The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1898-05-06
THAT DARING CAPTURE


Key West, Fla- May 1.-The cap
ture OF the Spanlsh steamer Pana-
ma by tho little gunboat MangrOye
was a piece OF sublime impudence.
1t was like a schOOlboy with q po-
tato gun demanding the surrender
OF a Sioux chief armed with a re-
Desting Winchester rife. The Pan
anna is by all odds the most valu-
able prize so far captured. She is
valued at something like $7OO, 900,
and with her extensive cargo OF
supplies would have been OF ines
timable value to the Spanish forces
had she escaped the vigilance Of
the Federal gunboats for one hours
run or more and reached Havana
harbor. She il = 6,000-ton craft
and has two l4-pOund rapid firing
guns. She is an auxiIery cruiser
OF the Spanish navy, end ought to
be able to take care OF herself with
any ordinary enemy, yet without
the show OF resistance she meekly
surrendered to the Mangrove, which
Is little more than a harbOr tug and
has only two six-pounder guns.
Until recently the Msngrove was a
lighthouse tender.
When the big Spanish steamer
was brought into Key West 1t was
a sight 10 provoke cheers Of deris-
ion from the hundreds OF Ameri-
cans and Cubans who swarmed the
water front. The Spaniard tower
ed high above her little csptor, re-
mindlng one Of huge black mas
tiff eide by side with a puny Skye
/ terrier. She had a crew Of about
seventy-five and number OF pas
sengers, but not Spanish face
could be seen on her decks as she
came into the harbOr. A member
Of the Mangrove crew which board
ed her after the capture stated TO
the Associated Press correspondent
that II was with considerable diff.
Guilty they prevented several Of the
Spaniards from jumping overheard
after the marines boarded her.
This has been the case with nearly
all the spanish vessels captured,
and especially with the smaller
sailing craft. WhrE he Spanlards
find they are caught they fall upon
their knees and pray TO have theiI
lives preserved. That is all they
ask for at the hands Of their cap.
tors-th at their lives will be- spared
They seem TO think that they art
TO be butchered the moment they
reach land.
The Panama left New York Ap
ril 20 with heavy cargo OF sup
pies for the Spanish forces in la
vana, and had no knowledge Of tn,
blockade until shs sighted the Un
tied States warships. She was cap
tured about ten miles out from Ha
: vana while attempting to steal in
to the harbor unnoticed. Her ar
) rival had been expected for sever
: al days, and she had been watche'
, for by the large cruisers, but tn
. little MangrOve was the first to SO
her creeping along the coast. Tn
little gunboat was put after he
post haste, and the big steame
crowded her bOilers and engines 4
, their utmost to get out Of the way
When the Mangrove came within
half a mileOf the Panama she fire,
: shot but tho big steamer paid NJ
attention to II. Then she fired an
other, and u few moments late
another. The last shot hissed owe
the bow OF the Panama, and she q
once hove TO.
J There were several women amOni
the passengers, and they wer
. greatly alarmed. They were assur
: ed by the American officers that n
harm would come to them. Tn
passengers and crew are Oblige
to remain on beard the ship unit
g the United States authorities d,
e termine what to do with them.
@ In the case OF each capture th
y crews Of the Spanish vessels hav
Z been treated with the utmost klnC
ness and consideration. They hay
e not MS yet been given their ire,
d dom. They are obliged to renal
II ON their chips under guard Of nj
e val officers, but none Of them h,
y been imprisoned or subjected