The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-25


of the New York, she received the heart
lest of cheers from the bluejackets, while
the officers of the flagship clapped their
hands, the megaphone roared some en-
couraging words, and Admiral Sampson
lifted his cap in answer to the salute OF
the correspondents
The sea picture there presented had for
background pale haze beyond which
were the mountains of Cuba, and in the
middle distance saffron-lined Havana,
with speck Of yellow, striped with red,
floating from Morro castle.
How long will that standard stay there?
This was the thought which entered
every mind as the hawser tightened and
the Mathilde, following the Dauntless,
was rushed through the water toward Key
West The passage to this port was
rough one, OF course, but it was no worse
that usual.
To the flagship New York belongs the
honor of firing the flrst shot that an
nounced the intention OF the United States
to establish blockade of the port of FIa-
vana.
About 4:SO p. m. yesterday Capt. Chad
wick sent Chief Engineer Q. j. Mcconnell
this message: 'Get up all steam you
can. A steamer has been sighted and the
admiral wishes TO capture her."
The New York was soon tearing through
the water al a rapidly increasing clip, and
was fast leaving the squardon in the rear.
Away in the distance, close under the
mist covered hills Of Cuba, midway be-
tween Havana and Matanzas, could be
seen the outlines of a large steamer head
ing to. the eastward. Then the old cry of
| "A chase" "a chase" echoed fore and aft,
| and the officers and crew of the New
York gathered on her decks, eagerly
| watching the flagship churn through the
| blue water, foaming white at her stern,
until she was making about is knots.
The admiral paced the forward bridge
as calmly as If watching potato race.
1t was evident that the Spaniard was do
| Ing her best to get awaysfrorn the cruiser,
| and was heading in nearer and nearer TO
| the coast, hoping to find safety in shall
low water where the wsrship could not
dare to follow her.
When the Spaniard was about three
| miles from the shore and about mile
| from the New York. an 3-inch gun from
the cruisers forward titrret suddenly
belched out'a stream of fire, accompanied
| by crashing report. =.
| 1t was only meant as a warning shot, the
steel projectile went cosheting over the
water, in dangerous proximity to the flee
ing merchantmen.
The echo of the report had hardly died
away among Cubas hills when the Span
| lard hove TO. Aho',s ~, minutes later the
| New York was near her.
l In the distance, a few lonely looking
! houses could be seen 1erchlng on a wild
| looking beach.
| A prize crew, fcommanded by Lieut..
Capehart and composed of Assistant En-
gineer Neal, four marines and boats
crew, all well-armed, were lowered over
| the side of the cruiser and, amid exul-
| tant cheers from their comrades son board
| the New York, they pulled over to the
| SpanIard, which proved to be the Pedro
Of Bilbao, an excellent prize.
The Spanish tramp steamer Pedro, Capt.
| Boneta, from Antwerp on March %, for
| Santa Cruz and Pensacola, Is owned by the
| Navigation Company of Bilbao Is of ,62S
tons net register, is about 800 feet long.
! She was built at Newcastle in 1888, and
| has on board crew Of SO men.
| The Pedro had been unloading cargo of
! rice, iron and beer at Havana when the
news of the descent of the United States
! fleet upon Cuba caused her to put to sea
| in a hurry. She made off in an easterly
| direction, but was not quick enough In
| getting away.s
The widest excitement prevailed en-
the Spaniard, and her decks were crowd
| ed. with men, scurrying about 9like fright
| ened rats as the New York men ciambered
up the side of the ship.
Meantime the Foote had sighted a Ger
man coasting vessel@and signalled to the
| flagship, and shot was put across the
vessels bows. No resistance was offered
| and the New York men boarded her, found
her papers to be correct and her German
register was established. She was turned
back. The actlon OF the feet in refusing to
| allow the German vessel to enter Havana
shows that the blockade is practically es-
| tablished
While this was transpiring the outlines
of another steamer were seen several miles
to the westward.
The New York then fired another blank
shot OF warning to "heaye to- in the direc-
ton Of the second vessel sighted by the
flagship, and upon gaining proper distance,
| 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 il was learned that
she was a German steamer that had Just
lefr Havana, and she was allowed to pro-
coed.
Shortly before noon Saturday the torpe.
| do boat Porter captured a Spanish coastine
schooner. Mathide, which the Dauntless
towed into Key West last night.
just after the New York had exchanged
salutes with the Italian warship two
schooners were sighted in shore from
| where the New York and the Italian lay
and the flagship signalled the Porter to gc
| aIIer tnem. Inc tOfpeuof boat Bllded over
the water at a very rapid pace and pass
ed almost under the bows of the Bausar
on her capture of the Mathilda. As she rar
the Porter fired shots from her six-pound.
er across the bows of both schooners. One
of them came about Immediately, but she
proved to be fishing boat and was re.
leased
But the Mathilde was more obstinate and
probably did not appreciate being stopped
by what looked like toy boat, or else She
failed to understand whatfthe Porter want.
! ed her TO do. But, when two more shots
were fired from the torpedo boat the Ma.
thide came about. and the Porter rar
alongside, informed her she was seized by
the United States and promptly took hei
prize in tow and started off to the flagship
| with her.
The Mathide was loaded with barrels Of
rum, was sunk almost to her rails, and the
Porter had much difficulty in dragging the
heavy schooner through the water.
Nearly the entire crew OF the New Yorl
assembled on the deck, and as the Porter
came up with her prize, they gave her q
great cheering.
The Dauntless was about ready to leave
i for Key West, and Admifal Sampson ask.
| a. -.