The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-26


on Board the Flagship New York, off
Havana, April 23.-2 a. m.-Morro cas-
tie opened fire on the fighting squadron
Of the United States at II o'clock last
night. About ten shots were sent in
the direction Of our ships, but not one
Of them took effect, and no shots were
fred in return. The Spaniards had
apparently seen the lights Of the New
York while the latter was signaling to
a ship of the squadron. The firing was
reported by the officer Of deck, Ensign
J. r. Edie, to Captain Chadwick, who
was asleep at the time. The young Of
hcer asked the captain in somewhat
excited tones, Wether the New York
had not better discontinue signaling.
No" muttered Captain Chadwick,
with the utmost cOoiness; there is no
necessity for stopping the signals. Go
ahead" Later Captain Chadwick was
on the forward bridge, from whence
he watched the tongues of flame Not
out from the MORO castle. He glanced
in the direction of the Spanish fortif
cations for a few seconds and then
turned his back on them in silent con-
tempt, and went back to his bed, per-
fectly certain the Spaniards could do
no damage at five miles which was
then the approximate distance of the
flagship from MORO castle.
Another officer said: The SDaniardS
probably became nervous, and decided
they could not sleep without some fire
works They can't hit anything any
way"
There was no excitement on board
the flagship during the MORO castle
futile attempt at gunnery. The disci-
pline was really splendid in fact, at
this hour, many people on board the
flagship do not know that Spain's first
guns of war have been fired and that
the New York was their target.
The United States cruiser Cincinnati
Captain G. NJ. Chester, reported to the
flagship at midnight Il have prize"
1t is, therefore, evident that other ships
besides the New York have been busy
during the night.
AN EXCITING CHASE.
About 4:30 o'clock p. m. yesterday
captain Chadwick sent Chief Engineer
&. J. Mcconnell this message: Get
up all the steam you can. A steamer
has been sighted and the admiral wish
es to capture her" The New York
was soon tearing through the water
at a rapidly increasing speed and was
fast leaving the squadron in the rear.
Away in the distance, close under the
mist covered hills of Cuba, midway be-
tween Havana and Matanzas, could be
seen the outlines of large steamer
heading to the eastward. Then the old
cry of "A chase" "A shase!" was re-
! echoed fore and aft, and the officers
Nand crew of the New York gathered on
4, %,I1,
ship churn through the blue water.
fOaming at her stern until she was
making about eighteen knots. The ad-
miral paced the forward bridge as
calmly as if watching a potato race.
1t was evident that the Spaniard was
doing her best to get away from the
cruiser and was heading in nearer and
nearer to the coast, hoping to find safe
ty in shallow water where the warship
could not dare to follow her.
When the Spaniard was about three
miles from the shore and about mile
from the New York, an S-inch gun from
the cruisers forward turret suddenly
belched out a stream of fire, accompan-
led by a crashing report. 1t was only
meant as a warning shot, but the steel
prOjectile went richocheting over wa
ter, in dangerous proximity to the flee
ing merchantmen The echo of the re-
4 port had hardly died away among
@Cubas hills when the Spaniard hove
to. About ten minutes later. the New
York was near her. In the distance,
a few lonely looking houses could be
seen perched on a wild looking beach.
prize crew. commanded by Lieuten-
ant T.. +. Capehart and composed of
Assistant Engineer Nean. four marines
and a boats crew, all we'll armed, were
lowered over the side of the cruiser
and. amid eXultant cheers from their
comrades on board the New York, they
pulled over to the Spaniard. which
proved to be the Pedro, of Bilboa, an
excellent prize.
q THE FLEET LITTLE DAUNTLESS.
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patdil Boat Dauntiess, Key West.
April 24-The Associated Press dis
patch boat DauntleSs arrived in this
harbor yesterday. before midnight,
having in tow the first sailing vessel
prize OF the campaign. the schooner
Mathilde. of Havana, sixty tons, load
ed with rum.
When the Dauntless left the main
fleet under Rear Admiral Sampson at
3:15 o'clock on Friday afternoon. what
seemed a thorough blockade of Havana
had been successfully directed the
feet range from eight to ten miles from
shore, along. which. they are extended
for fully twenty miles in the following
order running from west TO east: May =
4 flower, Iowa, Newport, Detroit Maroie-
head, Indiana, New York and winning
ton. with the torpedo boat Porter at
tending the flagship.
!. MORO castle and the city Of Havana