The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-26
OBSTRUCTION OF THE ALFONSO xI1
Story of the Captain us Told In Cien-
 fuegos Paper.


 TCopyrlght. 1898, The Associated Press
 Guantanamo Bay, July 25.-The fol- lowing Is a translation from a news paper of Cienfuegos of the loss of the Spanish steamer Alfonso XII, which was driven ashore on the coast of Cuba by the United States auxiliary gunboat Hawk: Yesterday" says Fl Correa, of Havana, ''there arrived here the sur vivors of the fine transatlantic steamer Alfonso XII, which was scut- tied in the waters of Mariel. With a natural desire to obtain information which would calm the anxiety of the public we interviewed the survivors and learned that they were rendered ! nearly insensible by the firing. We will | faithfully relate that which occurred | reserving what in our judgment it is not permitted to give to the public and what might serve as advice to our ene- mics.
 "The Alfonso XII. was fitted out in Cadiz with six cannon, the necessary crew, three companies of marines and l other necessary articles. In twenty ue1y say lltSI Gtipl1lIl, I llODGu lO illdhe port and land the cannon and troops | immediately. I navigated the Alfonso XII. with hope in God and in the valor of my own crew. I ran With all possi- ble speed to the heights of Cienfuegos where came out three cruisers of the enemy. Seing them, the Alfonso took | flight toward the Isle of Pines in which waters I lost sight of our pursuers.
 Believing myself now free from pursuit, I laid my course directly to- ward Havana with the full intention of making that harbor. When eight miles distant my course was intercept | ed by three other cruisers, which I was unable to encounter. The American cruisers took positions on my port and | starboard and ahead. I then steered the Alfonso XII. toward Mariel, where l hoped to enter with the exclusive ob- ject of disembarking. I decided to save the cargo, as the object in coming was to land provisions and the cargo on | the island.
 l 'I saw an embarrassing situation. | The Yankees began throwing shells, which landed in all directions around l the ship, which proves what we have | Sdlu d LHOuSdHu Ll1leS, LHdL the A11eF1- cans are not artillerists and the Christs of the earth. Of the hundreds of pro- | jectiles thrown at the Alfonso XII. on- l ly eight struck the ship This corrob- orates our opinion of their bad train l ing. Then Captain Moret ordered the cargo to be thrown overheard, in order l that some portion might float to the | shore, which was only pistol shot dis i tance.
 We got out a boat" he says, "and prepared to torpedo the ship. I saw the Americans would not delay de- stroying the fine ship, and therefore I | placed an explosive bomb between the two tunnels of the Alfonso XII. and instantly blew up the ship in column | of smoke so dense and so black that it appeared like an immense cloud, ob-
 scuring the atmosphere and making
 breathing difficult. In this moment of dejection corrosive liquid fire envelop- ed the ship and Tapped up the wood like F hungry serpent. The crew being
 hopeless, had only time to jump into the water to escape this fiery furnace. Thus has been consumed the best ship
 of the Transatlantic company and the pride of the feet