The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-30
Anot' er Spanish Vessel Captured on
Abanas While Trying to En-
ter Havana Harbor.
ARRIVAL OF THE PANTHER
WITH roo MARINES UNDER CONVOY
OF THE MONTGOMERY.
Another story of the Razing of the
FOrtificntiOns at Matanxas-Ref-
ugces from Cuban Ports.

KEY WEST, Fla, April 29.-To-day was
one of wild rumor and little action. First
came the story of the bomhardment of Car
denas by the ships of the feet stationed
there The rumors suddenly developed
from nowhere and thrived Justify, acquiring
an elaborate finish of detail and ornamental
ton. Then the monitor Puritan steamed
into port, and Captain Harrington the COM
manding officer of the Cardenas fleet. gave
the story it's quietus by a firm declaration
that there had been no bombardment of the
Cardenas batteries, incidentally adding that
there were no batteries there and only one
or two insignificant gunboats, which had
given no sign of offense.
The Puritan was hardly in port, to which
she came for coal, when another picturesque
story appeared. This was that Spaniard
was in the crew of the monitor, and had
been detected with bunch OF skeleton keys
attempting to pick the lock of one of the
powder magazines, with intent to blow up
the ship This thrilling tale industri-
ously spread by the Puritan's patriotic
crew. who knew only few of the facts,
and it, too was summarily nipped in the
bud by the highest officers of the ship.
The rumor arose from the strange actions
of a fireman, with Notwithstanding
because of his eccentricities. The officers. OF
the Puritan declare there is no thought Of
trying the man by court-rnartia and that
all the talk about treason is absurd
1t appears that a few days ago the man
In question was seen in one of the monitors
turrets and the man. who saw him reported
/ that he had his hand On the lock of the
magazine, whereupon the first man was
placed under restraint. The crew of the
monitor Immediately became excited and
declared there was a Spanish traitor on
board. Through this the extravagant stories
were concocted The officers of the Puritan
believe the man, who is a fireman, is Gu
ban, and they assert positively that he has
never given evidence of any sort of sym
pathy with Spain, but, they add, on the con-
trary, when the Puritan was off Matanzas.
the man was frequently heard to say he
would like to get ashore to join the in
surgents. The action of the officers of the
monitor in placing the man under restraint
were guided solely by the danger of allow
ing an unevenly balanced man to be at
large
The chief incident of the day was the ar
rival of the troop ship Panther, with nearly
seven hundred marines on board. She comes
from Hampton Roads, in convoy of the
Montgomery. Lieutenant Colonel Hunting
ton in command of the marines. He said the
only event of the trip was an elghteen-hour
storm. The men stood 1t WELL
The Fern arrived from Tampa with am
munition for the fleet and the Annapolis re-
turned after a brief absence. Where she has
been is not known, except to the authorities
and those aboard. The Amphitrite is still
coaling here.
A statement is made by Lieutenant Nc
Kinley, in charge of the harbor defenses,
Mill h.@ o.aff rln 10
vessels between the hours of p. m. and 4
q. M, beginning tomorrow night The or
ders from the department say: Regula-
tons will be adopted governing the entry
and departure of friendly vessels during
the continuance of war.
A load of anxiety was lifted from the
naval men here by the arrival late this
afternoon of the little Spanish schooner
Three Sisters. with Paymaster George f.
aboard. The vessel had almost been given
up for lost The schooner, loaded with
sugar, while bound from Havana for Car
denas, was captured off the latter place
Sunday afternoon by the torpedo boat
Foote, with the Terror and MachiaS near
by. Paymaster Simpson and his compan-
Ions were put aboard as a prize crew and
started for Key West that night She made
direct for this port When only few hours
out she was becalmed, and when the winds
did come they were contrary and blew the
little schooner far out of her course. She
next encountered gales and had 10 heave to
for twenty-four hours. During a squall Pay
master Simpson lost his charts overheard
and had to make new one from memory.
He was q very weary naval officer when he
stepped ashore from the Associated Press
launch. which brought him in from the
schooner, and the greeting of his friends
was in the nature of an ovation
The Mascotte this afternoon arrived here.
brihging Miss Clara Barton and corps of
Red Cross workers consisting of Dr. and
Mrs. ]. Gardner, DR.. L. W. Egan. ID. S.
Cobb, 9. H. Cottrell, j. A. Mcdowell j. X.
Elwell and Sisters Blanche McCorrister
Anna McCull, Minnie Royal Isabelle Ohen,
and Lucy Graves. The party did not come
ashore but were taken down stream to the
Red Cross ship State of Texas. which has
been awaiting their arrival The State of
Texas, under Captain Young. has four other
Red Cross workers on board and 400 tons
of provisions, clothing and medicines. She
will await Instructions from Washington
before proceeding for Cuba. The State of
Texas win probably serve as hospital ship
for the fleet and troops.
The inquiry into the legal questions in
volved in the capture OF the prizes is pro-
ceeding slowly. The commission row con-
sists of Judge j. NJ. Phipps~and Julius Otto.