The evening times., 1898-06-09
DESPERATE sPAN1ARps.
Tried to Held . British Ship In
Spanish watcrn

New York, June 9.-Interesting glimpses
of Spanish life during war times were
seen by the officers and crew of the
British tramp steamship Mangara, which
arrived at this port yesterday from HUI
elva, Spain. The Mangara was loaded
with sulphur and copper ore and when
the Spaniards learned of her destination
they made all possible efforts to detain
her. and she was permitted to sail only
after Capt. T.. c. Clausen threatened to
sue them for damages caused by DELAY
From port in Scotland the Mangara
sailed for Teneriffe. Canary Islands. on
May 10. She remained there four DAYS
c:scha-ging a cargo of coal. Sturdy First
Officer John Wright laughed heartily
when I asked him whether the Spaniards
were busy on the fortifications there as
reported.
We didn't see a lick of work done on
the fortiticatiOns.' he said. 1T was the
same old Spanish game of manana. The
only thing that indicated war was the
sight Of plenty of soldiers. and the fact
tina: the tradesmen didn't care to ac-
cept Spanish pesatas. They wanted Eng
lish shillings. Spanish silver coin had
dropped one-half in value"
AT the city of Huelva, on the south
west coast of Spain. just above Cadiz.
the Mangara arrived on May H. Capt.
Clausen says. the city has about 1900
inhabitants. who gain a livelihood for
the greater part by copper ore mining
and smelling.
IF it hadn't been for the fact that
there is an influential English colony
there" said Officer Wright, no doubt We
would have had more trouble. We got
~
Ore Company, which is an English con-
cern.
THE Spaniards knew We were going
to America, and they didn't like it. They
asked US re pcatedly. and We said: Were
going for orders: We don't know where"
'One of our crew is an American, but
he Is a quiet fellow and didn't get into a
mess. The captain allowed the men to
land. but gave US special instructions on
no account to blow about America. Two
men from another British ship, however,
got drunk and staggered through the
streets, shouting. We're bloody Yankees!'
Thu mob jumped on them and gave them
beating. and when we sailed away the
men were still in "A hospital there
THE city was full of soldiers, but there
was no work being done at fortifying the
town. The people gathered about the
streets in groups every day, listening to
public readers. who read aloud war news
from the papers. The Spaniards used to
shout all sorts OF things about the Amer
icanos malos. the bad Americans
We didn't meet any Of the Spanish
varshirs. but there were the most won
derful rumors afioat daily about the do
ings of the. Cadiz feet. The day we left
the Spaniards said that Admiral Camara
had reached New York and was bonn
harding 1t.
ARMED guards were put aboard our
vessel. but the people of the town are
not allowed upon the wharf, which be-
longs to the company, so we were not
molested by any crowds"
For six days the Mangara remained at
Fuelva, loading. The Spanish authori-
ties at last hit upon the idea of de:aining
the vessel because she was taking on ore
containing sulphur, which is contraband.
They told the ore company that they
knew the vessel was bound for New York
and that she could not sail. Then the
Spanish telegraphed to Madrid for in
structions.
In the meantime Captain Clausen was
anxious to clear the bar. as the tide was
at full spring and the vessel was deeply
loaded. The captain and the members of
the company notified the harbor authori-
ties that another spring tide was not due
for two weeks. and that they would sue
for demurrage II the steamship was delay
ed. Alrpo word had arrived from Madrid
they were allowed to sail.