Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-04-28

the first realization of the fact that the
tedious period of inacton was nearing
its close. When signals were hoisted
recalling all the men to the ships with
out delay. many interpreted this aa q
precautionary measure, especially in
view of tho fact that a numher Of
officers, including several from the flag
ship, remained ashors and had leave for
the night.
About ii O'Clock there incurred de-
cided change in the situation when a
special boat hurried from the flagship
with orders to all on shore to immedi'
ately return to the ships Midnight
found tha city empty of gold braid and
blue, jackets with which it had grown
SO familiar. Save one or two recalci-
traat "jackies," whose conyiyial pa
triotism had run away with their sense
OF duty, there was not naval man TO
bo found in town. The theatre OF
action was transferred to the hnrbor,
where glittering panorama was enacted
until duybreak appeared slowly over
the waters of the gulf.
The fret streuks OF the morning light
were crossing from the east and two
hells just sounded from the ships
when tiny aud almost imper-
ceptihls line of fire appeared on
the sky above where lay the flagship
moment or two after and the signal
staff Of the Cincinnati, lying oil Fort
Taylor in the inner harbor. flashed into
colurad light. acknowledging The call.
The Puritan and Helena joined in
the inoandescent conversation, and soon
the skies were kBleidoscopic as ship
after ship answered. new lights tioked
messages fraught with the gravest i'm
port and creative of history. What
words, OF course, no one ashore knew,
nut the few who watched with strain
ing eyes from sea and docks needed no
interpreter TO tell thar IL meant hostile
action. The message was not long in
delivery, hut sunriss had fully come as
tine last letter fickered and went out.
Then the witnesses saw that the move
nent mad actually begun under cover
of the night. The hig ships could still
he discerued in the distance, but the
others had moved toward them. tbs
flagship drawing other enips of the
squadron to her.
The Wilmington and Amphitrite had
slipped from their anchorage and ad.
vanced whiting hailing distance of the
flagship. 1t was just j. AZ when the
New York. without unnecessary display,
moved pompously and slowly toward
the outer waters of the Gulf. The
bright light flashed the signal TO eager
eyes on the following fleet. and told
them to get in motion at last.
To those ashore it lookad rs il the
New York was somewhat in advance of
the line, with the Iowa and Indiana
following ON either side, hut separated
from her by good stretch of water.
As the limo advanced toward the huri-
zon the ships spread out until there
was perhaps distance OF three miles
between the tips of thescrescent. The
ships of the inner harbor had slipped
out one by one and stopped at various
STATIONS, until the entire formation was
ready to move. The exact order OF the
ships could not lie ascertained from the
shore. From ths highest point in Key
West the line was circular. Tine
ships that followed the three leaders
were the cruisers Cincinnati, Detroit
and Nashville. the gunboats Whining
ton, Oastine, Machias and Newport,
monitors Amphitrite, Mangrove and
| Mayho@er, and torpsdoboat Foote. Why
tho powerful monitors Puritan and
Terror did not accompany the fleet
could not be officially learned, hut it is
said they mny follow shortly. The
Marhlehead is taking on water and
doubtless will Join the squadron 10 a
DAY or two. The Fern went TO Tampa
carry it to Havana, if that is the desti-
nation.
Key West, Fla. April %. The United
States cruiser Nashville has captured
the Spanish ship Buena Vura, of 1000
tons, having on hoard a cargo of lum.
ber. Slio was on her way from the
coast of Tnxas.
Tho cruiser fired FOUNDER and
tha Spaniard surrendered.
The Nashville towed her prize into
this harbor at Ii o'olocs this morning,
and put prize crew on board, Both
ships are lying we'll ont IN the stream.
The news OF the capture of the Span
lard set the people of Key West frantic
with enthusiasm. a II work has beon
suspended and docks are crowded with
people.
Nav York, April 90. The record
books Of the marine department of the
Associated Press do not show the name
of Spanish vessel which corresponds
with the ship captured by the United
States gunooat Nashville, which is said
to he 7'Buena Vura. F" On the other
hand a Spanish steamer, the Buena
Ventura, Capt. Luzarraga, left Pas-
cagoulH, Miss, on April 10th for Rotter-
dam, and by this time she should be
we'll on her way across the ocean and
not in the vicinity of Key West. 1t ia
possible that she may havs been de,
layed by some accident in the gulf, and
il may turn cut to be the Buena
Ventura which has been captured by
the Nashville.
The Buena Ventura IL owned by Lar
rinaga & Co. of liverpool and Bilboa.
She was built at Sunderland 10 1871, il
of |, los tons net; is 278 feet long. has
"a feet inches beam and draws % ieei
8 inches of water.
Liverpool, Eng, April 23. = The
owners of the Buena Ventura, the
Spanish ship captured by the Unitac
States gunboat Nashville. have issued
signed protest against her capture.
They say the cargo belongs to British
merchants and was insured in Great
J Britain,
They further nllegs the capture wal
Illegal, as the ultimatum OF the Presi
dent had not expired whom she wal
] captured.
{ New York, April 23-An afternoon
paper prints the following from Ike,
i West to-day:
Friday, April 22. One of the frs
: shots fired in anger from the gun of at
] American ironclRd across the bows o
mn snemy's shiu sincB the eluse of thi