The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-16
ADMIRAL CERVERA
THE FAMOUS SPANISH SAILOR
AT HOME IN PUERTO REAL.
The Weaithiest and Most Respected
Citizen in the Town--Enjoys the
Adectionate Esteem Of the z
Whole Nation.


New Orleans Picayune.
Reports having been circulated that Ad-
miral Cervera, the conquered hero Of the
Santiago battle. was starving and pinins
away under the reproaches of his fellow
citizens. The Picayune dispatched its
Madrid correspondent to Peurto Real to
investigate the story The Picayune IL
glad to say beforehand that the earlier
reports were grossly exaggerated.
Cadiz, July 12.-When your corresponds
ent showed at the Naval Club here the
American press clippings saying that Ad-
miral Ceryera was in want and dying by
inches Of chagrin, caused by the re-
pr caches Of his countrymen. the member
addressed waxed indignant, and called In
some of the governors of the institutions
Tho governors looked hurt. why they
exclaimed almost In one voice, 1T is an
insult to the Spanish people and to Its
army and navy in particular. Admiral
Cervera is sighted by no one in his coun-
try. or any other. As to the ostrascizing
II Is not true dn an undertone). Even
the Madrid politicians who hate him mos,
for the mistakes they ordered him to
make would not think of treating him as
badly as Admiral Sciley, for instance, Ia
treated by some Washington oficials.'
II you wait here until the afternoon.
you may see his excellency in person, =
suggested a clubman. "One look at him
will convince you of the absurdity Of
those reports"
ou are eicome 70 remain. SAID
.ne PRESIDENT win ponte gesture o.
tne nand' out should thipk It would
serve your purpose better to go right out
70 reu'o real ana Visit MN at MS own
house. Inen you IKE, you may return
WIN MN 10 Caoiz ana the ciuD TO see US
an pay poker together. we learned tnat
IN inc United states, but you mustn't
oespise us Tor tine insisninance OF the
stakes we play Tor. You are In poor
SPAN you KNOW. -
Inc SpanIards hicknamed Puerto heai
tne navy Fensionopohs, TOT at least one
TENN OF its innaDitants are retired naval
omcers, or navy men on haif-pay Your
correspondent had no sooner mentioned
the admirafs name upon arrival at the
dock, when three or four men and sew
erai boys lounsing there onered TO take
him to the Marquis Don Pasqual"
This argued well for the admirafs
popularity. for Spaniards call only people
whom they like by their first name with
the prefix due their rank. If the Realers
had said. I'VE will conduct you to his
eNcellency's. Admiral Cervera's, house,
would have thought that there was
something in the American press stories
after all.
We soon reached the little house in San
to Domingo Street. l say little because
Puerto Real is town Of small residences
and, while Cervera occupies one of the
most stately of them all. his home would
look cheap beside an American suburban
villa of any pretensions whatever.
took 1t all in before l rang the door
bell, and assure you that. as Spanish
conditions go, the admiral Is very we'll
housed. The main building and the sew
eral annexes have evidently been freshly
painted Of late there are pretty curtains
at all the windows. while the prevailing
cleanliness bespeaks the employment Of
ample help. On the way one of my cice.
rones had informed me with Considerable
pride that the admiral was the highest
rent payer in town. "And he brought his
own furniture, too" he added Some
magnificent pieces-the Americans have
nothing better to show, am sure" ~
The admiral happened to open the door
in person and took me right into his
study. AS YOU perhaps know, he under
Glands English, but Is afraid to speak it,
lowing to the difficulty Of pronuncia-
ton" as he puts It, He told me in Span
ISL / might FIRE away" in my own
tongue II ne was permitted to answer IN
his.
"I am deeply indebted to the American
people for this renewed manifestation OF
interest in my welfare" he said to the
correspondent, after the object of my
visit had been explained in general way
end without reference to ernbarrG S. ing
details. of course. 81 am quite passably
" el!-for an old fellow-and might prob
ably hold nv own with younger ones II
aboard chip. but on land a seaman Is
never entirely comfortable
"You haven't got much to occupy your
time. admiral" saId the corr espondsnt.
ono messing duties" replied Cervera
with a pood-natured smile. If he feels
anv resentment for Sagasta and the crowd
who keep him out of the service, he GER
tainlv does not show It.
"Rut naval warfare he continued. as
nrorressive science. there is always
~onathine now and. 10 keep up with the
tIn,es one has TO read and read technical
renorts practical experiences and de-
scr,ntIons Of new inventions. 1 spend all
INV unorntnR1 In this little study trying
70 keen mace with the geniusea of ali
countries who devote time and energy
70 inventinp new swimming destructive
agencies. IFS hard work sometimes, for
Ne Standards are not born linguists like
tba russians for instance"
srhe deo ~ tho old zea-wolf Is as neat