Mr. MacNutt to Mr. Foster.
Madrid, August 8, 1892. (Received August 22, 1892.)
Sir: I have the honor to report to you that I arrived in Madrid yesterday morning, returning from the centenary celebrations at Huelva.
The length of my stay in Huelva was much greater than I had designed it or supposed it necessary to be in company with the ministers of Haiti and Mexico and the Spanish gentleman forming the representative commission of the central junta. I left Madrid on July 29, arriving in Huelva the night of the 30th, the inconvenient train service obliging a day’s stop in Seville, both going and returning.
[Page 497]At the boundary of the province of Huelva we were met by representatives of the centenary commission, consisting of the arch-priest and two citizens of Huelva, and formally welcomed to the province.
At the station in Huelva were the civil governor, the alcalde, several gentlemen of the commission, and the officers of the Mexican man-of-war Zaragoza lying in the harbor to welcome us. I am glad to express my satisfaction with the elaborate and careful arrangements for our comfort made by the authorities of Huelva. We lodged in the best fashion, and were treated with every consideration possible. On the 31st the minister of the marine arrived from Cadiz, escorted by several Spanish and foreign ships and with the Sta. Maria.
The Sta. Maria lay over night in the bay, and the next day went to Palos.
The first two days were occupied in an expedition to Sta. Maria de la Rabida, and the making and receiving official visits of the local and foreign personages assisting at the celebration on the 2d of August. A mass was appointed to be said in the village church of Palos, where Columbus on that day in 1492 heard mass. On the morning of August 3 the Santa Maria weighed anchor, and, the wind being contrary, was towed out to sea by a Spanish man-of-war, and escorted by some seventeen vessels, Spanish, Mexican, Dutch, Austrian, English, and French. Passing outside the bar a long detour was made, and the procession of ships passed between the lines of the great men-of-war ranged outside the harbor.
The Sta. Maria fired from her little falconets a salute, which was at once responded to by a thundering cannonade from all along the line that lasted half an hour, and covered the sea with such a smoke the silhouette of the little nav. was barely distinguishable.
The weather, which had at first been cold and gray, cleared, and the sun came out.
I was on board the Pelay, a Spanish vessel placed at our disposition by the minister of the marine, and which followed a little distance from the Sta. Maria.
The scene was a most imposing one. Above the roar of the cannon could be heard the cheers of the sailors who manned the rigging, and strains of music. The enthusiasm left nothing to be desired.
As the Sta. Maria passed the United States cruiser Newark, the Mexican cruiser coming immediately astern swinging around the Newark, the sailors gave three rousing cheers for the United States Navy.
Next beyond the Newark lay four Italian vessels, the last in the line, and the ships that from their immense size and splendid appearance attracted most attention.
The numbers of the ships present were as follows: England, three, and two torpedo boats; Italy, four; France, two; Argentine Republic, two; Mexico, Austria, Portugal, and Holland, each, one; the United States, one; of Spanish ships, I think there were seven. The United States cruiser Bennington arrived two days after the function was over.
It is to be regretted that our naval representation was not more numerous; the more so, as the Newark was too large to get over the bar, and consequently the Sta. Maria was escorted out by only a Mexican vessel, and no American flag was seen in the harbor of Huelva during their celebrations.
The remaining days of the festivities were occupied by a bullfight, a civic procession, grand illumination of the town and bay, a high mass, sung by the Bishop of Lyssa, Vicar-Apostolic of Gibralter, a public [Page 498] meeting of the Columbina Society, and the banquet given by the minister of the marine and followed by a ball. At this banquet the speeches were made by the minister, who toasted the King and Queen Regent and the foreign sovereigns and heads of states there represented.
The Mexican minister toasted the Spanish navy and the foreign navies represented.
The Italian admiral toasted Spain; the captain-general of Andalusia toasted the union of the army and navy. Our departure on the morning of the 6th was attended by the same friendly demonstrations as our arrival had been.
The Spanish Government and the authorities of Huelva may be congratulated upon the successful issue of these celebrations.
I have, etc.
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.