The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-08-06

CoutIns5O OuS ulSuk with dispatches lOI
San Juan may have been destroyed by
the New Orleans.
| asked my friend who suggested the
sortie of the fleet. He threw up his hands
in horror.
"Would that I krew," he exclaimed
"Would that knew the man who sug
gested our sacrifice. 1t was the most
cruel and unnecessary command that
was ever given to brave men. We were
ordered to enter the very gates of hell
for no other purpose, as can conceive,
than to crafty the politicians and sensa-
tion mongers in Spain, who clamored for
some offensive demonstration. Some of
my comrades think there was an inteption
to bring about disaster that would fur
nish an excuse to make peace, but be-
lieve in the first theory"
"Dii the sailors demonstrated Was it
true that you had to make them drunk
to prevent g. rsu:iny2"
| mo, indeed exclaimed my friend.
Indignantly. "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
aware that he was expected to face almost
certain death until the cruisers started for
the open sea that Sunday morning, and
even then very few of them asked ques
tions. The word was passed around that
we were going out to fight the Yankees.
| and the poor fellows were enthusiastic
over the prospects of battle"
"Were no protests sent to Spain2''
"Yes; several very earnest protests.
After we rece we'd our first orders the Adj
miral called conference of the Captains
aud we concluded that they were based
upon Misrepresentation. We could not
conceive that our Government would order
our total destruction when nothing could
; be accomplished. Cervera sent long
! cablegram to Madrid explaining the sit
uation and dem onstra,ing that it would
he impossible for our little feet to escape
destruction from an enemy that outnum-
bered US four to one. The only reply We
got was peremptory order to attack the
Yankees Immediately. Again Cervera
sent a protest and threw The entire re-
sponsibiiity of our sacrifice upon the
Government at Madrid"
did you expect to escaped"
"No; 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 fleet who did not feel that
his end had come. There was Olny Que
chance, u slight possibility that one, or
perhaps two of the vessels might escape
The arrangement of the Yankee fleet was
favorable. The lookouts told US that the
New York had gone to the east and the
Brooklyn was the only ship III sight that
could Ontsaii the slOwest 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 1t was hoped the others could
outrun tue battleships. Our plan failed
because we could not get near enough tn
the Brooklyn. She did not close in on US
like the Texas and Oregon, but stood of 1T
long range, and when the Maria Teresa
started for her she made wide sweep
and ran away. Cervera asked Comma.
d"re SchleY why he did not come nearer,
bus got no satisfaction. But the Maria
Teresa was almost instantly disabled by
shells from the Texas, which met her ct
the mouth of the harbor, and the Oregon
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"
What was the matter with the Spanish
gnnnery3 Why did your shots do no
more damage2'
First, because We had only few long
range guns. There were none on the Co.
ion and only two each on the other ships. |
Then we had no proper range tinde re, ant,
our sailors lacked practice The xunuery
OF the Yankee fleet was marvellous. Moth |
ing liner was ever seen in the world"
All the Spanish prisoners are deIpghtedl |
with the treatment they have received in |
The United States, and arc not yet quite |
as'lc TO comprehend the motives ot our |
government and the spirit Of eur people.
Ons OF the Captains. who sreaks English
xnl has Oetn in America before. tiectarea |
t'1at u he were % years younger he wou d |
senti FIR i.ss wife xnl family and hecvlnc |
tcstiztd OF the uniseJ Ss4tes.