Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-08-21

NOT HAVE PREVENTED HIS ES-
CAPE, BUT IS NOT READY TO
TELL WHY HIS VESSEL DID NOT
GET AWAY-HIS EXPLANATION
WILL BE MADE ON THE FLOOR
OF THE CORTES.
New York, August 2o.-The Press
says: Capt. Emilio Dlaz Moreau, of the
Spanish ship Cristobal Colon, in an
interview discussed the events OF the
last few weeks without bitterness.
There was even playful suggestive
ness in his tones when he replied to
the inquiry whether he would say
goodbye to the American fleet as he
passed down the bay on the Nor
mandie.
Yes" he went en-, why should not
| have friends on board your ships?
We didn't fight as personal foes. Capt.
Cook, of the Brooklyn-yon don't know
him? All, fine man. Half an hour
after the battle l had given him my
photograph, and he had given me his.
On mine | wrote: we have just fought
two hours and a half Each did his
duty. We are not personal foes. Now
that it is all over we are comrades
and friends. That IS the way l feel
toward Americans. l believe they
have different opinion of the Span
iards from what they mad before the
war"
Captain, do you think Hobson will
raise the Colon?"
mo, he will not. She is tipped on
her side. and her 1000 tons have
smashed her. Any vessel saved there
will cost twice her value"
THE Colon was a beautiful vessel,
ventured the reporter.
beautiful, and every inch a fighting
ship. | would have got away; none Of
them would have stopped me, but"
The captain paused.
get away, l said, you UNDER
stand. l mean it. Schley knows 1t,
Sampson knows it, and so does Cook.
l told them it was not the Brooklyn
nor the Oregon that
KEPT ME- FROM ESCAPING.
They say l went only slxty-four miles.
l tell you it was seventy-tWo. Divide
that by the time, and you Will see
my average was 17.2 knots an hour,
and sometimes 49, The Oregon could
only go sixteen, and l was steadily
dropping the Brooklyn behind. Oh, no,
neither OF the two kept me from es-
Gaping, but l can't tell you now why
| was not able to save my splendid
ship" and the captains voice trem-
bled.
You won't have long to wait,
though; you won't have long to wait,
he repeated when | tell you it will
be on the floor Of the Cortes. | am
member of the Spanish parliament. |
represent the Montril district in Gren-
ada province. l have been permitted
by the President to go home that | may
be present at the opening Of the Cor
tes, which will take place in few days.
Then | will explain, and many things
dark now will seem quite clear. | know
many Americans don't seem quite clear
from their own accounts why did not
escape when l was III the lead and
gaining They will know soon. | am
not saying this to detract at all from
the achievements of the American
fleet. The men did all they could,
but there is an unwritten chapter yet
to be known before history is written.
mo ore will say the Colon was ma
terially damaged by the American
fire. he went on. She was hit only
six times. By your own report | made
twenty-six holes in the Brooklyn and
there were forty-two traces Of hits on
her side. Does not that speak well for
the Spanish gunnery? They say our
gunners could not shoot Well, the
Brooklyn's sides tell different story
why did you not sink her, them"
"Our guns
WE'RE TOO SMALL
The three vessels with heavy guns, the