The New York herald., 1870-11-19
THE NAVAL PRIZE FICET OFF HAVANA
Fun Particulars by the Herald Correspondent
Near the Scene Of Action.
ne Contest Between the French Bouvet and
the Pruszian Meteor-The Challenge-De-
tails Of tho Fight : Statement Of
Losses-The Combat Undecided
Prospects Of Renewal.

HAVANA, Nov. IL. 1870.
The event OF the week, ana one which has caused
the greatest excitement In this locality, has been
the contest between the French despatch boat
Bouvet, Commander Franguet, and the Prussian
gunb0at Meteor, Commander Kumor, fought outside
the line OF neutral waters, OF The harnor OF Havana
The Prussian vessel arrived here on the morning OF
the 7th. ana soon after the Frenchman entered.
Rumors that challenge to fight had passed be.
tween the two belligerenrs soon became current
The French merchant steamer Nouveau Monde, from
st. Nazare, bound to Vera Cruz had reached here in
trGnsatu the previous day. At about ten A. M. OF
the 7th she got up ana moved ont Of the har-
Dor In prosecution OF her voyage. The Prussian
evidently with the purpose Of evadng the twenty
four hour law. and of attacking her, going ont IN
advance OF her. The steamer soon returned, as did
the gunboat In the course OF the afternoon On the
morning OF the sth, the Nouveau Monde again went
out and proceeded on her voyage uumolested Mean
while 1t was officially announced that the challenge
nad passed and been accepted and at one O'Clock
the Sth the Frencnman went out to await in the
ofing the lapse of the twenty-four hours which, as
international law prescrlbes, must pass before the
Prussan could follow. Meanwhile the excitement
among all classes and especially those Of the respec
tive nationaltes, became very great, and upon the
morning OF the 9th had reached fever heat. The
betting was very extensive, odds being generally
offered in favor OF the Prusslan Efforts were
made to charter merchant steamer to carry pas
Sen9ers outside TO see the fight but these were
dered useless by refusal OF the authorities to
permit any such arrangement. 1t was announced
that the Spanish man of.war Herman Cortes having
on board .ne Captain General, would 60 out, ten
dered by one Of the Spanish gunboats ana through
the courtesy OF his Exceency your correspondent
was favored with place upon the former vessel.
Great crowds gathered upon the wharves to witness
the egress Of the Prussian which started at pre-
cisely seven minutes past one from its anchorage.
At once the crowd disappeared from the vicinity OF
the harbor and covered the housetops, the Mills OF
the CaDanas, MORO and Principe, and every ele-
waited point attainabe, provided with glasses OF
every description, to see the contest
The Bouvet Is OF 12o horse power, carries five
guns-two Of small calibre on each side espectvely
and twenty-four FOUNDER mounted on swivel ut
the bow-and has eighty men. The Meteor is OF
eighty horse power, three swivel guns and sixty
men. The Galore OF the latter's guns is SAID to be
superior and their construction more modern. One
OF them is Krupp, mounted on swivel The
Herman Cortes and the Spanish gunpoat followed
immediately IN the wake Of the Prussian The for
mer had ON board, In addition to the Captain GEN.
erai, the General OF Marines the Intendente Gen.
eral, their respective iafls and large number OF
civil and military officers of lesser rank As we
passed beyond the Moro Castle the French
man was not in sight, but at twenty-dye
minutes TO two O'Clock she was sighted
about nine miles of, north-northeast from
the entrance to the harbor. The weather was mag
nihcent; scarce ripple on the bosom OF old
ocean, while light, deecy clouds tempered the fierce
rays Of the sun. Upon being sigh ted the Bouvet
was moving northeast, but soon changed her course
and came down to meet her antagonist, which was
moving directly towards her. The Prussian was to
the Mindward as they approached each other. Al
uibeen minutes after TWO the vessels were two and
. hall miles apart, and at twenty-five minutes past
the Frencnman changed his course to the northwest
the other steadily moving forward. Soon after, the
Frenchman again changed his course, this time
moving directly down and threw out his signal nag,
Indicating his readiness for the battle half past
two The Cortes was then five miles from the Moro
and the combatants some two miles further out and
past two the Frencnman fired the first shot which
fell short, followed by another with like
osu lis ns nsr n seana sSsl q
the other, raising his battle flags. The Bouvet
fired twice again, with no result, when as the YES
nred two shots In quick succession, passing the B0u
vet by the stern. These also without result. While
rapid. when about half mile apart they Changed
their courses respectively and again approached
each other, the Bouyet moving down as with the
intention of boarding both firing meanwhile, the
Frenchman much the more rapidly. Indeed, 1t
seemed the object OF the Prussian never to fire cut
Of distance. The vessels continued on their course
until they collided, the nring being quick and heavy.
Immediately the PruSsian's main and mizzenmasts
were seen to go by the board, and the other lost
Frenchman being completely enveloped in smoke
and steam. It soon became evident that the ma
II by magic, his sails spread out, and
ne started IN the direction OF the port The
German which WAS meantime striving TO clear his
decks and the wheel OF his screw, which had be-
come entangled with the rigging, fired few shots
after him, bur they fell short; The Bouvet Kept
harb0r and at twenty eight minutes pas. three the
Cortes fired gun, indicating that the fight could not
proceed, as the Bouvet had entered neutral waters.
The General OF Marines the Cortes then slgnaled
the Spanish gunbOat to approach and on ner arrival
directed him to state TO The commander Of the Bouvet
that he was in neutral waters, and would not be
allowed TO take advantage OF 1t to repair damages
and continue the fight, but il he entered port every
facility would be offered him. At the same time
medical AID was sent. The Cortes then moved toward
the Meteor, and within short distance boat was
lowered and medical aid was sent aboard, the Gen.
eral OF Marines directing no Official congratulations
should be offered.
The French vessel entered the narbor tOwed by
tuQbOat at abOuC five O'Clock, Investigation showed