The Republican journal., 1899-06-22
Round About rlartlniaue.

|
alongside with an American flag at the
staff, A herculean Adons sprang ND the
steps aud pleasantly introduced himself
as an officer from the American cruise,
Montgomery. The commander had sent
his compliments, was there anything he
could do for me?-and an invitation to
call on board the NJ Montgomery at NV con.
venience. We're | not used to surprises
| should have lost my breath entirely
but shaking myself together, and closing
surprised mouth as quickly as possible.
| invited the gentleman into the cuddv
and produced my best goods. This matter
was something new-a pleasing surprise.
In times past we have often been in for
egn ports where one or more old style
American cruisers happened to be, but
they were always busy sending up or
down yards and housing top gallant
masts; they didn't send around to ask if
l We're in any trouble, nor, as rule, take
pains to offer courtesies of any kind
believe there is a new sense of duty; our
navy is not only becoming an institution
of pride and gladness in the heart of wan
dering Americans, but is advised, and now
able, to look after the interests of all
American subjects. This will be taken
due notice of by other people and they
will govern themselves accordingly.
The prompt attention that was shown
us was taken note of here aud editorially
mentioned in the newspapers.
| was told to call on board at any time
that though visitors are received only
on certain days and hours, an Ameri-
can master is not considered a stranger
nor looked upon as a public visitor. |
found the commander and officers most
genial set OF men and just as interested
in our class of vessels and in our travels
and experiences, as we are in their life
and duties, and in their modern, power
tul floating machine shops. We have
within the past year had an object lesson
in our need of navy, and the unbound
ed and crushing success of what we had
saved many soIder-life and millions Of
dollars to our county, besides teaching
the powers of the world that the condi-
tions are fast becoming unfavorable for
tritling with the United States, and that
means for MS peace and prosperity as we'll
as satisfaction and commendable pride.
cERvEHA's FATED FLEET.
1t will be remembered that a year ago
when what we then called the Cape de
Verde Fleet was at sea, when Boston
and other tlmid villages were nightly ex-
pecting to be awakened by it's guns, the
first we heard of it in western waters was
from our consul here, who cabled of its
appearance off this port. | have cOnsid-
able sympathy for old Cervera and his
officers. Notwithstanding the character
istic bombast of the Spanish people
whistling to keep up their courage-these
officers were men of study.-they knew
-, /. II.
ourselves. | believe they expected to be
annihilated, and, more fortunate for us
than we can possibly appreciate, they
were not disappointed.
THE IRoQUoIs AND ALABAMA.
During the Rebellion the American
cruiser Iroquois called at this port and
found the Confederate Alabama. The
commander of the former ship arranged
with the master of an American vessel in
port to watch the privateer and make
certain signals when she moved. He
then went to sea and lay off the port out
side of neutral limits. In the darkness of
night the Alabama got under way and
steamed to the south, rockets from the
American vessel in the port We're sent up
southwark; the lroquois headed that way
and t wards the coast, the Alabama turn
ed northward across the bay and the
rockets flew to the north; the Iroquois
turned that way, but was now behind the
chase. The Alabama, with a local pilot
on board, and with no CLEAN of lights,
rounded the north cape of the island and
close over under land steered eastward
for some distance until she stopped and
lay right alongside perpendicular bluff,
in very deep water and under the black
shadows of mount Pelee, which stood
nearly ;, 600 feet almost overhead. There
she lay with no spark of light or sound
above the breath of her anxious people.
| The lroquois went thrashing by and
steamed away, out through the Domini-
can channel, with the hope of either run
ming up with the Alabama by chance in
the darkness, or of finding her in sight
when daylight came. When her enemy
was well away on a wild goose chase the
Alabama turned back and steered south
ward on her usual mission of DESTROYING
unarmed and defenseless merchantmen
This place is a convenient place of call
for heavy men of war There is great
depth of water-rather too great. When
the squadron of ours was here some time
ago some of the ships lay at anchor in
fiftysix fathoms. There is no real har-
Dor for this port-only an inward curve
III INC WtSLoIu Quasi ID lnt 1Slduu, open
to the whole length of the Caribbean.
Our two anchors now lie out in 200 feet
of water with 500 feet of chain leading to
each, while two hawsers of 400 feet lead
from the stern to the solid masonry of
the city's water front. Some fifty fathoms
from the vessels stern is the everlasting
surf upon the rocks and the beach. At
this season, while the easterly trade winds
are continual, it is perfectly safe, but in
hurricane season it is dangerous. Su-
perstition mas attempted to modify the
danger:-On the heights of the centre of
the city is gigantic Christ overlooking
the port; and on Mt. Orange, a beautiful
bluff forming the southern boundary of
the town and bay, a colossal white vir-
gin-Notre Dame de la Garde, patron of
marners-watches night and day over
the welfare of the shipping. In times of
danger the happy mariner, with sentl-
ments akin to idolatry, one who believes
in the power of images of either ChristIy,
sanity Or mythical deities, may derive
consolation from these composite and in
animate guardians; while the non -believ-
er will look to his anchors and chains
yet believing that God, and God alone,
helps those who help themselves. There
never before came within the radius of
my travels and observation any place hav-
l.,