their
arms until they had tested their strength
with that OF the enemy. [ could learn
nothing from them of Gen. Blanco's stu
alton or conditions in Havana, and they
were entirely ignorant of the movements
OF Camara's feet. They would not dis
ions to express about the intrigues of the
Garlists or the republicans and knew
nothing about the rumors that Queen
Christina intends to abdicate the regency
in favor of her sister-in-law, the Infanta
lisa bella.
The Mutiny on Harvard.
Admiral Cervera's men are very dis
Greet when they discuss politics, although
they 90 not attempt to conceal their con-
ordered their destruction. They explain
that the mutiny of the prisoners on board
the Harvard was due to a misunderstood
ing. There is a popular impression
among the Spanish soldiers and sailots
that they will be shot if they fall into the
hands of the enemy, and they were very
treatment they received ON board the
Yankee cruisers. They were therefore
constantly on their guard and misinter-
preted every motion. The prisoners on
the Harvard were in the habit of climb
ing the rigging and were forbidden 10 do
so. This order, however, was not thor
oughly understood. The next day one of
the Spanish jackies who ran up the rig
ging was called down by sentinel. He
evidently did not understand what was
said to him. for he did not obey. The
sentinel then pointed his musket and
made motions as if to fire, whereupon
half a dozen Spaniards sprang upon linn
and seized his gun. The sentinel shouted
for help The guard came rushing for
ward, and in an instant there was hand
to-hand fight all over the deck between
the prisoners and the marines, in which
several men were killed and wounded.
The Spanish officers think this unfortu-
nate incident might have been avoided
had the guard been able to speak Spanish.
All the Spanish prisoners are delighted
with the reatment they have received in
the United States, and are not yet quite
able to comprehend the motives Of cur
government and the spirit of our people,
One of the captain who speaks English
and has been in America before, declares
that if he We're twenty years younger he
would send for his wife and family and
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