The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-03
TIE ARGONAUTA'S CAPTURE
She Had Several Officers who Are
Held as Prisoners.
WAS CAPTURED BY THE NASHVILLE
After She Had Been Seized Spanish
Gunboats Appeared, hut Were
Driven Back Up stream

Key West, Fla. May 2.--Ope of the most
important captures made since the out
break Of hostlities was that of the ship
Argonauta by the gunboat Nashvilie. last
FRIDAY news of which reached here To-
nigh; when the warship arrived. The NJ
gonauta bad on board Colonel Cori1o OF tne
I bird Spanish cavalry, his first lieutenant
SUI geon major and several other lieutenan's
AMI ten privstes and non commissioned
officers All were held as prisoners OF
war. The steamer also carried large
| cargo of arms and manser ammunition'
She was bound from Batabano, Spain. for
| Cienfuegos, stopping at Port Louisa Trlni-
dad and Manzaniilo. Her capture was ex-
| citing and occurred in this way
| The Nashville, the Marblehoal and The
| Eagle left the station on the north coast
| last Monday TO blockade CieuiuesoS, ar
riying at the latter place on Thursday.
| They spent the day reconnoi;erins and the
| next morning (Friday). N order to get pet
, ter Information steamed close to the mouth
| OF the hnrbor OF Cieuiuegos. me Eagle
| was to the astWard and in the van. The
! MarDlehcad was slightly in the lear ana
| the Nashville to the westward. All were
|
| the morning smoke was seen rising on the
| western horizon and the Nashville ne, ausc
| OF her position, put on all spreai and
| steamed in that direction twenty i've
| minutes later she put two shots across
the bow OF the coming steamer, whch
promptly hove to. Ensign Kuenzli was
sent with q prize crew of nine ana took
| charge of Tho Spaniard. Learning that
Spanish soldiers we're on board, word was
given TO send them to the Nashville i'm
| medlately as prisoners OF war and this
was done. The passengers and non-com-
bataLts were sent ashore under Il flag OF
truce.
The eagle hoisted a signal conveying the
intelligence that she had been fired on by
Spanish toats coming out OF the river. The
Eagle returned the fire with her six
Founders and held her ground until The
Mafblehead came up. Both vessels theI
tred broadside after broadside up the en-
trance to the river. The boats coming
down were two torpedo boats ana one tor
pedo boat destroyer.
After twenty minutes of firing by tn
Eagle, the last two Of which were particl
pated in by the Marblekead the Spanis
loats ceased firing, and II IS considered
certainty were damaged
The Nashville brought In the prisoners o
war tonight and the Marhlehead convoyin
tie prize is expected to arrive late tonigh
or carly in the morning
The report that Isleslas, the suspecte
sailor on the Puritan, had been courtmar
tailed and sentenced 10 be shot, is an In
vention from whole cloth. This is state
on the authority OF a high officer of III
ship who gave the information to the Asso
cated Press this evening According I
this otficsr a full investigation WAS mad
and no evidence OF erminalty was found
Ysicsias was seen near the magazine, bu
he made no overt attempt He having
however, made indirect threats against u
ship, the crew were much incensed agains
him Fer this reason It has been decided t
put him ashore quietly tomorrow at tn
time the steamer leaves for the north, ad
vising him not TO sail On her. This is don
to avoid possible violence on the ragi OF ia
crew. who firmly believe the treason stor
and TO whose exaggerated stories the Sou
sational acts printed are due. Tg0sias
regarded as irresponsible but harmless
The les Cuban volunteers who LEFT 70
TAMPA AFTER a torch light procession thi
evening will 20 with the troops to cub
Tho prize court of inquiry sat to-day I
investigate the case Of tho Catalina |
was said that after tho sitting the priz
will probably be surrendered