The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-31
A COLLIER IS CAPTURED
ALMOST UNDER THE GUNS OF
MORO CASTLE
Was Prevented From Filling Empty
Coal Bunkers of the Spanish
Admiral's Fleet
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
KEY WEST, Fla, May 80, $50 am.-The
British steamer Restormel was brought in
here this morning under her own steam
by prize crew. She was captured while
trying to put into Santiago de Cuba with
cargo of coal. The steamer was bound
from Cardiff to Porto Rico. AS the Res
tormel came In the British flag was flying
half way down her mainmast She was
leaking badly. Newspapermen were not
permitted to approach within a hundred
yards of her.
1880 a.m.-The Restormel was captured by
the auxiliary cruiser St. Paul, Captain
Sigsbee.
The Restormel was built In; New Castle
In 1882. She has a gross tonnage of 2O20,
is 2S6 feet long, has 36 feet inch beam and
is 20 feet z inches deep. She is owned by
the Restormel Steamship Company, Linn
tied q. Cory & Sons) Of Cardiff.
The Restormel was captured under the
very guns of Moro Castle, at Santiago dc
Cuba, at 8 a. M, on May %. She carried
twenty-four hundred tons of best Welsh
coal, from Cardiff, presumably for Ad-
miral Cervera's fleet. The st. Paul ha.
been lying off Santiago for six days, ant
early last Wednesday morning the big col
Her was sighted. making at full speed fol-
Santiago harbor. The St. Paul fired q
blank shot and the Restormel came t6
four miles from the Santiago forts. The
forts did not fire on the cruiser. A prize
crew, in command of Lieut.. ]. A. Patter-
son, was put on board and dispossesed the
British officer, who made no protest. MOI
line was found among the ships papers
relative to the destination or consignee OF
the cargo. The Restormel was headed al
once for Key West. She was leaking
badly when captured and is still in seri.
Gus condition.
near the wharf. The British flag is flying
at her stern. Marines patrol the prize and
will allow no one aboard. The members of
her crew are not even allowed to take
newspapers offered to them from Launches
that come alongside.
In addition to the st. Paul there were
five other naval scouts outside Santiago
establishing a definite blockade in the
sense that no merchant vessels are allowed
to enter.
p. m.-According to Lieutenant ]. A.
Patterson, who is in command of the prize
crew that brought in the Restormel, her
capture was a very commonplace affair
He said:
About s o'clock last Wednesday morn
ing the st. Paul, scouting off Santiago har-
Dor, sighetd the Restormel twelve miles
away, apparently heading for that port
She was going in openly and honestly and
not skulking along the shore. The st. Paul
took course to. head her off, and when
within hailing distance fired blank shot.
The pursued steamer paid no attention, but
she hove to Immediately when a solid shot
was fired across her bows.
About o'clock l went out with prize
crew and took possession without protest
The captain talked frankly, saying that he
was bound for Santiago, though, he ha6
sailed from Cardiff on April 21st for Sar
Juan. This was before the declaration Of
war was received. At San Juan he was
| ordered to proceed to Curacao and from
that place to Santiago de Cuba"
When the Restormel arrived here it was
believed 1t would be necessary to beach her
take out her coal on lighters then repair
the leak and raise her, but later it was
practically decided to tow her to the gov
eminent dock and unload the cargo there.
Interesting light is thrown on Admiral
Cervera's plan by the log of the Restormel.
She sailed for San Juan de Porto Rico
where the Spaniards expected to COAL San
Juan being unsafe, Curacao was selected
but the collier failed, to- connect with the
fleet there and was ordered to Santiago.
Owing to her leak she did not reach San
tiago; the Spaniards remained in port
short of coal and so were caught