Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-06-30

SO iiahiuS poTI wherever q de-
serted bayou or bay was to be found.
the little gunboat San Jago worked
her way along the north coast of Cuba
night after night. giving a wide berth
TO harbors like Sagua Ia Graude and
Cardenas. where the enemy might be
in force. till at last. on the midnight
of the seventh day after venturing out
of their port, the brave Spaniards crept
in sight of their goal.
Now there was intense excitement
on the little ship. The men lay 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
dusl1y shapes of the American ships
that must be within a few miles at
the most. And softly the engines
worked and every moment the coast
loomed more plainly. Still there was
no sign of foeman. No pencil of way-
ering, cropping light was to be seen
anywhere ON the rolling sea to betray
an American ship with her prying
Eearchlight.
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 a hur-
ried 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 harbor without having met
single obstacle.
Then an involuntary exclamation Of
surprise came from the watching men.
Havana was dazzling with illumina-
tions. The waters of the bay were
bright as day with the flashes of cleo
tric lights. and from all parts Of the
city rockets and Roman candles and
other aerial fireworks were rising in
sheafs of flame. For awhile the Span
iards gaZed at The scene IN mute aston
ishment. 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 Morrc and up
the bay. Quickly the gig was lowered.
and the lieutenant with his officers
went ashore with feverish impatience
to learn the news.
AT the pier great crowd stood, as if
awaiting them. But when the seamen
landed there were no cheers as they
had expected. Instead, they found
themselves regarded curiously, and
there was considerable iostling and
some laughter.
Angrily the lieutenant turned to Il
tall. stout individual in a rather odd
uniform of blue cloth with many brass
buttons. Him he asked in Spanish for
the latest news. but the fellow oply
stared.
The lieutenant repeated his request
peremptorily. and still there was no
answer.
But the official turned to one of the
bystanders and beckoned to him. He
Nd in turn stared and
shook his head.
Others came and listened to the queS-
ton which the lieutenant was repeat
ing, but each looked as uonplused as
the rest.
Finally an old, old man appeared and
nodded Understandings. Turning to
the rest, he said in English: ''This old
jay is jabbering Spanish-you know.
the language that they used to speak
here way back. Well, guess he's
little cracked, because he's asking for
the latest news of the war"
"What warp asked young man Gu
riously
'sWhy, that there Spanish war that
We had about this island here with
them Spanish about 30 years ago.
don't remember the date exactly, but
it was about in 1900 or some time like
that"
The Lieutenant OrdOnez was getting
His sailors had been jostled
from his side and were losing them
selves in the crowd, and his officers
also had disappeared. He said: Tell
me. senior: am the commander of the
Spanish gunboat San Jago and have
run the blockade. What is the meaning
of this discourtesy?"
Holy smoker said the old man in
English to his friends the onIookers.
Il guess he's goner in the head for
sure. He says that he's run the block
ade. | s'pose. Bill he continued, turn
ing to the stout man in the blue uni
form, that you'll have to tear your
self away from this Fourth of July
Of ours and take this poor
old duck to the police station. He's
dead nutty"
Hang itF' said Bill. and strolled over
to the Lieutenant Ordonez. He laid
his hand on his shoulder and began to
pull him along: The naval officer
up and struck the stout
man full in the face. The assaulted
person roared and gripped the ieuten-
ant by the collar and the crowd caught
him by legs and arms and helped the
procession along.
In a few minutes he was deposited
nngracefully. though not altogether
in a police station, where
red faced man with rich Irish brogue
demanded his pedigree. That was a
natter of some difficulty, for the lieu
:enant was quite beyond himself with
age and no one else could tell much
lbout the prisoner.
But finally the sergeant had gathered
enough material to make his record on
he blotter: July 4, 19JO-Prisoner.