The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-04-26
FIRST SHOT FIRED.
Spanish Merchantman Buenaventura Cap
tured by the GunbOat Nashville.

tured by the Gunboat Nashville.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 23.-The
Spanish merchantmen Buenaventura
was captured shortly after o'clock
Friday morning by the United States
cruiser Nashville. The fleet at that
time was only short distance from
the shore. Smoke had appeared on the
horizon, away to westward, and by 6
o'clock 1t was plain that this came
from merchantmen. By z O'Clock
she was seen to be two-maSted,
black-hulled ship, with white upper
works and black smokestacks, having
the cOlors of the Spanish flag painted
around 1t. A Spanish flag was flying
to the breeze above the taffrail.
The squadron had been steaming
dead slow, say six knots, but at 7
o'clock the Nashville suddenly left the
line, and at full speed headed toward
the Spaniard. A moment later a gun
was fired from the port battery of the
Nashville and the shot struck the
water d few hundred yards away.
The Spaniard was half mile from the
Nashville, and she held her way, max
ing no sign of having given the shot
any attention.
For two minutes the Nashville held
her way in the chase, and then tried
another shot, that passed apparently
within a rod of the Spaniard'S bow
and clipped spray from the crest of the
waves for mile beyond,
The officer on the Spaniard's bridge
at once reversed her engines, while a
luan ran ait and hastily lowered her
flag.
At 7:l5 the Nashville brought to
alongside the Spaniard, having every
gun, big and little, in the starboard
broadside pointed at her.
Then a whale boat was lowered, and
Ensign Magruder, with Il boarding
crew of six men, was sent to take
charge of the prize.
She was found to be the Buenave n
tura, plying between New York, la
vana and West India ports. She had
cargo of lumber on deck forward
that was slowed so as to give her Il list
to port. Meanwhile the torpedo boat
FoOte had run down in the wake of
the Nashville, and brought to beside
the Buenaventura. For the next half
hour there was a good deal of filling
and backing by the Nashville and the
Foote. as they lay about the Spaniard.
Ensign Magruder took charge of the
Spaniards papers and sent report
regarding them to the Nashville
These were eventually sent to the flag
ship by the torpedo boat Footc
She brought orders that the Buena-
ventura was to be held, and i few min
utes later the Nashville headed to-
ward Key West and was followed by
! the BuCnaventura.
1t was observed, however, that when
the Nashville and Buenaventura had
run a mile or so toward port, they
were stopped by signal from Adm.
Sampson, and for - or 20 minutes
they hung on wind. Then they headed
away once moro for port
AS the Eucnavcnt ura lay awaiting
orders from Adm. Sampson her crew
hung listlessly over the rail or walked
about her deck and gazed at her captors.
The Spanish officers were on the
bridge most of the time, but one, APP
parently the captain, went to and from
the bridge to the deck and down be-
low. An American sailor had the
| wheel. Another stood on the bridge,
! near Ensign Magruder. and the others
: guarded the main deck. The sailors
arc carrying musl<ets on board, and
: Ensign Magruder has side arms.
The sailors on the bridge and at the
wheel had bay Onets in their belts. and
| the men on deck kept their muSketS in
! hand. One of these on deck was seen
| to examine his musket lock occasional
| ly, and to handle the weapon carelessly
, at frequent intervals. The crews on
! the Nashville and Foote and prize crew
were entirely sober, however, during
, the time occupied in waiting to start
: for port.
GALVESTON, Tex, April 23.-The
| steamer Bnenaventura, captured by
, the United States gunboa Nashville,
| is tramp steamer hailing from Bilgoa.
| Spain. She belonged to the Sarrinaga
! line. On March % she arrived at Pas
| cagoula, Miss, from Havana, and was
on the way TO ensacola. Fla. TO load
for Holland when captured.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 23.-The
cruiser Marblehead. the monitor Pur~
itan, the Algonquin and the MangrOvc
sailed Friday afternoon to join the
fleet. The only ships of the squadron
now remaining here are the Dolphin.
| the Terror and the Helena, all of which
are likely to move within few hours.