The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-22
NUMBER 1o2.

%y rockets and Roman candles and
1ther aerial fireworks were rising in
bheafs of fame. For awhile the Span
iardS gaZed at the scene in mute aston
ishment. Then the Lieutenant Ordonez
raised his voice and shouted: "Vic-
tory! Victsry! Behold! This 1t is
why there is no blockade! The Yankee
pigs have been wiped from the sea that
they so polluted. JOY! JOY! 1t is q
glorious day for Spanish arms!"
Loudly the crew cheered at the
words. and the gunboat San Jago sped
by the dark and silent Moro and up
the bay. Quickly the gig was lowered,
and the lieutenant with his officers
went ashore with feverish impatience
to learn the news.
At the pier great crowd stood, as II
awaiting them. But when the seamen
landed there were no cheers as they
had expected. Instead, they found
themselves regarded curiously. and
there was considerable tostling and
some laughter.
Angrily the lieutenant turned to q
tall, stout individual in a rather odd
uniform of blue cloth with many brass
buttons. Him he asked in Spanish for
the latest news, but the fellow only
stared.
The lieutenant repeated his request
peremptorily, and still there was no
| answer.
But the official turned to one Of the
bystanders and beckoned to him. He
| approached and in turn stared and
| shook his head
| Others came and listened to the ques-
tion which the lieutenant was repeat
ing, but each looked as nonplused as
| the rest.
Finally an old, old man appeared and
nodded understandingly. Turning to
the rest, he said In English: ''This old
| Jay is jabbering Spanish-you know,
the language that they used to speak
here way back. Well, / guess he's
little cracked, because he's asking for
the latest news of the war;"
''What war" asked young man Gu
riously.
'Why, that there Spanish war that
we had about this island here with
them Spanish about 80 years ago.
don't remember the date exactly, but
1t was about in 1900 or-some time like
that"
The Lieutenant Ordonez was getting
impatient. His sailors had been jostled
from his side and were losing them
selves in the crowd, and his officers
also had disappeared. He said: Tell
me. senior; l am the commander of the
Spanish gunboat San Jago and have
run the blockade. What is the meaning
of this discourtesy
Holy smoker said the old man in
English to his friends the onlookers.
Il guess he's goner in the head for
sure. He says that he's run the block
ade. spose, Bill" he continued, turn
ing to the stout man in the blue uni
form, that you'll have to tear your
self away from this Fourth Of July
celebration of ours and take this poor
old duck to the police station. He's
! dead nutty''
) Hang it" said Bill, and strolled over
> to the Lieutenant Ordonez. He laid
his hand on his shoulder and began to
pull him along. The naval officer
E Strengthened up and struck the stout
5 man full in the face. The assaulted
!! person roared and gripped the lieuten
? ant by the collar and the crowd caught
q him by legs and arms and helped the
e procession along.
: In few minutes he was deposited
e ungracefully, though not altogether
: unkindly, in police station, where 9
|, red faced man with a rich Irish brogut
)! demanded his pedigree. That was 6
! matter of some difficulty, for the lieu
a tenant was quite beyond himself will
t rage and no one else could tell mucl
: about the prisoner.
v But finally the sergeant had gathered
o enough material to make his record oI
o the blotter: July 4, 1950-Prisoner
r male; real name unknown; assumed
name, Lieutenant Jose Baquero v Or
e donez; charge, insanity.
l. And the Lieutenant Ordonez wa
= hustled rudely into a cell. He hat
g waited in the snug port of Turiguan,
e too long.-New York Press.