The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-11-22
DAILY PRESS.
%oRIgLAAND.
IuaS&ay Morning, Novoubsr 90. 1870.
PoRIEA.ANU,

I
A Remarkable Naval Battle.
| THE AFFAIR BETWEEN THE BoUvEr AND
METEOR OFF HAVANA.
By the steamship Cuba, which has just ar
| rived in port, we learn that an immense
amount of excitement has been produced in
Havana in consequence of naval duel which
took place in sight of the city on the 9th inst.
between two monitors bearing the French and
Prussian colors. These vessels, the Bouvet
(French) and the Meteor (Prussian) had, after
cruising through the Caribbean Sea, accident.
ally found themselves together in the same
port few days preceding the fight, and as
all parties, officers and men on board the
steamers, were inpatient for the fray, the ini-
| pending fight was no secret in the streets of
Havana preceding the encounter, and large
bets were in consequence made as to the re-
suit.
In the first maneuveri1g with a view to the
settlement of this question, tue Meteor left
port with a tacit understanding that she
| would be followed outside, but returned the
same day, to find that her rival had been re-
tanned to wait the twenty-fo hours demand
| edin such cases by neutral governments.-
| The Frenchman on the Sth sailed from port
with view to the settlement of the question,
and waited nine miles from port for the expi-
ration of the limit agreed upon by law
| While SO awaiting on the morning OF the 9th
the steamship Cuba, from Baltimore, was en-
| tering port, and in accordance with the usage
| Of war was called upon by shot from the
Bouvet 10 show her colors. The Cuba not
| having answered the demand in any great
haste, second shot followed, which passed in
| about thirty feet of the stern of the vessel
| The American flag was thereupon displayed,
| and shortly after an officer of the Bouvet
| came on board TO apologize fOr what he claim
| ed was necessary precauton.
| 10 return, however, to the Meteor who had
been awaiting the prescribed delay. One
| O'Clock had been fixed upon as the time for
| leaving port, and at that hour the fat-roofed
| houses of Havana were covered with thous-
ands OF spectators of both sexes, armed with
| Held and opera glasses. The Meteor started
out Of the long narrow harbor of Havana
| punctually to the minute and was followed by
| the Spanish man-of-war the Hermon Cortes,
having on board Captain General DeRhodas
and staff, the Commandant of the Marine, the
| Civil Governor, three medical authorities, and
a large number of other guests. The Spanish
Oaiionefo FL OeHtenela was also on hand
aeauy " Ienuel an tne a9slseance necessary
anu T uopo.ess p.o. a,so " , PEE .ne hsns.
on the eastern coast, and at l 81 the Meteor
passed the Moro Whose towers were all
| cvowded with spectators), and steered direct
| ly for her expectant enemy. She was follow
eu ~ 1no ~ 'oIi"u m poi ulIooI'on was hor III
Sass S oy ~. u. L. ano 1: Douse' 'ueleupou 1ore
uoMn upou pi nui ausanSi!s ensmy WIN her
plo~ Ia'a.aay Ia .uineI .i :ne a!lectloh o'
porl. ~ qqckness anu Teaulness 10 maneu-
veiins, tne rrencll vessel was now discovered
Dto 4I.S W.a., SIpei uAminS hils s iees Vi
.; wafer ~ .ne me'eor ok, w9icu iatter con
sa1e ner superoli'y s 1l stea1iness
;;a ., mo.,on anu - aeSu,acy Vi nre. one haa aso
m Iiioiily VI .en ueu, VI seventy " sixty
ine shy wa. elouuy, ouI tne sea was srnooto,
anu anu Every o'nel us colisiueratiol ia'oieo lalr
test ol naval plowess.
, M"ton 90 t rHo wv st ~ eAe III sisul
,a lho mo'eo, Put ou s'saal anu .ne DouVeI COM
mehcea .achi1s' tne iatter poin,hs her prov
.oMaIu aoio C,stle; AZ TWO O'CLOCK tne NE
teor LOON III SAL, aiio LUIS movement was iini'
la1eu ny tue pouVet' Len minu.es a'ter the
MeleoI passeu pe!ohu heutrai waters, anu aG
Z:3o the bouvet opened hre, and hoisted
thfee pattie naSs. lne he'eor thereafter run
up coiofS 10 Inc PROV AMI masts. Ihree shots
were hfeo py tne frenchman, or, according to
some aS'oonts, two' t2e laSt passing over the
t9p ol ,iie meteor; hhs iatter Inen nfed
snot wnic1 passed 10 the stern. Inc Two YES
seis passed py eaen other' an attempt was
maze py the frencnmen 10 grapple, though
without success. Inc two monitors thereup-
on rounded 10, ana the same movements
were repeated without cessation OF the firing
In the second passage OF arms the two vessels
Drushed py eacn other Witnout scarcely STOP
ping, tne frenchman, however, making des-
| perate eHorts 10 grappie, ana at tne same
Time throwing on Doaid ei9ht or hne handr
| grenades. One 0, tneSe, exploding, tore OIL
tne TOP OF Tue head OF frusslan marine.
| Inc bouVet was again unable to grapple,
anu 'aiiea ~ o9ihg SO, eitner owing 10 tne
speeu DIT weichtSne was sallng, OF TO the CIV
ing away OF thS rigging OF tiie Meteor be
% .nae as ~ may, tne masts o! the fIussian were
Gonlpleteiy Gu. on, anu lneir coofs temporary
ioMeIeu' I.s a a. !ne. same moment, however,
J1 Jus. as tne sss:es were co,iolng, the meteor
sucoeeoeu III iunNtinS olow wnich more
Inah ioon.eroaianceu S: tnls disadvantage. ms
va: oy wen uileG,eo IFpouhaer snot,
Sa .1-a' nc nc Douvet amusnlps, tear-
nS no.o 'Hiousn .ne sIeau-drun suncient-
y.;dSS+ ,aSo W 81 1naouaoe @ q man head. by tnis
".boun UnJ s;nhsIu, .n wa. seTeley scaIeu ani
the sn,;ntor;ns ~ raon e JELLY uisaoieo ny
'n0 0Slo pnpeons ps y, PeTe vi Moou;
ahe Douses oeins mus u.saoieu ana ner
naonihery M Useless; oesiues loslIS ner ioletop
uia's ~ tne coiIsion, erace.uhy aoahuoheu
Sm Sue nHio suaC rs w say, sue Lnnsuiatey SCI
| al s''i "i'u contiuueu Oh III tne oIectlon III