The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-28

Key West. April 27.-The capture of
the Spanish steamer Panama. with her
rich cargo, by the Mangrove, is the
best prize expected in these waters for
many a day. When the achievement
became known on the New York loud
cheers broke from the crowded decks.
The Mangrove, which was going to
Key West for coal, ran right into the
Spaniard, which endeavored to get
away. The Indiana was signalled by
the flagship and Joined in the chase
but apparently the chief glory belongs
to the Mangrove.
Intense satisfaction is felt among the
officers of the New York over the cap
ture for a vigilant lookout has been
kept during the last few days, and to-
night some feared that the Panama
might have slipped into Havana. Her
value is great quite apart from the
intrinsic worth of the hull and cargo.
1T would have been most detrimental
to the blockade if the provisions which
she carried had been taken into Ha-
Nana.
The first news from Havana reached
the squadron this evening when the
British steamer Luceline was stopped
by the flagship. The LuCeline is COM
manded by Captain Tucker She halls
from London and was bound from Ha-
Nana for Bermuda and Philadelphia.
She has about 200 Cubans, men, wo-
men and children, on board. beside a
cargo of horses and sugar. She is the
first boat known to have left Havana
since last Friday, when the blockade
was commenced. She was seen COM
ing out from El MORO about p. M,
and was about six miles from land be-
fore the New York started on her trail.
Smoke poured from the nagship'S
Smokestacks as she rushed through the
calm water to cut off the stranger.
who was also going at a good pace.
Lieutenant Marble was sent on board
by Captain Chadwick. The Cubans on
the LuCelne's deck shouted "Hurrah'
and waved their hands at the New
York. Captain Tucker gave satisfac-
tory, proofs of the Luceline's identity.
He said that the people in Havana did
not know that war was in progress.
The English consul general, Mr. Col
Ian, had said nothing to him, so Cap
tain Tucker alleged, about the war;. or
the blockade. When asked what ex-
planatiOn was given in Havana for the
appearance of American ships outside
El MORO, Captain Tucker said he had
not bothered his head about it, and
had not heard anyone talking on the
subject. There were no evidences, he
continued, of starvation in the city of
Havana. His Cuban passengers-many
of them children in arms-were get
ting out of Havana. ION general prin-
Ciples." He had heard that more mines
We're to he laid in the harbor. Captain
Tucker declared that he had not read
any Of the Havana papers.
CHEERS FOR MARBLE.
Nfter a careful inspection Lieutenant
Marble left the Lucelne. Three cheers
We're given as he went over the side
j. is the opinion Of this correspondent
that very little reliance can be placed
upon Captain fuckers story.
About two hundred Spanish cavalry
were seen on the beach about fifteen
miles from FL MORO this afternoon.
The flagship was lyilN at no great
distance from the shore and they were
within easy range; but no shots were
fired. 1t is believed the Spanish cav
airy Is establishing a patrol to pre-
vent a repetition of such incidents as
the Porter landing Monday night The
II Moro batteries were believed to he
firing at something at about p. m.; but
IT was impossible to ascertain definite
ly whether this was so or not
The Wilmington captured the tiny
schooner Sol Of Sagua, with a cargo of
sugar, bat let her so, after being care
ful TO see that she went in a direction
opposite to Havana.
The news from Matanzas, Cardenas
and Mariel is meagre; but it indicates
that the blockade has been firmly estah-
lished at these ports. The torpedo boat
FOote is reported as having been fair
ly on the Matanzas batteries; but thus
far not single casualty of any kind in
the fleet has been heard of on the flag
ship.
Lieutenant Juan del Pine Of the
Spanish infantry and his orderly were
brought on board the flagship yester.
day morning from the gunboat vii,
mington, TO whom they had been turn,
ed over by the cruiser Cincinnati. The
cruiser captured the Spaniards Will,
they were in a small schooner hound FOL
Matanzas. Lieutenant Pine was on z
furlough and was going TO see his wife
and infant child The child was borr
last Friday and he had never seen il
In these circumstances Admiral Samp
son and Captain Chadwick decided Il
let the officer and his orderly go under
parole.