The San Francisco call., 1898-02-19

NEW YORK. Feb. 1S.-Spain's fine ermored cruiser Vizcaya rides at an- chor tonight, three miles west-north- west of Sandy Hook lightship. She arrived at half-past o'clock this aft ernoon. All are we'll on board. AL thought she had encountered tempestu- ous weather and for thirty-six hours after noon Wednesday she fought her way to port against seas piled up by a terrific gale. when the Herald and Call tug C. P: Raymond ran alongside the cruiser at half-past [ o'clock thls evening she loomed grim and 1orpld- ding. a floating fortress. shining ln the darkness. The sound of fantastic mu- sic and lively dancing f1oated from her. Her Galician mariners were stepping to the strains of the Gaita bagpipes of the hillmen of Spain.
 The tugs approaching lights had <aen noticed, but the boat ran under the towering bulwarks and frownlng guns without a challenge. At the re- porter's hail in Spanish a command rang out from the officer of the deck The wailing Gaita was stilled and the dancing ceased and across from the Vizcaya's deck came the question ''Who are you?"
 This is the New York Herald and San Francisco Call tug. Are all well aboard?"
 "All we'll" was the reply, Officers and men"
 The officers formed a group at the cid nr dreds of dark faces peered down at the tug. which was lying under the visi- tors guns.
 . Have you heard of the blowing up of the United States battleship Maine in Havana harbor?" was asked.
 'No,'' several cried in response. "Is 1t true?"
 A brief summary of the disaster was shouted, the officers hastily conferred, and then were silent It was learned later that they knew of the De Lome incident. The graver news about the Maine they appeared to appreciate at its full gravity. They declined to dis cuss it, saying courteously that they could say nothing.
 ''The Spanish consul and doctor have
  the Herald reporter on the ship" they said in reply to other questions in Spanish.
 Captain Eulate had not been one of the group on deck, but the reporter was able to communicate to him the news of the Maine disaster a few mo- ments later through the courtesy of Daniel Gillespie, the Sandy Hook pilot, who brought the cruiser to her anchor age outside the bar The pilot had not heard of the disaster.
 Please tell the Captain of the loss of the Maine"
 Do you think it Is true?" the pilot asked, mortified. He was told the coun- try had been grief f-stricken for days and that the news was all to authen- tic.
 I'm glad to hear it may have been an accident" said the pilot, and then he carried the story to the Vizcaya s commander, who was already hearing it from his officers. Captain Eulate stepped on deck beside Gillespie and stood there silent.
 "I have told him. He says he does not believe it can be true," Gillespie re- ported.
 The reporter communicated the latest news from Madrid and told of the or ganization of a court of inquiry. This the captain heard in silence. He shook his head slowly and said: T cannot discuss it now"
 Of Senor de Lome's resignation and departure Captain Eulate also declined to speak, saying simply that he was really not in port yet, and so officially had not arrived at New York.
 His consul and the health officers had not been aboard as he explained through the pilot. How long will the yizcaya remain in port?"
 That the captain is unable to teI," the pilot replied. He will not know un- til he receives from the Spanish Consul instructions now awaiting him here"
 Has he had no communication with the shore yet?"