New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-26
WITHIN THE BLOCKADE LINE.
EXCITING ADVENTURE OF A PRESS DIS
PATCH BOAT OFF MATANZAS.
s.-uPPED TWICE BY VESSELS OF THE SQUADRON
PROOF OF THE THoROUGHNEss OF
THE BLOCKADE
TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. |

TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSZl
OFF Matanzas. April % (By dispatch boat 10
Key WesO.-Experience shows that the block
ade from Havana TO Cardenas is thorough.
Lyiag twelve miles off Moro Castle yesterday
afternoon it easy to see how thoroughly
tno entrance 70 the harbor was closed. Leav-
ing that point one hour before sunset. and
cruising along tho coast pretty well in shore,
clcse enough 10 see the range Of hills with the
make. eye we were able 10 determine that no
Graf; was coasting aimlessly In either direc-
tio, Two vessels from the fleet were patroling
for twenty five or thirty miles east OF Havana.
Just at dusk a Norwegian brigantine was
sighted Men could be seen boarding her. She
was evidently not bound FOR Havana, for she
was allowed TO proceed. One OF the torpedo
boats which proved to be the Winslow return
ing to the fleet from the blockading squadron
al Matanzas, was also passed.
After that we held our course about three
hours without sign Of ship. AS We neared
Matanzas three bright fires were burning
near what appeared 70 be point which is
doubled on entering the bay. They were sur
missed 10 be signals for the insurgents but these
are SO common that no attention is paid 70
them. II was beginning 10 be question what
had become Of the squadron. The dispatch
boat was four miles off shore, and was unable
70 discern sign or H. The moon had not gone
down but the stars were bright and II was
possible 10 see q fair distance across the
waters.
Urexpectelly faint cloud OF smoke was seen
far 70 port. then small black speck could be
seen moving swiftly toward us. 1t was a safe
guess that one II the torpedo-boats was over
hauling US \ moment afterward the rockets
shot upward two red lights and one green and
then the torpedo-boat swung astern and to
sfarhoard rrOyed be the Dupont. QUICK
ly the hal came:
What ship IS that
The answer was not delayed Then the warn
Ing came:
Keep out Of this; keep six miles out OF this
line or you'll get a shot through you
Meantime two searchlights had been turned
on US from the cruiser. which seemed two or
three miles off, and were told 20 proceed
in that direction slowly and report. We had
not proceeded a minute when the searchhghtS
were turned of. Another minutes progress for
the time hardly seemed longer. had been made
when the warning few hundred yards
away:
stop your boat"
The cruiser had been moving upon US. shot
vert across our bow. and again the warning:
"If you don't stop you'll get a shot through
you"
This was the second time within ten minutes
that the threat OF firing sho: into US had been
made. The iteration was unpleasant; HOW
ever there was no time for reflections. for the
Command followed:
Back your engines and lie to-
Aye. aye" came from the captain or thr dls-
patch boat, and she lay 10. while boat pu' OH
Tor the cruiger. Ensign Mcintyre boarded the
ospatch boat with the first order that we were
10 lie there til permission came from the com
Hander OF the cruiser to move. Then our pa
pers We're examined and found 10 be regular ana
'he entry was made in the log book and the IN
huucuons not 20 enter any Cuban port without
permission from the squadron outside II were
'epo''en' along with the caution 10 keep wen
outs'ue IN Cruising about. Then me news OF the
e"P.t'e Oi the Catalina and other boats, as wen
90 '"e latest Information from washington.
49, gwen correct account OF the nrlhs OH
~ ~ eUpeuo-boa Foote by the masked battery
was also obtained
AZ! Lhslgn Mcintyre returned ana reported
=. ~ Napta4h Cnester. another boat put OH from
. nc cIuIser with permission for the dispa'ch
oo4s 70 move off, of which advantage was AT
ohCe taken During the night the searchiisht
, va seen several times and shots were heaIu
49,, presumably warning other ooats WhIcn
ao sot Wlthln line Of the squadron OF "eie
'oSs'Hg outside In the darkness.