New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-27
THE NORTH COAST BLOCKADE
A LEIsURELY TINE FOR THE A%ERI-
CAN FLEET.
FEW SIGNS OF LIFE VISIBLE oN THE COAST
HAvA.A DARK AT NIGHT.

2J).-The blockade OF the northern ports or Cuba
from Havana to Cardenas continues 20 be rigid
L. enforced To an outsider. however. the
leisure and freedom with which the American
squadron cruises within sight and range OF tn"
shore batteries suggest yachting trip rather
than actual warfare.
Unchallengsd and undisturbed, the movements
Of the American vessels in front OF Havana are
kept UP constantly by day, as II 10 remind the
Standards behind the walls Of the fort OF their
forlorn and hopeless condition. At night the
fleet moves further off the shore, two or three
Of the larger ships commanding the approaches
to the harbor. and the smaller craft strung out
in line between them. Signalling by means OF
red and white lights is kept up constantly dur
ing the night between the vessels OF the Meet.
and only in Of alarm is the searchlight
turned to scan the horizon. During the last
four nights only once has the searchlight been
turned on by any vessel Of the blockading
squadron. and then only for few minutes
THE SHIPS IN DARKNESS
With the exception OF small signal lights.
which cannot be distinguished at any great dis
lance the vessels of the fleet are kept in total
darkness no sidelghts. stern or masthead lights
being displayed.
At daybreak signs OF life manifest themselves
aboard the fleet; the smaller boats creep up In
shore, cruising several miles eastward and west
ward. patrolliAg the coast and keeping sharp
lookout on shore through telescopes and glasses
The weather for the last ten days has been
exceptional for this season Of the year. more
resembling the unsettled and squally conditions
of October than those generally prevailing dur
ing a summer month. Some of the light craft.
such as the recently reconstructed tugs ard
,ll,, ,bo foruplO- bOatS.
are therefore experiencing rough weather.
on shore. all along the line from Cardenas to
Marel, no signs Of LIE are visible. From the
Diana Key Lighthouse at the mouth OF Car
denas Harbor. 10 MORO Castle. AT the entrance
10 the bay OF Havana. the coast presents the
appearance Of n deserted island. Not a build
ing. not even a hut. Is in sight. Occasionally.
in the distance between two ranges Of hills. n
cloud Of smoke relieves the monotony Of the
desolate panorama. II probably marks the
deathpile of some smouldering village. burned
by the Spanish troops. or canchelds set on IRE
by General Blanco's soldiers in their blind and
inpotent rage OF destruction.
HAVANA IN PITCH DARKNESS.
Havana itself offers hut few more visible signs
Of life Moro Castle IL in complete darkness.
The revolving light on It's lighthouse which. In
expectation OF the arrival - Admiral Cervcras
SQUADRON had been kept burning for several
nights as beacon to welcome him TO shelter
and safety was cxtlngulshcd Sunday night and
has not since been lighted. The whole city ap-
pears TO be In pitch darkness. II is only when
the dispatch boat approaches within couple
of miles of the shore that one can make out
few stray ntful lights along the waterfront. Be
yond that there Is no reflection OF Hghts IN inc
heavens no glamour from the once brilliantly
lighted streets and parks OF Havana
PAID HIGH TO GET OUT OF CUBA
TIE LAFAyETTE's PROFITABLE VOYAGE
STOPPED FROM LANDING PROVISIONS
IL HAvANA
The British steamer Arecuna. which has been
chartered by the New York and cuba Mall steam
ship Company. arrived here Yesterday from Vera
Cruz Mexico. Tee steamer brought three families
Of Cuban refugees. VINO left Havana on the French
line steamer Lafayette. which Ind permission 10
run the blockade. According TO the stories of these
passengers the Lafayette made the most profitable
voyage OF her history when she sailed from Havana
for Mexico. as she hal board ono thousand
Two hundred passengers. who had paid from y" 10
$50 each for permission 10 board d." steamer ami
escape from the hlockaded city. The Lafayette at
tempted land provisions IN Havana. although
the captain OF the steamer had agreed not 10 DO
hold OF the vessel and placed them on dock ready
TO .erd 20 the wharf and about TO load them
into lighters when he stopped BY the French
Consul at Havana. This order VAS brought about
by the British Consul. who. as representing the
United states protested against the violation OF tho
agreement made when the vessel was allowed TO
enter the harbor. The Spanish authorities at first
objected to having the supplies they needed put
back Into the hold of tho steamer. hut when the
captain OF the Lafayette told that he must
not unload his cargo ~ he expected 70 get out Of
the port without being stopped by tho American war
vessels he replaced the supplies in tho hold.
One OF the arguments used for allowing the
steamer TO stop at Havana was that shc would
have TO take on coal there to proceed to Vera
Cruz Thu, she did not do as there was no coal
other than the supply controlled by General Bianco
in the harbor and he would let her have none OF
this The supply OF coal at Havana is 60 small that
tho people are only allowed 10 burn limited num-
Der of gas lights each night. and factory where
coal is used for fuel is allowed 10
The pasaengers who came TO this city on the
Arecuna we're John Otero. wife and Ave children:
Alfredo de la Fer,e wife and two children. and
Mrs +. c. Miranda and three children Accord
ing TO these passengers. there was a grea, rush OF
people to leave Havana when IL announced that
the Lafayette would carry passengers Fully ten
thousands persons desired to leave tho city. and
a result tickets on the steamer were at high
premium People we're satisfied with any kind OF
accommodations One passenger paid 400 for pas
sage for himself his vile and two small children.
Several others paid 81 900 each.
The majority OF the thousand two hundred
passengers the mad place to sleep
on the voyage and contentcd themselves with lying
tho decks. Lemons were sold 10 passengers at
20 cents each and FOOD on the boat brought hlSh
prices The three days trip from Havana TO Vera
Cruz most dsagrocable The passengers were
among the well-to-do families Of Havana. and many
Of them. being Spaniards, Will remain In Mexico.
When the steamer left Havana there were ono
thousand five hundred people who had Obtained
passports expecting 10 take passage to Vera Cruz,
but~werc left behind
Mr. De la Fcrte said that ne had decided to leave
Cuba until the war was over. and brought his fam
fly here for safety Al the outbreak Of the
bellion Eduardo Garcia the manager OF his plan
tation raised a company Of insurgents from among
the plantation hands and left.
when the Spanish officers heard Of it," said Mr.