Evening journal., 1898-04-25
FIRED ON BY MORRO.
Spaniards Welcome the Fleet
With a Few Shots.
TIE BOMDARDMENT NOT YET BEGUN.
Poor Marl1smanship OF the Castle Gun
nets-Newspnper Dispatch Boat Runs
Under the Guns with Safety.
spaniards Call Us Pirates.

KEY WEST April 25.-(Delayed in
transmission. The first shot from
Spain was fired Saturday night, when
Morro castle opened its batteries on the
United States fleet. This news was
brought here yesterday afternoon by
the torpedo boat Ericsson, which left
the fleet at 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing and reached here at 4 O'clock in the
afternoon. Captain Usher of the Erics-
son says his boat was ordered out ear
ly Saturday night on scout duty. The
fleet was lying about eight miles off
Havana. Lights were out, and all hands
were ready for action. The little craft
scudded swiftly toward the enemy and
brought up almost under Morro's guns.
being enabled to reach such a close
point because for the first time In years
Morro light was then burning.
At IL p. m the Spanish artillery roar
ed out its first welcome to the Ameri-
can fleet. The firing was done more in
a tentative way than as an attack. Not
a shot found a billet, and the American
fleet. disdaining Spain's wretched gum
merry, maintained a dlgnihed silence.
Before the firing began newspaper
dispatch boat, which had lost its bear
ings in tho cloudy night got within
three miles Of Mcrro castle, and, be-
fore she knew her whereabouts, the
boat found MORO firing on her. She
was saved by the unskilled marksman-
ship of the Havana gunners, getting
away unharmed and eventually bring
ing up with the feet
Havana had not been bombarded up
TO the time the Ericsson left. The
squadron lay spread out in a line about
eight miles long, maintaining the block
ade.
According TO a proclamation, the war
ships of neutral powers are allowed 70
pass in and out.
There were rumors afloat here that q
large Spanish mail steamer. thought tc
be the Alfonso XIII. had been captur-
ed by the fleet, but the report turned
out to be false.
A third capture was made yesterday
morning at dawn. however when the
Ericsson caught a little Spanish two
masted fishing schooner, carrying q
crew Of five men. The torpedo boat haC
no prize crew to put aboard, 50 she
chased her to the fleet and tied her VI
alongside the Cincinnati. She was sub
sequently released.
Captain Luzarraga OF the Buena Ven.
luId UttidftS MS NtSotl - not SubJt-l
70 capture by the United States. holdinf
that she is owned by an English firm
was bound for neutral ports and tha
war had not been declared when sh'
sailed. Her crew Is still on board th'
Dolphin. but those of the Pedro remcil
on the latter. The captains and tbs
crews OF both vessels. CO in all. avail
the disposition Of the prize court Of in
ouiry. which was appointed yesterday
by wire, by United States Judge Locke
at Jacksonville. Messrs. G. Bovine Pat
tersOn and two other attorneys OF Ke,
west constitute the court.
Captain Lyon Of the Dolphin aske.
Mayor Maloney n sufficient protection
could be guaranteed the Spanish sailor
II they went ashore. The mayor con
suited with the leading Cubans and wa
assured they would not be molested
but they remain aboard.
The Mangrove has gone out. equippe
with a corps OF expert electricians. I
is reported she is assigned TO cut tn
cable between Jamaica and Cuba, s.
that all dispatches TO or from the Span
ish government must go through Ke
West