Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-04
LIFE ABOARD 4 PRIZE-sHIP.
Elaborate PoIiteness--Genero HOS
ptnIity-CCurse Dinners.
(Copyrighted 1898, by the AsSocl"'e"

PressD
(Correspondence of the Associated freSS''
KEY WEST. April 29.-Some OF the
Snanish seamen detained here on the cap
tured vessels live like princes OF la'se
Inheritance. and entertain their sues's
with all the elaborate politeness ana gene
rous hospitality Of their race. They give
course dinners. have the choicest OF spa
nisb wines and cigars, and treat the
United States officials who visit them as
If thew were petted friends instead Oh
dreaded captors. ~ 1-,ttod
States District Attorney j. NJ S'I!pi ms
the Associated Press correspondent -
permitted to visit all the spanish PltIJI
shiDs and dined with the captain anu
ofBcers of the elegant merchant steaiHel
Miguel lover. This vessel mas d c"I -
of rice and other food supplies from tile
tropics. and is owned in Barcelona span
She sailed from New Orleans on the Isl
instant her crew being ignorant OF the
fact that Rear Admiral Sampson meet
was patrolling the Gulf Next 10 tle
Panama she is the most valuaDle prlIe,
and is estimated TO be worth SJyJ'vOV. ~
far she is the best-equpped vessel IN the
captive feet and the elegance ana ricn-
ness of her cabin and officers quarters
can scarcely be eXcelled by those OF any
other mechanically ahoat.
\ MARBLE CABIN.
Her cabin is finished i'm Italian marble
with the finest OF mahogahy iur ,d Az,
beautiful and expensive carpets ana ara
peries, elaborate electric-light hXtures,
piano. and, in brief, the best OF every
thing.
The representative OF the Associated
Press was received by the captain ana
his officers with great courtesy and a
polite welcome. The crew numbers htty-
eight men. and all of the officers OF high
or rank are men of education ana rem,
ment. Captain Juan Bill is apparently
about 50 years of age, stern, uisi ILL.,
and with an exceptionally strong: deter
mined face. The first officer, Nlncehte
Terol is a bright. genial little Spahidru'
hubbling over with good nature anu po
liteness and talking necessarily with
eestuI es and broken English. of the beau
ties of old Spain. Joseph Layares' tne
chief engineer. is a shrewd diplomatic
man of about 35; dark. handsome, ana
speaks English perfectly. Jose Gomez
the ships surgeon from MS genera
or a writer of aesthetic poetry lie Is
gentle and difident. and an accomplished
pianist. ~
sThe old captain had very little to say
except in the way Of protesting most
vigorously against being sent ashore.
leave us here" he said To District-At-
torney Stripping, through the chle1 en-
gineer as interpreter, FOR II We go ashore
nobody KNOWS Wndl may ndHR'is A7ftA
niards and Cubans might not be friends
over there" and he moved his hand to-
ward the barracks on the island.
mo one would injpre you" said BIS
trict-Attorney StripAg.
SPANISH SAILORS UGLY.
81 do not fear that so much" said the
old captain. but nobody knows what
some of the Spanish sailors might do,
and then | should be held responsible for
what happened. The Americans would
hold the captain responsible for all the
sailors. Educated Spanlards understand
it all. but the Spaniard who Is ignorant
is hard to control
No doubt. Captain BiI spoke with much
truth. for among the crews OF each vessel
there were faces dark and cruel. AS the
officers grouped about the Americans. dis
GUESSING the chances for release Of the
prisoners, the sailors stood apart ana
watched the strangers with cat-like
fierceness. Half clad. sallow or swathy,
with eyes dark. sunker, cleaning with
hatred ami cruelty. they were indeed I'M
friendly-looking fellows.
DELICIOUS DINNER.
At o'clock the call for dinner was
sounded, and the captain took his place
at the head of the table. a better dinner
would be ditiicIlt to obtain at any t@ble
on the American Co / .lnent. II consisted
OF seven courses. with three kinds OF
wine, including the best champagne. the
finest brand of cigars and Spanish cigar
cites Many e the dishes We're Spanish,
and deliciously raatable. After the din
ner was finished, DR.. Gomez went to the
piano and played for half an hour. IL
was a striking picture. Here sat these
DrOud Spanish prisoners in their own
floating palace. Their guests who sat with
them were their captors and their enemies.
With the soft light OF the tropical sun
set streaming in through the caOin win
dows, they sang together the national airs
OF Spain. while a hundred yards away
the black guns OF United States battle
ship frowned down upon them. Perhaps
it was their last song, their last night, In
the ship which To many of them was
home: they did not know. The song
ceased and the American visitors arose
In silence. to go. As they left the cabin.
the venerable commander 81 the ship
gave each a hearty grasp OF the hand.
As the little party were about TO leave
the deck. the old captain turned 10 his
Interpreter and said:
THANKS FOR AMERICAN KINDNESS.
Tell them ] thank them for the kind
ness they have shown us. We are their
prisoners. but they have treated us as
gentlemen, and a Spaniard knows how to
appreciate such consideration. Say to
them that the Spaniard In Spain Is one
man and the Spaniard In Cuba quite an
other man. We are sorry for this war
We are not to blame for II. nor are these
American gentlemen We have met IL Is
the fault OF our unwise leaders In cuba
and we deplore IL. II we lose our shlp
we will give 1t up like men. ASK the men
OF the press to send message 10 BARGE.
Iona. telling our families that We are all
right and i'm the hands OF Christian gem
tlemen." ~.
the old captain bowed 10 his guests ana
disappeared within the cabin.
A PROBLEM.
IL is very perplexing question win