The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-20
NO END OF TROUBLE
Prizes Earned by the American Sea-
inconsistencies of Recent Captures

meu-SCOTleS OF xScCcAL va PtuA 90
KEY WEST, July 19.-The schooner
Three Bells and the sloop Pilgrim, captured
by the gunboat Dixie near Manzanillo on
July 9Th, have arrived here under prize
crews consisting of Lieutenants Blount and
Gunner's Mate j. X. Hatton. with four ma
rines each. Marryat never imagined
more grotesque tale Of marine misadven-
ture than was experienced by these men in
bringing their spoils to port.
Both prizes were under the British flag,
bound from Kingston Jamaica, to Manzan-
lilo, with food supplies. On the Three
Bells were Captain E. J. Harding, an Eng
llshman, and a crew Of five and three ia
maican negroes. The Pilgrim carried
Dutch captain and four seamen Of the same
class.
The captures were effected without diff
Guilty, and Blount and Hatton, neither OF
whom had ever seen Key West, began the
journey there. Captain Harding was much
depressed over the capture and drank heav-
lily until Lieutenant Blount stopped his
liquor.
On the evening of July 9th, when about
six miles south of Key Romano, Captain
Harding suddenly leaped overheard. The
Pilgrim put out small boat and caught
him, but he struggled desperately and cap
sized the boat. One of the marines held
him up on the overturned boat and he was
taken on board the Pilgrim, but he was
dead when they reached the deck. He was
buried at sea. This dismal duty was hard
ly completed when they sighted two small
schooners near Key Romano. The prizes
were evidently recognized by the strangers
od In
maica, for one of the schooners put out a
small boat to pilot them in. AS 1t approach
ed Lieutenant Blount was running up an
American flag to the forepeak, but he had
some difficulty in breaking it out, so that
the small boat was within ten yards of the
schooner before the two men who were
aboard 1t were aware that they were run
! ming near the enemy. Both occupants OF
| the boat plunged into the sea. Whether or
not they reached shore is an open ques-
| ton.
Lieutenant Blount and his men went on
and captured the nearest schooner, which
proved to be the Conception. The other ran
off into shoal water and escaped. The Con-
cepcion was we'll loaded with fish, wine and
other provisions.
They took her in tow and then began a
chapter Of misfortunes. Violent tropical
squalls burst upon them the same day and
continued almost necessarily until last
night. They had no charts aboard and only
a map Of the world, torn from a twenty-five
cent guide book, to help them as they
foundered about in the seas--three little
vessels, none much larger than catboat
In the course Of the day the wind and
waves had played havoc with the Concep-
cion, and they sent her adrift. The little
boats staggered along until Wednesday
morning, when a storm of unusual violence
fell upon them of Cape Antonio
Unable to make any progress, and ex.
pecting almost momentarily to founder
they lay there all day. Late in the after.
noon. as they bumped helplessly about tn.
sea, a body of Spanish rifiemen on shore
opened fire. The only arms on the two prize
vessels were the weapons Of the marines
nine revolvers, so no attempt was made te
return the fire. Just before nightfall fifteen
Of the Spanish riflemen pushed Off in a
small boat towards the Three Bells and
drew as close as 800 or 400 yards. pouring O
vicious fire at the schooner's men. The bull
let's whistled all around, Kidding the sails
u and some going clear through the schoohs,