Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-25
STERN WAR
CONTINUED from page ~

of the long thanking line of newspaper
tugs and yachts. The DauntlesS left
| Key West one hour and 20 minutes be-
hind the other boats, but in four hours
! and a half she was at the head of the
procession; and quiet Captain Floyd,
who knows the boat better than any
other person living, remarked; "She
can't be, at Ia knots at her best, but
funny how many Is and II knot clip
pers she leaves astern.'
When the flagship New York after the
hills of Cuba had been sighted and she
had started off at 20-knot clip to cap
ture the Spanish steamer Pedro, the
Dauntless veered and followed and was
in at the death. Those on the Dauntless
saw the first hostile shot fired, and as
the flagship swung around for her chase
after what proved to be a German trading
| steamer. they gave the New York the
| first cheer
| But all these things were seen by a lot
of correspondents wet from head to foot
with spray by the barrel full thrown con-
stantly higher than the pilot house. while
to move about one required the use of
| ltSS, IldiitS anu Iccl
But the game was worth the candle.
This was war, or very fair imitation of
it. while the expectancy of greater things
added to the attractiveness of the stu
alton.
After night of rolling in a heavy sea,
to get unocr way in the morning the bet
ter to see the Iowa and the Indiana, in
fighting trim, start seward. and. better
still. to follow the New York as she raced
eastward to intercept what proved to be
an Italian man-of-war, from which yes
sci Rear Admiral Sampson received his
first rear admiral's salute from foreign
warship, came the stirring incilent of the
Mathilde, followed by the determination
to return to Key West with dispatches.
The Associated Press dispatch boat
| Dauntiess was asked through the mega
phone to tow the Spanish prize to Key
| West. which was a fitting ending for the
day. 1t was an example of the grim irony
of fate which gave to the most famous
eX-tilibuster the first opportunity to tow
a Spanish prize to the United States. for
which the thanks of Capt. Chadwick were
| received.
AS the Dauntless passed under the lee
of the New York, she received the heart
| lest of cneers from the buejackets, while
| the officers of the flagship clapped their
| hands, the megaphone roared some en-
| coura ging words ami Admiral Sampson
| lifted his cap in answer to the salute OF
| the correspondents.
| The sea picture presented was worth
remembering. The big hull of the
! Il
bluff. but more deadly looking, the long
black hull of the Porter With her
threatening looking torpedo tubes over
| which the spray dashed violently. the
| saucy DauntlesS with forestaysail and
| mainsail set. her smokestack belching
| forth thick smoke. the snaky haWser
| leading to where the schooner, heavy
| laden. was rolling. with her scuppers
under. her crew busy getting up her
| foresal, mainsail and jib, her Spanish
crew working away under the order of
an American officer. side by side with
| Uncle Sans tars. all around rolling
seas topped by white horses and over
all the freshening gale. This picture
| had for a background a pale haze be
| yond which We're the mountains of Gu
| ba, and in the middle distance saffron
| lined Havana, with d speck of yellow
| stripped with red floating from MORO
| Castle.
| How long will that standard stay
| there? This was the thought which
| entered every mind as the haWser
| frightened and the Mathide, following
! the Dauntless. was rushed through the
water towards Key West
| The passage to this port was rough
| one. of course; but it was no worse
| than usual. and without any special
| event to chronicle.
! To the flagship New York belongs the
| honor of firing the first shot that an
| nounced the intention of the United
! States to establish a blockade of the
! port of Havana. The scene of this
! opening event of what may prove to
| be the prolonged hostilities between the
| governments of the United States and
| Spain, was just off the coast of Cuba.
at point about 10 miles east of MORO
| Castle. The shot was fired across the
| bow Of the Spanish steamer Pedro of
Bilboa. outward bound from Havana.
| She hove to Immediately and in the
| course of an hour prize crew from the
| flagship was in charge of her and she
was on her way to Key West.
/ The capture of the Pedro occurred at
O'Clock on Friday afternoon in full
| view of The Associated Press dispatch
| boat DauntleSs. which was the nearest
vessel to the New York at the time
| An hour before, the fleet, with the
! MayfloWer and the torpedo boats be
| hind, nanked by the Dauntless and
| three other press boats was proceeding
at a nine knot speed from Key West
| to the Cuban coast. The vessels We're
then about 20 miles north of Havana.
A haze hung over the southern horizon
and the faintest outline of the shore
could be seen at intervals.
Suddenly the New York quickened
| her speed and went alongside of the
Mayfiower and the leading torpedo
| boat. She halted a moment and
| Signalled some instructions to the re-
| mander of the fleet, and then drew
away from the others and started alone
in southeasterly direction. Faster
and faster she went and longer grew
the distance between her and the other
| ships. Black smoke poured from her
tunnels and she appeared to be trying
to equal her 22-knot record made on
the trial trip.
| AT first it was supposed she was