Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-01-05

avoid 1t; he repeatedly reported the
deficiencies In the vessels under his
command; he persistently offered to
come to Madrid to explain to the couo-
Gil of ministers the reasons why our
fleet was going to certain destruction;
he was forced to sail without a war
plan, against his opinion and that of
all the commanders of the fleet; many
OF the elements Indispensable to put
the ships in a fair condition were not
supplied to him; the Colon sailed
without her turret artillery, and some
of the Bilbao cruisers with some Of the
pieces and ammunition defective and
at least one OF them with her speed
very much reduced on account Of the
state OF her bottom"
Before leaving Spain Ceryera wrote:
Il regret very much to have to sail
without having agreed upon some
plan, even on general lines, for which
purpose repeatedly requested permits
sion to go to Madrid. From the bulk
of the kilograms received I think l see
that the government persists in the
idea of sending the little squadron
(torpedo boat fotilla) to Cuba. That
seems to me very risky adventure,
which may cost us very dear, for the
loss of our flotilla and the defeat IF
our squadron in the Caribbean sea en-
tails great danger for the Canaries,
and perhaps the bombardment of our
coast cities. do not mention the fate
of the island of Cuba, because have
anticipated it long ago."
Arrived at the Cape de Verdes, Ger
vera made further vigorous, but io-
effectual, protest against being sent to
Cuba He declared that the Vizcaya,
0quendo and Maria Teresa were with
out needed artillery. THE main pow
er of these vessels" he wrote, lis prac-
tically useless on account of the bad
system OF breech mechanism and the
bad quality of the cartridge cases.
When remonstrance could go no fur
Their, he wrote, prophetically and sad
ly: But, after all, I am glad the end
is coming"
Forced to proceed to Cuba, Ceryera
did not shirk his duty, but entered in
to 1t with all his energy, He success
fully eluded our scouts and got safely
into Santiago harbor, feat which Is
spoken of admiringly by every officer
in our navy. He was welcomed tu-
multuously at Santiago, but through
out the course Of the street process
sions. jubilations, fetes and banuuets
with which he was greeted, the old
man walked with the ghost of disaster
He was hero today, but there was a
tomorrow coming and he knew 1t. 1t
was not many weeks before the Span
iards OF Santiago, oppressed and hun
gered by reason of SIMPSONS block
ade, changed their notes Of praise to
words of eXecratioa. His men who
went ashore were spat upon in the
streets. Go out and raise the block
ade," the Santiagoans cried, drive
the Yankee pigs from before our har-
Dor, so we can get bread" These
murmurings were heard and repeated
across the ocean. The Spanish popu-
lace had been taught to believe its
fleet invincible, and Cervera was sac
rificed to the density of its ignorance
and the folly of its rulers. One day
came the order from Madrid to Blanco
to send the Spanish squadron in San
tiago harbor out to battle. Cervera,
weary-hearted, received it almost
gladly, and with colors flying and guns
booming, sailed on that bright Sun
day morning from security to certain
doom. Two hours later saw the last
act of the drama, when the old man,
rescued by our Wainwright from the
too eager Cubans among whom he had
been cast ashore from his burning
ship, stood on the deck Of the Glouces-
ter and wept scalding tears. while all
aboard withdrew and respected his
grief.-New York Sun.