Evening star., 1898-04-23
PRIZE fOWED TO KEY WEST
Admiral Sampson May Have Some
Fighting to Do Today.
EXCITEMENT IN HAVANA

Copyright. 1898 by Charles N. PepperJ
Special Prom a Staff Core rcspondent
OFF HAVANA, Friday night via dis
patch boat Echo to Key west.-Admiral
Sampson's fleet commands Havana tonight
Morro Castle is in range of the big guns on
the Iowa. for 1t is not more than a dozen
miles away and its lights can be seen. The
ships lie close In to the coast, almost under
the brow of the low hills. but out of the
range of the shore batteries. They are
drawn up in battle formation with the
cruisers in shore.
The New York has returned to fts STA
ton with the fleet after capturing the Span
ish tramp Pedro Bilboa. That was the first
act OF real naval warfare. The freighter
thought It could slip away. 1t was sighted
by the torpedo boat Foote which va. doing
scout duty along the west coast. When its
presence was made known the New York
started after the Bilboa, which sought to
ignore the warning given it,
Thought 1t Canc From shore,
At first the shot across its bow was mis-
taken by those who were following the
fleet for a gun from the shore. but IL was
soon known that the shot was from the
New York. The Pedro Biboa needed this
business and within a few minutes mad
been boarded by Ensign Marble with a
prize crew from the New York. The cap
tain and crew of the merchantmen had
not known that war between the United
States and Spain had begun. They ac-
cepted the explanation which the presence
Of the fleet gave
The Bilboa was put in tow of the Hornet
and towed back to Key West. Another
coasting steamer sighted by the New York
paid prompt attention to the signal She
proved to be under the German flag, with
regular papers. and was allowed to pro-
ceed.
Blockade is q Fact.
The blockade, however, is now a fact
and no vessel viii! enter or ieave Havana
harbor tonight. The torpedo boats are
keeping close to the shore: patrols are out
In every direction and at intervals the
searchlights from the warships flash across
the waters.
1t is real war. When the squadron came
in sight of land this afternoon the air was
hazy. and while the outline of the hills was
visible the most powerful glass was unable
to distinguish what was going on I'm Ha-
vana. But the whole city knows the fleet IL
at its gates What the first E.ove tomor-
row will be only Admiral Sampson and the
other commanders know, but it is certain
@la.
shore. and If Blanco's plan is to open fire
from the shore batteries he will have q
chance to do so.
incidents OF the Tr,p.
The run across from Key West this
morning was full OF incidents. The ves-
se!s moved from Sand Key light a little af-
ter sunrise. Viewed from the deck OF the
newspaper dispatch boat, the morning mus
ter was the most Interesting sight. The men
were alert. The ships were stripped bare
This was :he order i'm which they started
across the gulf. sailing ten minutes apart:
Flagship New York. battle ships Iowa and
Indiana, cruiser Cincinnati. gunboat Nash
Vile, monitor Amphit-ite and the Castine,
Newport. Wilmington, Machias, Mayflower
and the torpedo boats Porter Foote, Du-
pont and Winslow. in the order named.
1t was a majestic marine procession.
PEPPER
Copyright. 1885, 10y Associated Press)
As Seen From the shore.
HAVANA, April .2-S:JD pm.-{Delayed
in tran.missionD--At 4:45 O'Clock this aft
erroon Friday) the semaphore signaled
that a fleet had been sighted on the east.
ern side of the island. 1t was said to be
without any colors to show it's nationality.
From the front OF Moro Castle the corre-
Epondent of the Associated Press saw
smoke In the distance. and soon afterward
he made out three vessels on the horizon
When the first signal came from the
semaphore station. a British steamer, which
was In the harbor. put to sea- She was
immediately followed by the German
steamer Remus- Some time afterward the
American ship Saratoga put to sea-
At that time Lapunta, the fort on the
side of the harbor opposite Morro Castle.
wss crowded with curious people, including
many ladies. In addition, crowds OF peo-
pie could b seen at various points oe