The Sauk Centre herald., 1899-07-06


Dther aerial fireworks were rising In
sheafs of flame. For awhile the-Span-
lards gazed at the scene IN mute aston
lishment. Then the Lieutenant Ordonez
raised his voice and shouted: "Yic-
tory! Victory! Behold! This It IL
why there is no blockade! The Yankee
pigs have been wiped from the sea that
they SO polluted! Joy! Joy! 1t is a
glorious day for Spanish armsw
Loudly the crew cheered at the
words, and the gunboat San Jago sped
by the dark and silent Morro 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 If
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 a
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. v
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-
ton which the lieutenant was repeat
ing, but each looked as nonplused as
the rest
Finally an old, old man appeared and
nodded understandingiy. 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 a
little cracked, because he's asking for
the latest news of the war"
What WARP asked young man Gu
riously.
"Why, that there Spanish war that
we had about this island here with
them Spanish about 30 years ago. l
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 bis officers
also had disappeared. He said: Tell
me, senior: am the commander Of the
Spanish gunboat San Jago and have
run the blockade. What is the meaning
Of this discourtesyY
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. s'pose, BILL" be 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 Door
old duck to the police station. He's
dead nutty." 'is
Hang itr' 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
Strengthened up and struck the stout
man full in the face The assaulted
person roared and gripped the lieuten-
ant by the collar and the crowd caught
him by legs and arms and helped the
procession along.
In a few minutes he was deposited
ungracefully, though not altogether
unkindly, in a police station, where 9
red faced man with rich Irish brogpe
demanded his pedigree. That was a
matter Of some difficulty. for the leu
tenant was quite beyond himself with
rage and no one else could ten much
about the prisoner
But finally the sergeant had gathered
enough material to make his record on
the blottes July 4, 1850 Prisoner.
male; real name unknown; assumed
name. Lieutenant Jose Raquero y Or
donez; charge. insanity.
And the Ldeutenaur QluoneS was
hustled rudelf into cell He bad
waited tn the song port Of Tpriguano
too long.--New York Press.