The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-26
SPAIN FIRED
ON THE FOOTE.
The Torpedo Boat the First Target
at Matanzas.
THE AIM OF THE GUNNERS POOR,
No Response Made 10y the American
NarshipS- Press Boat Daunt-
less Becomes "a Mail Carrier.
No Bombardmcnt As Yet.

MATANZAS. ISLAND OF CUBA. VIA
KEY WESr FLA. APRIL o. 1:i2 \. NJ,
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT DAUNTLESS. The
United States torpedo boat Focte.
Lieutenant rs. j.. Rodgers. COM
handing has tho honor OF having been
the tareot for The first shots fred by the
Spsniards at the American flag during
tho war just begun. The firing occurred
between B. and o. o'clock ON Saturday ar
tcrn0ou. while the torpedo boat was TAX
ing soundiugs Boo the harOor Of Matanzas.
She was within two or three hundred
yards OF the shore. Suddenly q Spanish
masked battery ou the east side OF the
harhor and mot very FAR distant from the
Tootc fired three shots al the torpedo
boat They au went wide Of the mark
and tho ro0tr retired lcisurely 90 the Cin-
,uuau. where she reported the result OF
her sounDines and then announced she
bad been sired upon. The Cincinnati was
anxious 90 steam in instantly and reduce
the Spanish battery but she was not
permitted to do $50.
SO captures are reported by the feet
OF Matauzas
Do Is alleged that two Spanish eunboats
wen. soon BOO shore. but the report could
not be verified.
PAMBLES OF THE DAINTLESS.
A. M-BetWcon @ and 10 o'clock last
nigh. fhe Dlmtlcss Was steaming quiet
Us toward Matauzas whose lights were
reflected 900 the sky % few miles south
eastward. large fire ON shore was eX-
citing comment ou board tho despatch
boat and wonder was rife as TO where
che Emitted states bio kadiug fleet was %
90 found suddenly. lookout ON board
the despatch boat reported- torpedo
boat asIern. coming up fast
nlr
two rod and one green and by "a rocket
which she sent zap tho torpedo boat bu-
pout Was made out The rocket was an
swerod hy tho c'ariug search lights ON
board tho cruiser Cincinnati. the beams
being brown full ON tho Dauniless ana
ou the Dupont. The despatch boat had
come uu8WarCs within three miles OF inc
Cuban shore and far inside the prescrlo-
cd limits.
Tine Dsuutiess made known her idcnu-
o. and soon boat from the Cincinnati
On c.1arre Of Ensign McIntryc pulled to-
ward her Tee papers and log OF the
Dauntless were examined and found 10
be satisfactory. We exchanged news and
the Cincinnati having ordered the pdunt-
Jess 90 lay 20. permission was requested
% return 90 Key West Ensign Mclntrye
said le would transmit the request 10
The Cincinnati.
80 NEws-MAIL.
The Cincinnati was also informed that
the DauntlcsS would Chccrfully take
back any mail lu ten minutes boat
returned with This message:
captain Chester's compliments ana
he viii be- obliged 30 YOU will take in TINS
mail You can 90. A1Nlse Lnat you ,,
steam duo west six miles. when you
make your first course or YOU may get
into moro trouble.
THO instructions were ohoycd literally
and the Dauutless set of ON her return.
Before she had gone six miles. we saw q
torncfo BOAT astcru. evidently Keeping am
eve on us. Tucu we saw the Cincinnati
search lights sweep The horizon ana soon
aftcrward We heard four shots IN sue
ceee.on. Ks tncy were not followed by
others we presumed that some other boat
had been 0verhauied.
Certainly there was no bombardmeut OF
Nfatauzas commenced al night The
pauntless made 20 good rum The north
gale having alated and the water being
smooth iu the straits. She arrived OFT
Sand Key Light at o'clock this morn
THB BLOCKADING FLEET
The Nauntless steamed from Off Hava-
n8 90 the blockading squadron OF Ma
ttrzae YESTERDAYS being the first dispatch
boat 90 visit The United states vessels
cruising of this part of the coast.
The Daunticss left the squadron al
Havana inst after the flagship New York
sailed. presumably for Key West. She
was along side the Indiana for while
Tho Wilmington. Detroit and several
other vessels were further I'm shore. me
Iowa. following the orders OF Rear-Ad-
mirrI sampson was far enough off Ha-
,ana To- escape any fire from the shore
batteries.
There has been mo- incident worth not
ue since the capture of the Spanish
steamer Catalina and two schooners IN
tho carly morning.
THE Nashville and The Casiine are
doubtless stW on Clontuegos.
or her yyav from Havana 20 Matanzas
Che Dsunuess passed the torpedo boat
Winslow. rong TO report 20 the flagship.