The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-04-28
A BATTLE REPORTED
Engagement Between an American
Monitor and Spanish Ship.
THE SPANISH TORPEDO FLOTILLA.
The Engineers said to Have PurposeIy Dis
abIed Machinery-FlyIng Squadron
Prize Taken-Tbe Paris Captured
Topeka Founders-NavaI News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, April %. -Ac-
cording to private dispatches received
by the Times-Union and Citizen last
night the first naval battle of the war
took place opposite Boynton, about %
miles south of Palm Beach, at ten
o'clock yesterday morning. George
Lyman, a reliable man, and several
others, who were fishing in Lake
Worth, which is separated from the
ocean by a narrow strip of land, heard
heavy firing and ran to the beach.
They reported to the railroad agent
and postmaster at Lantana that
United States monitor was chasing
and firing upon n Spanish man-Of-
war or gunbOat conveying a coal or
transport ship. The Spaniard replied
shot for shot. The men say they
watched the battle for an hour or
until only the smoke from the tunnels
was visible on the southern horizon.
in which direction they were travel
ing.
\ special dispatch to the Times
Union and Citizen from Lantana says:
An eyewitness has just arrived from
BOyntOn and reports supposed trans
port vessel southwark bound guarded
by a man-of-war pursued by a monitor,
keeping up a heavy running fire.
TIE SPANISH TORPEDO FLoTILLA.
GALVESTON, Tex, April 23-The
British steamer Asloun. Capt. 2. IL.
Garnett, arrived yesterday from Las
Palmas, Grande Canary. one of the
Canary island group. lie arrived at
Las Palmas March 81, two days after
the Spanish fiotilIa left that port He
was reliably informed that the
machinery of the several tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat
destroyers was purposely disabled
in pursuance of plot by
the engineers. They did not rel
ish the trip across the ocean in
torpedo boats, and, finding the Span
ish government determined to make
them go, as last resort crippled the
machinery. None of the engineers were
allowed to repair it, the work being
done by a local machine shop at Las
Palmas. Capt. Garnett says the tor
pedo tlOtilla did not want to encounter
a United States fleet if it could be
avoided. They will likely keep out of
the track of our vessels and may con-
tent themselves with picking up an oc-
casional prize. The torpedo fiotiIla
left Las Palmas March 20 and its
destination was unknown.
THE FLYING SQUADRON.
Fort MONROE, Va. April %. Visit !
ors We're not allowed on board the |
ships of :he flying squadron during |
yesterday. The fact that two Golfers |
and hospital ship have been rushed |
to the squadron and that one of the |
golfers was hurriedly filled seems to |
indicate that hurried call to move is |
expected. The opinion of many Off |
GERS seem, to be that this fleet will |
move the instant it becomes known |
that the Cape de Verde islands fleet of |
the Spanish is in motion. If the fleet |
stays here for any period of time it |
would not be surprising if the Column
bia and Minneapolis were sent out on
expeditions
SPANISH SHIP CAPTURED.
hey WEST, Fla. April 23-The
Cnited States fleet was about - miles /
off Sand Key light yesterday morning
when the Spanish merchantmen Buena |
Ventura was sighted, bound north
The 2unboat Nashville ran her down
and put shot across her bows. The
>paniard ignored the shot. but another.
a |
prize crew under Ensign T 7. Ma
yruder was put aboard. Capt Lucar-
aga, in command of her, was astound-
ID He said he did not know that war
lad been declared; but when he was
informed of the state of affairs, he
hrugged his shoulders and accepted |
he situation phiIosophically
RUMoRED CAPTURE OF THE PARIS.
LONDON, April -3--The Daily Chron-
Gle publishes a dispatch from Liver
'ool which SAYS n private cablegram
eceived there reports that the Ameri-
an fleet Off Key West has captured a
British steamer. probably the Gracia.
lying the Spanish flag. which cleared
'ensacola April Is, and was bound for
liverpool The Daily Chronicle also
publishes rumor that the American
liner Paris has already been captured
" Spanish warships.
LINED Up OFF CUBAN COAST.
KEY WEST, Fla, April %. 1t is re-
'orted here that the United States
eet is lined up off the Cuban coast for
blockade. An incoming tug reports
hat the New York has captured a
parish passenger steamer plying be-
ween Havana and Porto Rico The |
orpedo flotilla has come in.
HONG KONG FLEET SAILS
SHANGHAI, April 23.-The American !
luadron at Hong Kong has sailed for
ianila- Reported priests and com
lercial classes favor surrender. but |
he military are determined 70 resist.
THE TOPEKA FOUNDERS
LONDON. April eat : runo-ed / {
ere that the United States cruiser |
opeka, formerly the Diogenes-
numbered Tuesday night in collision
18th the bark Alba tross
Company of University students