The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-25

which the thanks of Captain Chadwicl
was received. AS the Dauntless passes
under the lee of the New York she re
ceived the heartieSt of cheers from tn
blue jacks. while the officers clappet
their hands. the megaphone roared som,
encouraging words, and Admiral Samp
son lifted his cap in answer to the salut.
of the correspondents.
A PICTURE OF THE SEA
The sea picture there presented wa:
worth remembering. The big hull of tbs
New York. like steel-gray granite bluff
| but more deadly looking; the long black
hull Of the Porter, with her threatening
loking torpedo tubes, over which the spray
dashed violently; the saucy Dauntless
with forestry sail and mainsai set, her
smokestack belching forth thick smoke
the snaky hawser leading to where the
! schooner. heavy laden, was rolling with
her scuppers under. her crew busy getting
| up her foresail, mainsail and jib,. her
! Spanish crew working away under the or
/ ders of an American officer, side by side
| with Uncle Sans tars; all around rolling
! seas topped by white horses. and over all
the freshening gale. This picture had for
a background a pale haze. beyond which
were the mountains of Cuba, and In the
middle-distance saffron-hned Havana,
with speck of yellow, striped with red
float ting from MORO castle.
HOW LONG WILL 1T WAVE?
How long will that standard stay there?
This was the thought which entered every
mind as the hawser frightened and the
Mathilde, following the Dauntless, was
rushed through the water toward Key
West. The passage was a rough one, of
course. but it was no worse than usual,
and without any special event to chronicle.
To the flagship New York belongs the
honor of firing the first shot that an
nounced the intention of the United States
to establish blockade of the port of
Havana.
CAPTURE OF THE PEDRO.
The scene of this opening event of what
may prove to be the prolonged hostilities
between the governments of the United
States and Spain is just off the coast of
Cuba. at a point about ten miles east of
Moro castle. The shot was fired across
the bow of the Spanish steamer Pedro,
of Bilbao, outward bound from Havana
She hove to Immediately. and in the course
was in charge of her and she was on her
way to Key West. The capture of the
Pedro occurred at o'clock on Friday
afternoon, in view Of the Associated Press
dispatch boat Dauntless. which was the
nearest vessel to the New York a the
time. An hour before that the feet with
the Mayfiower and the torpedo boats, was
at q nine knot speed from
Key West to the Cuban coast The YES
sells then were about twenty miles north
Of Havana. A haze hung over the south
ern horizon, and the faultless outline Of |
the shore could be seen at intervals.
Suddenly the New York quickened her |
speed and went alongside of the May |
1ower and the leading torpedo boat She |
halted for a moment and signaled some in |
structions to the remainder of the feet |
and then drew away from the others and
started alone in a southwesterly direction.
Faster and faster she went and longer |
grew the distance between her and the !
)ther ships. Thick smoke poured from her
tunnels. and she appeared to be trying to
equal her 22-knot record. made On the
rial trip. At first it was supposed she
was making for the entrance Of Havana
larbor. with the intention of laying out
j!de and sending boats ashore with some
ormal communication to the authorities,
possibly giving them notice of a lombard
nent.
The Dauntless also crowded on steam,
md she sped after the New York at once.
After twenty minutes fast running the re-
nainder of the feet was left far behind.
t soon became apparent that the New
FORK was heading to the eastward of
dorro castle, and the real object OF her
background OF low hills on the coast The
ookout in the tops Of her military masts
lad sighted the Spanish colors flying from
Spanish steamer. which had just left
havana harbor. Those on board the
teamer must have seen the New York
verhauling them, but they made no pre-
ense Of stopping.
The chase continued for nearly an hour,
nd by that time the New York had passed
ne seamer and stopped about half mile
# her port bow. In another moment there
'as puff of smoke from the side of the (
Jew York and sharp report of a six
ounder. The shot passed over the bows I
I the steamer and threw up great spray
hen 1t struck the water !
There was no nistaking its meaning the !
teamer stopped It's engines Immediately ]
nd swung around In the heavy sea which
as running. The next move came i
romptly. A large whaleboat was lowered
rom the New York. filed with sailors and
larines, all fully armed and IN charge of
n officer.
The prize proved to be the Pedro, of
bout 1000 tons. She was apparently IN
allast or had light cargo.
The sun was just sinking below the
orion when the prize crew from the New !
ork climbed over the side Of the Pedro. I
nd few minutes later the Spanish en- {
gn was hauled down I
CHASE OF THE GERMANS.
While this was transpirings the outlines !
another steamer were seen several {
lies to te Westward Darkness was gath
ing and II was impossible at that dis r
Lnce to distinguish her nationality, but I
10 New York put out for her as soon as e
he had cast loose the whaleboat con- C
lining the prize crew from the Pedro. I
The New York then fired another blank e
lot OF warning to "heave TO-" In the 6irec- e
on of the vessel sighted by the flagship, I
nd upon gaining proper distance the New I
ork fired a second shot. this time across I
le bows OF the second steamer, and the Q
tier hove to at once.
Upon investigation Il was learned that n
Re was 8 German steamer hat had Just v
II Havana, and she was allowed TO pro- t
,ed il