The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-05-25
SOMETHING uNHEARp OF.
An Austrian Lieutenant Who Was Aston
ished at Santiago.

SOMETHING UNHEARD OF.
An Austrian Lieutenant Who Was Aston
ished at Santiago.
Captain TAYLOR gives an amusing
account in the May Century of his
interview with an Austrian lieuten-
ant, who boarded the Indiana imme-
diately after the fight at Santiago.
He was in full uniform, with brilliant
display of epaulettes and gold lace.
white waistcoat and trousers. He
found us covered with the smoke and
dust of battle, groups of half naked
men lining up to salute him as he
passed, their faces streaked with
powder smoke and coal dust. He
reached me on the bridge, finally, in
state OF polite bewilderment, and
presented his captains request for
permission to pass in through our
blockading lines and bring out from
Santiago Austrian refugees desiring
to leave that besieged town. After
refeiqin&s him to Admiral Sampson,
and telling him he would be found
some distance to the westward, he
asked for news, and told him we had
Just come out of action with Cervera' $
squadron. He showed great surprise,
and said:
"Then there has been battle?'
Yes replied.
And the RESULT" he asked, eagerly.
1--WE have defeated them
But where is Cervera's fleet now?'
he inquired.
His flagship, the Maria Teresa, is
there, lieutenant" | answered, point
ing, at the same time, to the beach a
few miles distant.
But | see nothing there but some
smoke, captain"
st is the smoke of the Teresa burn
ing, lieutenant; she is a wreck upon
the beach,
He was silent, and continues:
"CIose to her on the beach you will
see another column of smoke; that is
the Oquendo burning. On this side,
nearer to us, is the Pluton, sunk in
the breakers and the Furor is near
her, but is on the bottom and in deep
water, and is not visible"
But" he interrupted, you haYe
destroyed half those splendid vessels
of Cervera s.
"Wait, lieutenant | continued,
land look few miles farther to the
westward, aud you will see another
column of smoke; that is the Nizcaya
on the beach near AserraderOs. AS
to the Colon, she is still farther to the
westward, out of sight from us here,
but you will see her presently as your
captain steers in that direction to find
Admiral Sampson, who is at that end
of the line
His eyes ranged along the shore as
l pointed out the different vessels.
"Mein Gott.n he exclaimed. "Then
you have destroyed the whole Of that
splendid squadron. | did not think
it possible
After moment more of silent aston
ishment, he said, with a polite SYM
pathy which concealed eager pro
fessional curiosity:
And your injuries, captain? What
losses has the American squadron sus-
tained?''
None" | replied.
But, captain, you do not under
stand; it is what casualities-what
ships lost or disabled-that | ask
None, Lieutenant | said. 1.-The
Indiana was struck twice, suffered no
injury, no loss. The other ships are
virtually in the same condition. We
are all of us perfectly ready for
another battle-as much so as before
Cervera came out this morning"
His astonishment was now com
plete.
'Mein Gottr' he exclaimed again.
admiral SIMPSONS fleet has de-
stroyed these great Spanish ships,
and without injury to his own squad
ron. Sir, it is unheard of | must
go to inform my captain