Gunnison news-champion., 1916-12-01


DO Won know the history OF SPAIN
Nrw one might know the history Of
ones own country by heart but in the
condition was ht the time. with truu-
hleI mind and head quite lost could
not hay. -n,h w, 4 ~ t.
We'll" continued Captain Memo
you heard nv question DO you know
the history u spain"
VERY slightly" answered
We'll here are learned men having
20 learn said tho captain Come. sit
down and ! will tell you curious cpl.
sol" H. this history Sir listen we'll"
saih he This history viii Interest you
on one side. Tor It Will answer n ques
ttuu which doubtless you have not
been able t. solve.
I listen captain. said |. not know.
Ing what my iut"rIocutUr was driving
at aud asking myself II this incident
was hearing on our projected flight
Sir II you have no objection. We
will 90 back to iTU2 You cannot be
lgunrnmt that ysir King. Louis XIV.
thinking TINT the gesture OF pOten-
tat" Was sufficient to bring the Pyre-
nee, under his yoke had imposed the
Duk" "f Anj"u. his grandson. on the
SpanInrd- This prince rrigned more
"t los hHdIy under the name Of Philip
md hnh strong party against him
shrpad Indeed the preceding year
the rvyHl houses OF Holland. Austria
and England had concluded a treaty
of alliance Ht The Hague with the in
teutiou of plncking the crown Of Spain
from the head ~ Philip '. and placing
Il on thnt OF an RrChduke to whom
They prcmaturcly gave the title Of
Charles III.
Spain must resist this coalition. but
she was almost entirely unprovidcd
with either soldiers or sailors. now
ever. money would not fail them. pro-
vided that their galleons. laden with
gold and silver from America. once
entered their ports. And about the
end Of lIu2 they expected a rich con-
voy which France was escorting with
n fleet Of twenty three vessels. com.
mandcd by Admiral Chatenu-Renaud.
for the ships OF the coalition were al.
ready beating the Atlantic This con-
voy was to 20 to Cadiz. but the ad.
niral hearing that an English feet
was cruising In those waters. resolved
TO make for French port
The Spanish commanders OF the
convoy objected to this decision. They
wnntcd 10 be taken to Spanish port
and. II not to Cudiz, into Vigo bay.
situatcd on the northwest coast Of
Spain, and which was not blocked
Admiral Chutcau- Reuaud hnd the
!ashncsS to obey this inJunct!A, and
the gallcnns entered VigO bay.
unfortunately. 1t formed an open
road which could not be defended In
any way They must therefore hasten
70 unload the gallcons before the ar
rival Of the combined hect. and time
would not have failed them had not a
miserable question OF rivalry suddenly
arisen.
You nre following the chain OF
events" asked Captain Memo
''Pcrfcctly," said |. not knowing the
end proposed ny this historical lesson.
81 will continue. This Is what pass.
ed: The merchants of Cadiz had
~ ~ ii' ~ hN " ilf''l llltN uHl tue rl-nl
OF receiving all merchandise coming
from the West Indies. Now. to dis
embark these ingots at the port OF
Wig" was depriving them OF their
rights. They complained at Madrid
and obtained the consent OF the weak
minded Philip that the convoy. with.
out discharging its cargo, should re-
main seQueStered In the roads Of Vigo
rnhl the enemy had disappeared
But while coming to this decision
on the 22d OF october. 1902. the Eng.
lsh vessels arrived in ViSo bay. when
Admiral Chateau Renaud In spite OF
inferior forces. fought bravely. Blu,
seeing that the treasure must fall into
the enemy's hands he burned and scut-
tied every galleon. which went to the
bottom With their immense riches"
Captain Memo stopped. admit
could not yet see why this history
should interest me.
'WellT' | asked.
We'll, NJ. AronnaX," replied Captain
Memo. I'VE are In that vigo bay, and
1t rests with yourself whether you will
penetrate its mysteries"
Aue S"P'shh toSe. teiihs me 10 IOi-
low him. had had time to recover.
/ obcyed. The saloon was dark. but
through the transparent glass the
waves were sparkling looked
For half a mile around the Nautilus
the waters seemed bathed in electric
light. The sandy bottom was clean
and bright. Some Of the ships crew
in their diving dresses were clearing
away half rotten barrels and empty
cases from the midst of the blackened
wrecks. From these cases and from
these barrels escaped ingots Of gold
and silver. cascades Of piasters and
Jewels. The sand was heaped up With
them. Laden with theie precious booty
tAs men s-turned to the Nautilus. Dis