The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25

the Associated Press dispatch beat. left
Key West one hour and twenty min
utes behind the fighting squadron and
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, re-
marked: she can't beat fourteen knots at
her best but it's funny how many sixteen
and seventeen-knot clippers she does leave
astern.'
A TWENTY-KNOT CLIP.
When the flagship New York. after the
hills of Cuba had been sighted, had started
off at a twenty-l1not clip to capture 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 lot OF correspondents,
wet from head to foot with spray by the
barrelful thrown constantly higher than the
pilot house. while to move about one re-
CURED the use Of legs, hands and feet The
Associated Press dispatch boat Dauntless
was asked through megaphone to tow the
Spanish prize to Key West, which was a
fitting ending for the day. 1t was an ex-
ample of the grim irony of fate which gave
to the most famous ex-flibuster the first
opportunity to tow a Spanish prize to the
United States, for which the thanks of
Captain Chadwick were received. AS the
Dauntless passed under the lee of the New
York she received the heartiest of cheers
from the blue jackets. while the officers of
the flagship capped their hands, the mega
phone roared some encouraging words, and
Admiral Sampson lifted his cap in answer to
the salute of the correspondents.
To the flagship New York belongs the
honor Of firing the first shot that announced
the intention of the United States to estab-
lish blockade on 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 a point about ten miles east of
MORO Castle. The shot was fired across
the bow of the Spanish steamer Pedro, of
Bilbao 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 dis
patch boat Dauntless, which was the near
est vessel to the New York at the time.
An hour before the fleet with the May
flower and the torpedo boats, was proceed
ing at a nine-knot speed from Key West
to the Cuban coast. The vessels then were
about twenty miles north of Havana. A
haze hung over the southern horizon, and
the faintest outline of the shore could be
seen at intervals. u4
STARTING FOR A PRIZE.
Suddenly the New York increased her
speed and went alongside of the Mayfower
and the leading torpedo boats. She halted
a moment and signaled some instructions
to the remainder Of the fleet, and then drew
away from the others and started alone in
q southwestery direction. Faster and faster
she went and longer grew the distance be-
tween her and the other ships. Black
smoke poured from her tunnels, and she
appeared to be trying to equal her twenty
two-knot record, made on the trial trip.
At first it was supposed she was making
for the entrance of Havana harbor, with
the intention of laying outside and send
ing boats ashore with some formal COM
munication to the authorities, possibly CIV
ing them twenty-four hours notice of
bombardment. 4eon3I onA
The DauntIess also crowded on steam, and
she sped after the New York at once. After
twenty minutes fast run the remainder of
the fleet was left far behind 1t soon be-
came apparent that the New York was
heading to the eastward of Moro Castle,
and the real object of her chase became
observable against the dark background of
low hills on the coast. The lookout in the
tops of her military masts had sighted the
Spanish colors flying from a Spanish steam
er. which had just left Havana harbor
Those on board the steamer must have seen
the New York overhauling them, but they
made no pretense of stopping.
The chase continued for nearly an hour
and by that time the New York had passed
the steamer and stopped about half mile
off her port bow. In another moment there
was puff of smoke from the side of the
New York. followed by a sharp report of
six-pounder. The shot passed over the bows
of the steamer and threw up a great spray
when it struck the water.
There was no mstaking its meaning. The
steamer stopped it's engines Immediately
and swung around in the heavy sea which
was running. The next move came prompt
ly. A large whaleboat was lowered from
the New York. filled with sailors and ma
rines, all fully armed and in charge of an
Of about 1000 tons.
She was apparently In ballast or had a
light cargo. The sun was just sinking be-
low the horizon when the prize crew from
the New York, climbed over the side of the
Pedro and few minutes later the Spanish
ensign was hauled down.
While this was transpiring the outlines of
another steamer were seen several miles to
the westward. Dusk was gathering, and it
was impossible at that distance to distin-
guish her nationality, but, the New York
put out for her as soon as she had cast
loose the whaleboat containing the prize
crew for the Pedro. The New York then
fired another blank shot of warning to
''heave to- in direction of the second vessel
sighted by the flagship, and upon gaining
proper distance. the New York fired Sec
ond shot, this time across the bows Of the
second steamer, and the latter hove to at
once. Upon Investigation it was learned
that she was German steamer that had
just left Havana and she was allowed to
proceed
The Pedro was taken to Key West the
New York returning to the remainder of the
fleet, and all the vessels lay to and drifted
all night outside of Havana harbor. Tor
pedo boats and one of the cruisers did pa
troll duty in the vicinity of the fleet all night,