The Portland daily press., 1898-04-25

INC pioioHSeC noStllltleS between the gov.
erdinent OF the United States and Spain
was just OH the coast of Cuba at point
a a1,ut 10 miles east of Moro Castle.
Inc snot was fired across the bow of the
spanish steamer Pedro of Bilbao, out
ward bound from Havana. She hove to
Immediately and in the course of an hour
prize crew from the flag ship was in
charge of her and she was on her way to
Key West
The capture of the Pedro occurred at
3 O'Clock on Friday after noon in full
view OF the Associated Press despatch boat
Dauntless, which was tho nearest vessel
to the New York at the time. An hour
before, the fleet. with the Mayflower and
the torpedo boats behind, flanked by the
Dauntless and three oJhor press boats was
proceeding at a nine knot speed from
New York to the Cuban coast. The YES
sells were then about 20 miles north of
Havana A haze hung over the horizon
and the faintest outline of the shore could
be seen at intervals.
Suddenly the New York Quickened her
speed and went alongside the Mayhower
and the leading torpedo boat. She halted
moment and signalled some instructions
to the remainder of the feet and then
drew away from the others and started
alone in a southeasterly direction. Faster
and faster she went and longer and longer
grew the distance between her and the
her tunnels and she appeared to be trying
TO equal her ~ knot record made on the
Jria trip.
AT tirst it was supposed she was max
ing Tor the entrance of Havana harbor
with the intention of lying outside and
senolng boats ashore with some formal
communication to the authorities, posi-
ply giving them "a hours notice Of bonn
bardment.
The Dauntless also crowded on all
steam and sped afer the New York.
After minutes was run the remainder
of the fleet was left far behind.
1t soon became 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 the low hills on the coast.
The lookout in the tops of the military
masts had sighted the Spanish colors f1y-
ing from a Spanish steamer which had
just left Havana harbor. Those on board
the steamer must have seen the New
York oyerhauling them but they made
no pretense of stopping. The chase con-
tinued for nearly an hour and by that
time the New York had passed the steam
or and stopped about half mile off her
port buoy. In another moment there was
puff of smoke from the New York fol-
lowed by the sharp report of six FOUNDER.
The shot passed over the bows of the
it struck the water.
There was no mistaking it's mean ing.
The steamer stopped its engines imme-
diately and swung round in the heavy
sea which was running. A large whale
boat was lowered from the New York
filled with sailors and marines, all fully
armed and in charge of an officer. The
prize proved the Pedro of about 2O09
tons. She was apparently in ballast or
had light cargo.
There sun was just sinking below the
horizon when the prize crew of the New
York climbed over the side of the Pedro
and a few minutes later the Spanish en-
sign was hauled down.
While this was transporting the outline
of another steamer was seen several miles
to the westward and the New York put
out Tor her as soon as she had cast loose
the whale boat containing the prize crew
of the Pedro.
The New York fired another blank
shot of warning to heave to in the
direction of the second vessel sighted by
the flagship and upon gaining proper dis
tance the New York fired a second shot
this time across the bows of the second
steamer. and the latter hove to at once |
Upon investigation it was seen that she |
was German steamer that had just Ief t |
Havana and she was allowed to proceed. |
The Pedro was taken to Key West, the |
New York returned to the fleet and all |
the vessels lay to and drifted all night |
outside of Havana harbor. Torpedo boats |
and one cruiser did patrol duty in the vi
cinity of the feet all night but no vessel |
of any kind approached the men of war.
That shots had been fired by the New |
York and that one vessel had been seized |
and another stopped must have been |
known in Havana very soon after the &C.
currence, for the whole affair could BIZ |
witnessed from the shore However, none |
of the vessels were close enough to |
Havana itself to know what demonstra-
lions the events caused there.
This was the second seizure, the first |
being that of the steamer Buena Ventura
by the Nashville early in the morning.
A third seizure occurred this morning |
a few miles west of the entrance to Ha- |
vana harbor. It was small schooner,
fishing craft, and she was
captured by the Cincinnati. The cruiser
made satisfactory explanation to Admiral |
Sampson, who released the vessel.
Shortly tbefOre noon yesterday the tor
peoo boat Porter captured q Spanish |
coasting schooner the Mathilde. which |
the Dauntless lowed to Key West last |
night.
The New York with the torpedo boat |
Porter in close attendance was lying |
about 1--WE or ten miles off Havana while
- SA-AOA>o
miles to the eastward. The flagship and |
the Porter started for her Immediately |
but when they drew near they found she |
was the Italian man of war Bausan bound |
Tor Havana. The italian ran I'D the |
American colors to his masthead and fired |
. rear admiraPs salute of Is guns, it be-
ing the first salute Admiral Sampson had |
received from foreign warship since his
appointment to his present rank.
The New York returned the salute and |
as the firing occurred only few miles |
oil shore the incident probably created
CONSERVATION in Havana.
just as this ceremony was completed two |
sohooners were sighted in shore from
where the New York and Italian Law and |
the flagship signalled the Porter to 90 |
after them. The torpedo boat glided over
the water at rapid rate and passed
almost under the bows of both schoon- |
srs One of them came about Immediate |
~ but she proved to be fishing boat and
was released. But the Mathilde was more
obstinate and probably did not appreciate
being stopped, by what looked like tov
boat, or else she failed to understand |
what thu Porter wanted her to do. But
when two more shot were tired from the |
torpedo boat the Mathilde came about and