The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-04-30
THE BEST YET TAKEN.
Lighthouse Tender Mangrove Cap.
lures. a Rich Prize.
without an Effort at Resistance the
Big spanish Steamer Panama
surrenders-Novem
OF the Fleet.

Key West, Fla. April 27.-The Light
house tender Mangrove pulled proudly
into Key West harbor Tuesday morning
with the richest prize of the war thus
far The captive was the Panama, Capt.
Quevedo. "A big, transatlantic liner, and
an auxiliary cruiser of the Spanish navy,
which has been plying of late between
New York and Havana. She had 20
passengers, including three women. one
Frenchman and one Mexican and a
crew OF ~. As the Panama carried two
l2-pounders she could easily have an
initiated the little Mangrove, and as the
latter came into harbor with her prize
there was not craft but saluted her
with rousing cheers.
The Mangrove. under Lieutenant
Commander William III. Everett, was
cruising along the Cuban coast, nav
igated by Ensign Palmer, shortly be-
fore six o'clock Monday evening, about
20 miles north OF Havana. At 545 p. m.
she sighted the Panama. The only 9th
er ship of the fleet in sight was the bat
tleship Indiana, three miles to the rear.
Lieutenant Commander Everett scented
a prize and scudded toward the
stranger. When the latter came within
range, shot from the Mangrove's 10
FOUNDER was sent across her bows, but
the Spaniard ignored the challenge and
went on. Another shot followed with
out result, but .he Mangrove was draw
ing nearer the stranger, who calmly
proceeded on her course, apparently
without any intention OF running away.
When the third shot was fired the
Mangroye was within hundred yards
Of the Panama and Lieutenant Com
mander Everett shouted 10 the deck Of
ficer that il she did not surrender he
would sink her. The Mangrove's Of
ficers admit that they expected the
enemy's 12-pouncer to open on them In
response TO the threat, but the Span
lard promptly came to. Ensign Day
ton, the senior officer Of the Mangrove,
boarded the prize.
The battleship Indiana had seen the
capture and meanwhile drew up TO the
Mangrove, giving her a lusty cheer
Lieutenant Commander Everett re-
ported TO Capt. Taylor, of the battle
ship, and the latter put prize crew on
board the captive, consisting of Cadet
Falconer and Is marines. They then
proceeded 70 the flagship, where a
formal report was made, and Rear Adj
lniral Sampson ordered Lieutenant
Commander Everett to convey the prize
70 Key West.
The Panama is about $500 tons bur-
den, and her passengers were mainly
Spanish refugees fleeing from New
York and other points in the United
States 20 Havana. Capt Quevedo was
grief-stricken and greatly Inundated
because of the capture. The passen-
gers declare they knew nothing OF the
blockade, and that when they saw the
searchlight of the Mangrove they
thought 1t was the light OF Spanish
man-of-war. The first shot changed
their Joy to apprehension, the second
ard third created panic. The wom-
eli ran screaming for shelter from the
enemy's guns and the captain locked
himself sullenly in his cabin.
The Panama carries a valuable cargo
Of general merchandise, including a
lnrge quantity OF corn. Much Of il was
meant TO provision the Spaniards in
Cuba, and the cargo, with the ship IT.
self. undoubtedly makes tho richest
prize thus far taken. Under the regu-
lations. however, the battleship Indiana
will share in the prize money, as she
was in sight when the capture was
made.
This makes five steamers thus far
captured. i'm addition 60 a number OF
schooners and small craft. The entire
fleet have been on the lookout for the
Panama for several Days.
Intense satisfaction is felt among the
officers OF the New York over the cap
ture. for a vigilant lookout hns been
kept during the last few days and 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 had the provisions which she
carried gotten into Havana.
New York. April 27.--In spite OF per
sistent rumors, there has been no inn
portant movement OF Spanish vessels
since the beginning OF the war. The
first squadron remains at ST. Vincent,
Cape Verde islands; the second squad
ron Is believed 90 be still at Cadz and
the torpedo boat Temerario has not left
the River Platte.
The United States North Atlantic
squadron continues to blockade Cuba,
and will probably be reinforced by the
dynamite cruiser Nesuvius. which left
Newport Monday. The flying squad
ron remains at Hampton Roads watch
ing the Spanish fleet at ST. Vincent.
The cruisers Minneapolis and Column
bin, OF the flying squadron, reached
New England Monday. The Columbia
arrived at Newport, and the Mime
apolis rs of the Massachusetts, coast.
These fast cruisers are supposed to
be waiting TO meet the new cruiser
Topeka and the auxiliary cruiser Paris,
now en- route from England to New
York.
nianco's Latest.