The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-08-18
ADMIRAL CERVERA.
THE SPANISH CHIEFTAN VISITS
NORFOLK

10 See Capt. Conchas, of the lar
Teresa, Admiral Cervera's Late Fla
Ship, and Other Wounded Prison
of of His Once Proud Fleet VIII
are Confied in the Naval Hospital 8
PortsmOuth-the Ten Overjoyed 3
Seeing Their Beloved Old Com
mander, Who Was Accompanied b
His Son Lieut.. Angel Cervera.
tNorfolk Nirginian and Pilot, 6th.)
Admiral Cervera. whose fleet wa
recently destroyed by the American
ships under Commodore Schley. JUS
outside of Santiago Bay. Cuba. wa
passenger on the steamer Georgia
of the Old Bay Line. which left Balti
more Thursday afternoon for Nor
folk. He was accompanied bv hi.
son Lieutenant Angel Cervera, an.
they left Annapolis on parole Thurs
dav.
The object of Admiral Cervera'
visit to Norfolk was to see Captain
Conchas, late of the Infanta Mari:
Teresa; Lieutenant Noval. of the de.
stroyer Pluton; Drs. Augusti and
Nicoli, of the Vizcaya. and other Of
hcers and men of the fleet. who are
under treatment at the United States
Naval Hospital at Portsmouth.
Although there were many passen-
gers on the boat, comparatively few
of them recognized in the large. dig
nified and courtly old gentleman. at
tired in a well-titting suit of citizens
clothes of an unobtrusive shade and
cut, accompanied by 4 young. slight
and dark gentleman, who might have
passed for his secretary, the distin-
guished Admiral of the Cape Verde
squadron, who had kept America and
Europe guessing for SO many weeks
as to his movements and ultimate
object, and to whom the hero Hobson
and his gallant men probably owe
their lives, and Commodore Schley
the privilege of one of the greatest
naval victories of modern times
Upon reaching Norfolk Admiral
and Lieutenant Cervera were met by
Lieutenant-Commander Brown, a re-
tired naval officer, residing at the
yard, with Commore Farquhar's :
launch, and taken at once to the
hospital point landing, from which
Medical Director Cleborne's private
carriage took them to the hospital.
Here they were met by the Director,
and without any more ceremony than
would be accorded any visitor of pri-
vate prominence, the Admiral and
his son were admitted to the building
and shown to Captain Conchas' room
There he he met the officers who
are able to be about. and was later
shown through the Spanish wards,
where he was everywhere geetcd
with joyous acclaim. though in many
cases the JOY of their seeing their old
commander was tempered with home
sick sorrow and grief at their condi-
tion as prisoners. The meeting with
Captain Conchas and other officers is
described as very affecting. the men
their commander and
The ardent Southern tenn
permanent is full excuse for anv weak
ness shown, and a study of the old
Admiral explains the mems love fully
After some time spent at hospital.
they took carriage and drove to the
navy yard, where they lunched with
Commodore Farquhar, the party CON
sisting of Admiral and Lieutenant
Cervera, Commodore and Mrs. Far
quhar and Medical Director Clcbornc
After dinner few minutes stroll
was taken in the residence grounds.
and then Admiral Cervera being anx-
lous to spend as much time as possi-
BILE with his friends at the hospital,
the carriage was taken for the return
there.
Admiral Cervera went at once to
Captain Conchas' room and spent the
remainder of his time with the Off
GERS and men of his old command In
with them they called
Admiral Cervera's attention to their
and the excellent care
and attention given them, giving the
highest praise to Medical Director
Cleborne and his staff for the same.
The Admiral in turn paid that genial
son Of Esculapius high compliment
on the appearance of the men and
heir high testimonial to his courtesy
and kindness.
At 4:15 Admiral and Lieutenant
Cervera said goodbye to their friends
and the hospital authorities and took
their leave. Entering the carriage
with DR.. Cleborne the party drove to
-he Bay Line, where the boat was
aiken for Baltimore, the Admiral and
MS son going thence to Annapolis.
Invitations to visit Virginia Beach
and other places were extended, but
he Admiral felt that while a prisoner
Of war he had no call to such indu!-
5ence, and as his visit was purely
private one, he declined all such Of
ers with thanks.
Admiral Cervera is a blonde. hair
gray almost to white, whiskers full
and white, complexion ruddy, mouth
irm, kind and pleasant, eyes blue,
arge, observant and genial He
stands six feet in height, weighs
ABOUT 200 pounds. fine square shoul-
iers, and a trifle inclined to embon-
1oint. In manner dignified, courtly,
gracious and with a voice Of great
nodulative power. He looked some
what careworn, but otherwise ap-
oeared to be in the enjoyment OF the
)est of health. He was neatly at
ired in brown-grey suit, and wore
, soft brown hat
Lieutenant Cervera presents as
great contrast personally to that Of
ais father as could well be imagined
he is of slight build. shorter by half
/ head, and brunette of the most
pronounced type, hair black. beard
ull, black and of Van Dyke cut. (his
ather's almost English) eyes, dark
md face naughty in repose, but
pleasant when speaking.