St. Paul daily globe., 1895-07-25
TWO SHOTS LEVELED AT AN
AMERICAN SCHOONER BY A
SPANISH GUNBOAT.
HER CAPTAIN INDIGNANT.
ONE OF THE VESSELS CREW
NARROWLY ESCAPES BE-
ING KILLED.
BOARDED BY SPANISH MARINES.
One of the Shots Fired After the
Stars and Stripes Had Been
HOisted.


Capt. Quick, of the American
schooner Carrie E. Lane, on his ar
rival here tonight had tale to tell
about thrilling encounter in Cuban
waters with a Spanish gunboat.
Two shots were fired at the Lane by
the nan-of-war, and one of the
schooner's crew narrowly escaped
vessel was made to heave to and
give an account of herself before
being allowed to proceed. The
schooner was off Cape Antonio and
making good time before a stiff
breeze, when on the 14th inst. she
sighted a steamer flying the Spanish
flag following her. While Capt.
Quick was making up his mind the
course to pursue a puff of smoke
curled up over the steamers port
bow and a round shot whistled un-
comfortably close to the schooner's
mainmast and plunged into the
water on the lee quarter. Capt.
Quick gave the order to haul in
sail and bring the vessel to. While
this was being done one Of the crew
ran out on the bowsprit. AS he
stood there the gun on the Spanish
WarShip doomed again, and another
shot sped on its way toward the
American craft, this time coming so
close to her that the sail man on
the bowsprit swears he distinctly
felt the wind caused by it's rapid
fight.
BOARDED BY MARINES.
The Lane soon came to a dead
stop, and the gunboat drew up un-
der her quarter. A boat was lowered
and four Spanish marines came
aboard. They were fully armed, and
their leader very civilly lifted his
hat and demanded to know from
what port the Lane had sailed, and
whittier she was bound. Capt. Quick
gave the required information, and
no further search was made, and the
vessel was permitted to continue on
her course without further molesta-
ttion. Capt. Quick says he could not
get the name of the gunboat. He
adds that after the first shot was
fired at the Lane he caused the
Stars and Stripes to be hoisted at
the peak, but the only response the
Spaniards made was a second shot.
The gunboat did not hoist her col
ors until after the first shot was
fired. Capt. Quick reached here to-
night and wired his agents in Phil
adelphia, and will await advices
from them before determining what
he will do. He considers the action Of
the Spaniards an outrage.
THE SPANIARD IN THE RIGHT.
WASHINGTON, July 24.-The gov
ernment officials her have received
no information regarding the firing on
the schooner Carrie E. Lane by
Spanish war vessel, off Cape An
tonic. The general opinion of naval
officers, who read the report of the af-
fair as described by Capt. Quick, is
that the Spaniard did not exceed his
authority in overhauling the schooner
if the latter was in the territory of
Cuba The Spanish government, it is
held, is menaced by the danger of the
landing of filibustering expeditions off
the Cuban coast, and in exerting itself
d
to overhaul and learn the character of
any vessel within the three-mile limit
that might be suspected of having on
board those entertaining designs
against the government, or a cargo
intended for the insurgents. Capt.
Quick's story, as given here, shows
he paid no attention to the man-of-war
for an hour or more. This, it is held,
probably caused the captain Of the
latter to suppose the schooner was en-
gagged in filibustering methods and
prompted him to take decisive action
in preventing her escape.
PERFECTLY JUSTIFIED.
One naval officer, with whom a rep
resentative of the Associated Press
talked tonight, was emphatic in his
declaration that the captain of the
man-of-war was perfectly justified in
what he had done. Assuming, of
course, that the schooner was within
the territorial limits of Cuba, it was
the business of the Spanish govern
ment to intercept hny vessel that
might be used by the insurgents.
The right of the cruiser of one nation
to- know the nation and character of
any strange ship she may meet at
Sea Is sustained Dy writer's OF inter-
national law. It is held that the party
making the inquiry makes himself
fully known in a way before he can
lawfully demand such knowledge from
the other vessel. If this be refused, 1t
is held the inquiring vessel may fire
a>blank shot, and in case of urther de-
lay, a shotted gun may be fired across
the bows of the delinquent by way of
positive summons. Any measure be-
yond the summoning shot, which the
commander Of an armed ship may
take for the purpose of ascertaining
the nationality of another vessel, must
be at his peril. If any report of the
affair be made to the state depart
ment some steps will likely be taken
by this government, should the cir
cumstances seem to warrant it. If
the statement of Capt. Quick, that
solid shot was first fired directly at
his vessel is sustained, it may make
his case more serious one.
REBELS SURROUNDED THEM.