The Portland daily press., 1898-04-26
TOO CLOSE TO SHORE.
The Press Boat Dauntless Had Narrow
Escape.

Copyright 1898 by the Associated Press. }
On Board the Associated Press Despatch
Boat Dauntless, Matanzas, April 25, via
Key West, 7.42 u. m.-Between and 10
O'Clock last night the Dauntless was
steamlng quietly toward Matanzas, where
lights were reflected on the sky a few
miles southeastward.A large fire on shore
was exciting comment on board the de-
spatch boat and wonder was rife as to
where the United States blockading fleet
was to be found. Suddenly a look out
on board the despatch boat reported
"Torpedo boat astern coming up fast'
A moment or so later by hsr lights,
two red and one green and by a rocket
which she sent up, the torpedo boat
Dupont was made out. The rocket was
| answered by the glare from two search
lights ON board the cruiser Cincinnati,
Dauntless and ON the Dupont The de.
spatch boat of the Associated Press had
come unawares within three miles of the
Cuban shore and far inside the prescribed
limits.
What followed WAS short, sharp and
warlike. The Dupont ran up to the de-
spatch boat and hailsd her. When the
were directed to proceed slowly towards
the Cincinnati. The Dauntless proceeded
slowly but it seems not slow enough and
the glare of the cruisers searchlights
blinded Captain Floyd. The first intima-
tion that we were ia too close proximity
to the warship was contained in the re-
port of a six FOUNDER. Then came quick
hail: "Heave to Dauntless.
| Then came the order: 'Back her,
back her or you will get a shot through
| you"
She was backed. Then the Dupont
! stole up, quietly reporting to the Cincin-
nati 'sIhis is the boat we sighted in
shore.
| Soon afterwards, boat from the Gin
| cinnati came alogside.
| The first order was: "Your papers and
| log, please. ="
| These were produced and were found to
be satisfactory. Then, sure of cordial re-
lations being resumed we found we had
transgressed far within the limits set for
vessels and had a close shave of being
| fired on with shot.
| We exchanged news and the Cincin-
natl having ordered the Dauntless lay to,
permission was requested to return to
Key West. Ensign Mcintyre said he
would transmit the request to the Gin
cinnati. Before leaving the Dauntless,
the cadet made the following entry in the
log OF the despatch boat:
AT ten o'clock boarded by naval cadet
Ii. W.. Mcintyre, of U. S. S. Cincin-
natl and captain was informed that they
were not to enter any Cuban port under
penalty of being fired upon. Boat must
first report tofoutside squadron and OBJ.
tain permission before entering any
port rAAg -1ft1 ~ :
The Cincinnati was also informed that
the Dauntless would cheerfully d take
| back any mail. ) n ten minutes a boat re-
turned with this message:
Captain Chesters compliments and he
will be Obliged if you will takesin this
mail You can go. Advise that yor
steam due west; six miles when you max,
your first course or you may get int
more trouble
/ The instructions were obeyed literally
and the Dauntless set off on her return
Before she had gone six miles we saw
a torpedo boat astern evidently keeping
AN eye on us. Then we saw the Cincin
MATHS searchlights sweep the horizon, ana
soon afterwards we heard four shots in
quick succession. AS they were not fol-
| lowed by others, we presumed that some
other boat had been overhauled. Ger
tainIy there was no bonn bardment of
| Matanzas commenced tonight The
Dauntless arrived off Sand Key light at
| five O'Clock this morning.