The times., 1898-07-13
SURPRISING A SPANIARD.
Experience of "A GupBoat Looking
for Mail At Manila.

Baltimore. JuIy l2-The family Of Mr.
Henry C. Jarrett signal quartermaster on
the cruiser Raleigh. now at Manila Bay
received a letter yesterday, dated May
IS giving an interesting account of the
state OF affairs in that part Of The world,
and describing the lives led by the men
with the Asiatic squadron.
In his letter the writer says: Just at
present we are doing the meanest duty
in the fleet, and that is blockading the
lower entrance Of the river running into
the center Of the city. The Spanish have
two OF three gunboats and torpedo
launches still afoat which we cannot
get at until the city surrenders, and,
knowing their treacherous nature. we
are obliged to keep a very bright look
out for trouble. our admiral told them
that as long as no treachery was At
tempted the city would not be molested.
but so surely as they commenced any
monkey business the governors palace
and The cathedral would 80 up in
smoke inside of TWO hours, and that the
city would follow. Just now they are
very quiet but that does not prevent US
from letting them know We are watching
and that on the first funny break they
make we viii jump on them with both
feet
We are lying about five miles away
from the rest OF The fleet, and every night
the lights are eNtinguished and armed
sentries placed all around the deck, with
the reserves sleeping on the main deck,
using for pillows siX-inch shells. The
secondary battery is kept loaded and the
crews on their feet a sharp lookout is
kept circIing around the ship all night at
about 900 yards. Her orders ara IS soon
a. she sees anything Ia Burn a rocket,
and ] guarantee th1I thirty seconds after
that FOas-, mas been seen We Will be
ready 10 take anything that comes along
The duty is hard and the strain on a
mans nerves is something fierce. ] don't
mind getting into a scrap, but 10 keep
on lying down night after night not
knowing whether you viii wake up 10
find yourself sailing through the air
with a leg or arm missing or not, is GER
JainIy not pleasant.
"Wednesday morning I saw the first
SPaE.ard ] ever felt any sympathy for
50 far. Just at dAybreak We made out a
Steamers lights on The southern side Of
Corragid0r Island. and as the daylight
grew Stronger we made her out to be a
small steamer painted white. We al
once slipped our cable and steamed out
coward her. Imagine our surprise when
on getting closer We found her 10 be a
small guab0aJ with a big Spanish flag
nyi1g away as gay as you please. She
came along as unC5uceruedly as II the
Spanish fleet was in full possession Of
the harDor. instead Of being sunk and
burned. She was as pretty as a picture
and We itt her run along for a few mir
uteS and then ~macked q siN-JOuud
shell across her c.--water IT, this she
paid no more attention lhan if it had
been nosegay Of SD-5ng flowers. Then
our cd man got hot and yelled out: If
they wont stop when politely requested
TO- why III stop her another way. and
immedie' ely we sent a s.x-inch shell be-
tween her fore and main masts, the wind
from the shot taking away the breakfasf
things spread ont on the deck. She stop
ped quickly enough then and up went
the white flag. She proved 10 be the
Cailaa. and mad been down around the
extreme eastern part Of the Philippine
group.
she had waited two weeks for her
mai and then thought she would come
up 10 Manila 10 see what was the mat
ter. not knowing war had been declared
and ran right into the lions mouth
When the lieutenant who commanded her
came on board and was told he was 4
prize he was simply paralyzed. and at
once ln very polite manner reques- ed
TO know where the Spanish fleet was.
lie was told thar some of the shfps had
been sunk and the rest were run on the
beach aud burned. The tears came in-o
the poor fellow eyes in second. but
he shrugged his shoulders and bravelv
asked what cur captain intended doing
with aim and his men He was utterly
crushed Icy The loss of the fleet and mis-
own snip. and had hard work 20 bear I'D.
smashed a fellow in the 'snooC for
laughing at him. I am fighting Spaniards
at present, but I can't stand by and see
fellow that is down on his luck. and a
good fellow besides. insulred, even though
he is an enemy.
There is no doubt among The boys
here that The Spaniards are going TO hurt
some Of Us before we get through with
this business. They are a treach=rous
lot and there has got TO be some hacd
fighting before we get entire control OF
Manila"