Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-08-16

city rockets and Roman candles and
other aerial fireworks We're rising in
shcafs OF fame. For awhile the Span
iards gazed at the scene m mute aston
ishment- Then the Lieutenant Ordonez
raised his voice and shouted: Vic
tory, Victory, Behold. This il is
why there is no blockade, The Yankee
pigs have been wiped from the sea that
they so polluted, Joy, Joy. II is a
glorious day for Spanish arms"
Loudly the crew checred at the
words, and the gunboat san Jago sped
10y the dark and silent Moro and UP
the bay Quickly the gig was lowered.
and the Lieutenant with his officers
went ashore with fevcrish impaticnce
10 learn the news.
At the pier great crowI stood as il
awaiting them. But when the seamen
landed there We're no cheers as they
had expected. Instead they found
themselves regarded curiousIy. and
there was considerable iostling and
some laughter.
AnSrily the lieutenant turned TO
tall. stout individual in rather odd
uniform OF blue cloth with many brass
buttons Him ne asked i'm 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 ono of the
hyStanders and bcckoncd To him. lie
approached and in turn stared and
shook his head
Others came and listened o. the oucS-
tion which the lieutenant WAS repeat
inS, but each looked as noupiuScd as
the rest
Finally an old. old man appeared and
nodded Understandings. Turniu.. to
the rest ne said in English. This old
Jay Is jabbering Spanish YOU know
the language that thcy used to speak
here way back. Well. / guess hc', q
little cracked. because he's askin. for
the latest news of the war
What war; asked a youn.. man cu-
riously
Why that there Spanish vvar. thor
we had about this isiaul h.~e win
them Spanish about 90 year, aro.
don't remember the date exactly. hrt
IL was about i'm 1900 or some time like
that"
rI
impatient His sailors had been iostl.J
from his Side and We're losing them
selves in the crowd. and his officers
aiso had disappeared He said. Tell
me- sen"r' am the commander OF the
spanish Sunboat san Jago and ha,.
run the blockade. What is the mcanin.-
of this discourtesy<"
Holy smoke" said the old man iu
English 10 his friends the onloo,ers
l guess hes goncr I'm the head for
sure He says that hes run the block
ade. S'pose Bill. he continued. turn-
ing TO the stout man i'm the blua unf-
form, that you'll have TO tear vour-
SELF away from this Fourth OF Julv
celebration OF ours and take This moor
old duck 10 the police station Ha.s
dead nutty"
HanS it,. said Bill and StroUed o,-ar.
10 the Lieutenant Ordonez II. lof5
ms hand on his shoulder and ha,-ar p,
pun him along. The naval ofB,..,.
Strengthened up and struck the stour
man iull i'm the face Tie assaulted
/ person roared and gripped the Heuten-
ant 10y the collar and the crowd carrb-
hlm 10y legs and arms and helnel rb,
+ procession along
In Few minutes he was deposited
ungracefully. though not altogether
unkindly. in police station. whore =
red faced man with a rich Irish bro.ua
demanded his pedigree. That was a
matter of some difficulty for The. lien
tenant was quite beyond himself with
: rage and no one else could tell nrcb
about the prisoner
But finally the sergeant had gathered
enough material 10 make his record ON
the blOtter: July {. la5O-PrisoD.r
male; real name unknown: assumed
name. Lieutenant Jose BaQuero Y Or
doncz; charge. insanity.
And the Lieutenant Ordonez was
hustled rudely into a cell. He had
waited in the snug port Of Turiguano
too lOng.-New York Press