Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-31
Americans Took Note Of Spanish at
Curacao.
WASHINGTON BOYS ON GUARD
The Ships and Men Were in
Bad Way.
THE FEELING AT CARACAS

irving In Washington late Saturday night.
The young gentlemen landed at New York
Saturday from the Dutch mail steamer
Prins Frederik Hendrix. On the way up
from South America the steamer put into
Curacao May IA. the same day the Spanish
Cape Verde fleet arrived at the Dutch port.
The young men were in close proximity 10
the steamers of the fleet for nearly thirty
six hours. I'd during that time kept con-
slant watch on every move of the Span
iards. The fleet, they say, was short of
coal and provisions, while the bottom of
each ship was foul with growth. Ad-
niral Cervera's squadron was in no fight
ing trim.
On board the Dutch steamer with the
young WasningtonianS was Capt. b. 8. Os-
bon of No. 81 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn,
who once published shipping paper In
New York, and has for quite a number of
years been prominent in shipping circles.
Having been able to follow the course of
the war between the United States and
Spain since it's inception, this little quartet
of Americans were thrown into great
state of excitement at the unexpected APP
pearance of the Spanish warships at Cura
Gao When the ships arrived in that port
on Saturday morning the Americans
promptly resolved themselves into an in
vestigating committee, and determined 10
find out all possible concerning the char
acter and condition of the fleet. Ashore
they made inquiries. On board their ship
they kept watch, each taking a turn on
deck. When the ships left Curacao they
were high in the water, the red bottom and
water line being visible for several feet.
From this it was easy to conclude that the
ships were very short of stores and fuel,
ami perhaps ammunition.
The Spanish ships were in Curacao har-
Dor from Saturday morning at 3 o'clock
until late Sunday afternoon. During that
time they obtained a very small supply of
bad coal and about $4,000 worth of pro-
visions. the Dutch merchants at Curacao
requiring the Spaniards to pay well for
their stuff and requiring also that cash.
either gold or London drafts. be paid over
for everything When the ships left on Sun
day afternoon they left the rumor behind
that they were headed for San Juan, Porto
Rico. having just received official informa-
ton of the bombardment of that place by
Admiral SIMPSONS fighting American
squadron.
Are at Santiago.
The Davis boys are quite positive that it
is Admiral Cervera's fleet of four cruisers
and two torpedo boat destroyers that COM
modore Schley has entrapped in the har
Dor of Santiago de Cuba They say that
the squadron did not have stores or fuel
enough to steam much further than that
port and could not possibly have remained
away from any port SO long this The
fact that the fleet has not been reported
anywhere else leads them to positive con-
clusion that Cervera Is in Santiago harbor
and, like all true Americans, they hope
that the black Spanish ships they saw az
Curacao will soon be lying beneath the
muddy Cuban waters. Cervera's fleet is
no more a match for Schley than was Adj
miral Montijo's fleet capable of defeating
Dewey. They predict d second Manila
meets an American squadron.
The Prins Frederik Hendrix left La Quay
ra on May IL with the three Davis boys.
Carl and Give, twins about twenty years
O
and a number of other passengers on board.
On the following morning. Saturday. May
IA, as the little Dutch steamer was APP
preaching Curacao the Americans saw a
squadron in the offlng. AS the ships ap-
proach it was seen they were men-of-
war. flying the Spanish flag, and apparently
heading for Curacao also. At first it was
not known what ships they were, but once
in port it was discovered that they were
the Cape Verde fieet-the Infanta Maria
Teresa. the Vizcaya, the Cristobal Colon
and the Almirante Oduendo, also the Plu-
ton and Furor, torpedo boat destroyers.
Watching the Enemy.
AS the now thoroughly Interested Ameri.
can quartet stood on the decks of their
ship and watched the approaching squad
ron which was moving in a line abreast,
they saw signal displayed from the flag
ship. The destroyers then made for the
shore at a fifteen-knot gait, apparently
doing their best while the larger ships
followed at tWelve-knot speed. The two
smaller boats went within mile of shore
at Curacao and anchored, the other boats
remaining some distance off shore. The
Dutch steamer arrived in port about o
O'Clock, one hour after the destroyers had
cast anchor The Americans saw small
boat put off to the Spaniards and bring
ashore Spanish officer from one Of the
destroyers.
Capt. Osbon and one of the Davis boys
went ashore, while the remaining two re-
manned aboard the steamer to watch the
squadron. Mr.. L. b. Smith. the United
States consul, at Curacao, was sought, and
1t was learned that the Spanish officer had
asked the Dutch governor of the island for
permission to bring his fleet into port for
ccal and provisions. Consul Smith sent in
written protest. The governor finally de-
cided thar he would allow two boats to
come IL for provisions. Consequently, at
II o'clock the Infanta Maria Teresa and
Vizcaya steamed into FORT and dropped
anchor. The two remaining cruisers
anchored ~ miles from shore, while the
destroyers remained where they were. The
Warships exchanged salute of twenty-one
gcrs with small Dutch gunboat at the
mouth of the harbor. Capt. Osbon was well
Consul Smith. the Davis boys and his
friends, he started in to find out all he
could concerning the squadron.
In Bad Shape.
The Spanish ships were indeed in a bad
way, and as was afterward cabled to the
State Department by Consul Smith, the Of
ficers had been living on beans for four
days. The Americans took pictures of the
ships In the barber. The Davis boys be-
iieve they have several excellent views, but
as yet they have developed mono of their
plates. Capt. Osbon also took pictures of
the Spanish ships showing their hulls we'll
out of the water. indicating an exceedingly
light ship. What was visible of the bot
toms Of the ships were covered with long
sea grass and barnacles, evidenciag the
fact that the ships had not been In dock
for many weeks, and were in no condition
for their much-vaunted speed. One of the
torpedo boat destroyers had four masts.
while the other had only three. apparently
having lost one. On the decks Of each CT
the destroyers were about forty men. All
the Spanish sailors looked haggard and
downcast. Those who went ashore were
jeered. but did not attempt to strike back
The engineer on the Hendrix called at
tention to the fact that one of the flag
ships guns was disabled. It was after
ward covered with canvas. The Spanish
officers lost 70 time In coming ashore and
proceeding to secure their coal and am
munition. All the coal they secured at
Curacao was 800 tons of slack coal, con-
demned by the Dutch government. This