Spanish warship Isle de Luzon greeted in 1912

The Spanish warship Isle de Luzon was anchored mid-river at Cape Girardeau on May 17, 1912. The ferryboat Gladys, owned by A.C. Jaynes, was docked alongside. It ferried visitors from the Cape Girardeau wharf. The Isle de Luzon was captured on May 1, 1898 in the Battle of Manilla Bay during the Spanish-American War.

May 17, 1912 The Daily Republican

Isle de Luzon Arrived at Noon in Cape Harbor

The Isle de Luzon, bearing the St. Louis naval reserves, reached Cape Girardeau at noon and anchored in the center of the river off foot of Broadway, where it will remain until 4 a.m. Saturday.

A throng of about two thousand people greeted the boat on its arrival and the crowd continued to increase for an hour, until the levee front was filled with citizens desiring to get a view of the famous battleship that Admiral George Dewey captured in Manilla Bay.

The vessel is in charge of Lieut-Commander G.F. Schwartz and the following officers: Lieutenants James Muir, H.J. Elson, Tom M. Lovette, Tom L. Johnson, paymaster; H.R. Tribble, paymaster; Brownlee Fisher, Mathias Devine, Ensigns Walter Jost, Bielham, G.E. Smith and W.C. Ruchtuhl. There are forty petty officers and enlisted men aboard.

Col. A.L. Oliver, commanding the Sixth regiment; N.G.M., accompanied by Capt. W.C. Wilkes of his staff and by Capt. Everett Reeves of Company I, Sixth regiment, came on the boat from Caruthersville, returning from this city to Caruthersville on the noon Frisco.

The vessel was met by Major Oliver and Capt. Briges of the Sixth regiment, by Capt. Grissom and Lieutenants Bain and Allen Oliver of Company K of this city and by Vice-Presidents Kelso and Morrison of the Commercial club.

Ajt-General Rumbold came down from St. Louis on the Frisco, getting here about 1 o'clock and will return to St. Louis on the vessel. General Rumbold was given a salute of eleven guns when joining the ship.

Arrangements were made for the citizens to see the vessel, being taken aboard by the ferry boat Gladys, with 125 persons each trip. All the school children were taken on the war vessel in charge of their teachers.

Visitors Will be Entertained

A ball will be given tonight at the Elks club for the officers and the jackies will be given a luncheon at the commercial club rooms.

The ferry boat Gladys will continue to make trips all the afternoon so that all who desire to visit the ship may have the opportunity.

The cost will be only twenty-five cents, which includes the ferry fare. The school children in charge of their teachers will be paid for by the committee.

Historic Vessel

Probably all are acquainted with the history of the Isle de Luzon, which was captured by Admiral Dewey during the Spanish war in the battle of Manilla. The vessel shows some of the scars of that conflict, the rear mast being spliced with copper plates where the cannon balls of Dewey's ship cut it off.

[The river level might have been very low at the time. The record low river stage was 1.6 feet on Jan. 7, 1911 and 1.8 feet on Dec. 28, 1914.]