Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-19
\ ~. ~. ~ 49, ~: ~: -. 49, .-:

-s
Lieutenant Jose Baquero y Ordonez
of the navy of his Catholic majesty Of
Spain stroked his long white beard
and decided on brilliant and great
action. From the decks Of his little
knows" thought he. "but it is for the
last time"-on the sleepy cove of tn,
rguano, that had sheltered his era 1T
so long and well from the prowliag
Yankee fleet. Then sharp orders were
given, and the white, shining ship
moved swiftly out of the tiny Cuban
harbor and stood for the open sea.
On the shore there was strange COM
motion as she went. 1t came from
Spanish lOyalists, who had fed her
crew and officers for years and sup
piled the vessel with material. and
their emotion was vivid, for Lieutrn-
ant Jose Baquero y Ordonez of the
navy of his majesty Of Spain had omit
ted the forma!ity of paying the bills
Lieutenant 0rdonez had things more
wcighty than mere bills to consider
After long reflection he had decided on
stroke that would end an impcrish-
able glory for him and his--or annihila-
ton. He had decided to run the tierce
blockade and enter Havana; to force
his way through the enormous steel
fleet Of the enemy, to defy battleships
and torpedo boats and cruisers and to
n n lpt to-
He did not aspire to the empty glory
of sinking Yankee ship and, inci,lcn-
tally, being sunk himself. The Lieu
tenant Ordonez would have dared that,
too, for 1t would have been a chival-
rous thing to do, and he lived for chiv-
airy. But that ripe reflection to which
he had become prey taught him
that, if we were sunk, the Yankee pigs
never would give credit to him and his
crew for their glorious blow for S,an
iSh arms.
And. then where would be all the
good effect of his enterprise, as far as
the fame of Spain was concerned? no,
The Lieutenant Ordonez saw clearly
that he could nerve the Spanish arm
and force the worlds acclaim for the
valor Of his land best by entering la.
vana and flashing the news around the
globe that Spanish warship had brok,
en- the boosted blockade. ION, then.
my brave Ones! cried he Fear not.
Honor and cigarettes and senoras'
smiles await us! And If you see a
Yankee pig boat, do not hesitate to let
me know in ample season" He look.
ed enthusiastically on his crew, Il crew
any commander might be proud to
have-all old, white haired men. who
had served In the Spanish navy for
many. many years.
lntlppidity that was the Inheritance
OF the Lieutenant Ortlone2 did not in
terfcre with his sound Judgment. Care.
fully. though bravely. he stperrd along
the coast. and at every sign of sl::5ie
or sail Oh the horizon he felt his re.
Sponsibility for the care of his shin and
men keenly enough to suppress his
natural desire for battle and to lie
hidden in snug harbor till night
made IT safe to venture on again
And so making port wherever n de-
serted bayou or bay was to be fonnd
the little %unboat San Jago worked
her way along the north coast of Cuba
night after night, giving wide berth
to lalhorS like Sagua la Gl:ln1e and
CardrnaS, where the enemy nlirht be
in force. till at last. on the ni.!niyh,
OF the seventh day after venturiny out !
of their port. the brave Spaniartls crcpr
in sight of their goal
Now there was intense excitement |
on the little ship. The men Law down |
by their guns and whispered what
they had to say to each other. The |
officers crowded together and strained |
their eyes through the gloom for the
dusky shapes of the American shiDs !
that must be within few miles at
the most And softly the engines
worked and every moment the coast
doomed more plainly. Still there was
no sign Of foeman. No pencil of way
anywhere on the rolling sea to betray
an American ship with her prying
searchlight.
1t seemed almost too good to be true.
and the Lieutenant Ordonez and his
men began to suspect a trap. They
redoubled their watchfulness. and
more than one sailor muttered hur.
red prayer in wise provision for a
possible emergency when he might
not have time to commend his soul to
his patron saint. But still there was
no sign Of an enemy's craft. and finally
the ship opened up the entrance to
Havana harhor without having met
single obstacle.
Then an involuntary exclamation Of
surprise came from the watching men.
Havana was dazzling with illumina-
tons. The waters OF the hay were
bright as DAY with the flashes of cleo.
tric lights and from all pats of the
city tncknts and Roman candles and
other aerial fireworks were rising in
sheafs of flame. For awhile the Span
ards gazed at the scene IN mute aston
Then the Lieutenant Ordonez
raised his voice and shouted: "Vic-
tory! Victory! Behold! This it is
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 arms!"
Loudly the crew cheered at the
words, and the gunboat San Jago sped
BY the dark and silent Moro and I'D
The bay. Quickly the gig was lowered,
and the lieutenant with his officers
went ashore with fevHtsh impatience
70 learn the news. tMt
At the pier a greaf III vi stood. aa IL