The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-24

from theoecK OF the New Y ork as Sig
nal to the Spanish freighter Pedro. Of
Bilboas to heave to shortly before g
o'clock this evening. The little Pedro,
scurrying like scared rabbit close in
shore. favored by the closing in OF
foggy, misty day, was sighted by the
New York and Immediately brought
about with solid shot across her bow.
1t was shortly after o'clock that the
New York signaned the feet to halt and
scudded away like q grey hound along
the coast of Cuba
Far off against the dim, vague back
ground of Cuban hills. half seen, half
guessed could be traced faint film OF
greyish smoke, the one visible evidence
Of a Spanish freighter striving vainly
to race out the day without being dis
covered by the great grew monsters that
blackened the sky to the west in one
solid mass of black cloud from the fun
nels of roaring furnaces.
Vainly the Spaniard raced. Charging
along at trial test speed. the New York
soon lay across the bows of the Spanish
ship, and the crashing challenged blaz-
ed from the deck of the cruiser
A huge puff of white smoke rolled out
from the side of the flagship and far off.
just in front Of the Spaniard, q foun-
tain of white foam leaped into the air.
In a moment the course Of the strange
Spaniard was changed and she hove to.
Shortly ATTIC the New York led her prize
further out from shore and laid her to.
Crew and captain could be seen rushing
about the deck of the ship like a nest
Of ants, hiding their vaiuables and striv-
ing to avert some impending fate they
could only guess at i ntheir ignorance.
As she came around her name could
be clearly read on her stern. She is the
Pedro Of Bilboa, Spanish freighter. two
masted, with a black funnel and single
yellow stripe and hull black above red.
AS soon as she was laid along side. the
Pedro was boarded by Ensign Frank
Marble of New York. Ensign Marble
led a prize crew. consisting of a file OF
marines and eeamen. With great for
sumed charge. burly barefooted Am
erican tar showed the Spanish quarter
master from the wheel and began to set
the course of the Spanfard.
The Spanish crew gathered in a terri
fed huddle near the forecastle and
awaited developments.
Hardly had the prize crew been put on
board before another freighter was seen
going down the coast to the eastward.
The New York, leaving the captured
Spanish craft in charge of the prize crew,
and sent a shot into the water directly
in front of her bows. She paid no atten-
ton to the challenge, but kept steadily
on, and a few seconds later another shot
was sent hurting across the water in
front of her.
After this hostile demonstration she
hauled up and was soon following the
New York out to sea. It was discovered,
however, that she few the German flag,
and consequently was permitted to pro-
coed.
As this is carried from the scene Of the
occurrence by the Echo. the Pedro is
being headed for Key West to be used
as a transport in carrying American
troops to Cuba.
Key West. Fla, April 23.-The New
York chased third steamer last night.
She was about twelve miles distant from
Havana, and was making for that port.
The New York fired one shot and the
stranger hove to. She was boarded and
proved to be a German vessels, whereupon
she was released, but was not allowed to
enter the port, and turned back. The
capture of the Pedro was effected at $40
~ L. irrl,t