Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-09-12
EULATEgS FRIENDLY ACT.
SENT SPANISH MARINES TO THE
AID OF AN AMERICAN CONSUL.


Praise of Nineteen Nations-Rescued
Foreign Consnis From Imprisonment-
Placed His Ship Under American Flag.
While the war revenue bill was be-
fore Congress Hon. Amos Cummings
made speech in the House in tie
course of which he gave many incidents
connected with his visit to Cuba. One
of them is especially interesting just
now, when the Spanish Captain Eulate
is prisoner of war in our hands. Mr..
Cummings said:
"A'story fully as romantic and inter-
esting is told of Captain Eulate, the
commander of the cruiser Vizcaya, the
late visitor to the harbor OF New York.
The incident occurred in La Guayra,
on the Spanish main, in 1891. The
! American Consul there was Mr.. Hanna.
The city was raided by one Of Dictator
Mendozo's generals. He imprisoned
all of the foreign merchants and seven
teen: :consuls, representing the differ
ent nations, demanding large ran
som for their release. Hanna was out
of town when the raid began. On his
return he sensed the situation and
took immediate steps for the rescue Of
his colleagues.
"The only war vessel in the harbor
was the Jorge Juan, little Spanish
ship with three small guns, detailed
for coast-guard duty. Her command
ing officer was Eulate, then a sub-lieu-
tenant in the Spanish navy. Hanna
tried to communicate by cable with the
United States Government, but failed.
He next tried to reach the American
Minister at Caracas, and was again
shut off, Finally, at last resort, he
took boat and boarded the Jorge
Juan. Lieutenant Eulate received him
with marked courtesy, and listened
graciously to his story.
''Hanna detailed the startling events
that had occurred, and asked the aid
of the Spanish gunboat in rescuing the
imprisoned consuls. Eulate replied
that his ship was at Mr.. Hanna's dis
posal, and asked him what he intended
to do. Il propose to demand the re-
lease of the imprisoned consuls, was
the reply.
Lieutenant Eulate then placed thir-
ty Spanish marines at the disposal OF
Consul Hanna He ordered his crew for
action. The marines were embarked in
the launch, which displayed the Amer
lean flag. Consul Hanna landed with
them and demanded the release of the
imprisoned consuls within twenty min
utes, saying that if this was not done the
gunboat would open fire upon the city.
A single shot was fired at the Spanish
vessel from the shore. 1t struck her
in the bow, and Lieutenant Eulate re-
sponded with blank broadside. The
consuls were released under Hanna's
ultimatum. He then demanded the
release of the imprisoned foreign mer-
chants. General Pepper, represent
ing the dictator Mendoza, promptly
complied with the demand, and his
troops evacuated the city. The Amer
lean flag was then hauled down from
the Jorge Juan and the Spanish ensign
appeared at the stern. The marines
were returned to the ship, and Cap
tain Hanna and the released consuls
warmly thanked Lieutenant Eulate for
his services.
"This, however, was not the end of
the matter. The Spanish Government
was indignant at the action of its lieu
tenant. He was ordered back to
Havana, deprived of his command,
and sent to Moro Castle. 4 court
martial was ordered, the lieutenant
being charged with piratical acts at
La Guayra. Before a verdict was
rendered the Spanish Government
had officially received the thanks of
nineteen foreign governments, rang
ing from the gigantic empire of Rus
sia to the Queen of Hawaii. This
opened the eyes of Spain. She rec
ognized the injustice done to Eulate.
He was released from custody, was
awarded one of the highest naval dec
orations, and placed on waiting Or
ders. Within short time he was
made a captain in the Spanish navy
and appointed chief of the arsenal in
Havana.
"When it was determined to send
the Vizcaya to New York Captain
Eulate was placed in command. II
was believed that his action at La
Guayra would especially commend
him to the American people. Spain
thought that it could not offer q
greater act of courtesy. Unfortunately
the action of Eulate at La Guayra had
never attracted the attention OF the
American newspapers. The public
were in ignorance of the facts. They
remembered only that Eulate had
presided over the court that sentenced
the Competitor prisoners to death
When the court martial was held VI
by orders from Madrid, Captain Eu.
: late resented the action. He indig
nantly asked for leave of absence ant
went into retirement at Porto Rico.