The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-05-20
The American Blockading Squadron
Around Cuba Keeping a Sharp
Watch for Spanish Fleet.
THE BLOCKADE IS WITHOUT INCIDENT,
The spaniards Load an Old Schooner with
Iron Trash and Start 1t Out In the Hope
That United States Torpedo Boat
Would Crash Into the Derelict and
Get Sunk.

OFF HAVANA, May 1S.-The ships of
the American blockading squadron are
keeping a vigilant watch for the ap-
pearance of the Spanish fleet and will
not be taken by surprise should the
Spanish men-of-war round Cape Anto-
MO, the westernmost point of Cuba,
and swoop down upon Havana. All
our ships have been warned by Com
modore Watson of the possibility of
such a move and sailors are kept con-
stantly in the tops, where they can
sweep the horizon for 80 miles, looking
out for the first sign of hostile ship.
All the naval officers on the blockade
station are anxious for a meeting with
the Spaniards, and when informed that
the latest reports placed them off the
coast of Venezuela, they jubilantly de-
clared that the enemy could be hemmed
in between the Windward islands and
the Yucatan channel, to be destroyed.
The only fear expressed was for the
safety of our ships blockading Glen.
fuegos. But they do not doubt that
precautions have been taken for the
safety of the ships now on the south
and fast yachts of the auxiliary feet
keep the blockading ships in constant
communication with Key West, whence
the movements of vessels are being di-
rected. General opinion is that there
will be no movement of the army in
the direction of Cuba so long as the
Spanish fleet remains in American wa
tiers, or until it is met and beaten.
The blockade of Havana has been
maintained without incident since the
Condo Vendite and Legazpi attempted
to draw our ships under the big guns
of the Santa Clara battery on Satur-
day evening. The activity along the
coast continues. Squads of Spanish
cavalry and parties working upon
Notifications have been seen daily
along the shores, but they have not
been molested. Orders have been
given not to expose the small vessels
of the squadron to unnecessary dan
ger.
The Spaniards Bait a Trap
KEY WEST, Fla, May iS.-The United
States cruiser Wilmington, commander
C. C.. Todd, when about 80 miles east
of Havana yesterday fred four shells
into Spanish trap in the shape of
derelict, sinking it and thus doing
away with another piece of Spanish
trickery. The commander of the Will
mington had been warned by dispatch
boats that some dangerous wreckage
was drifting about the spot eDtioned,
and the cruiser steamed in that di-
rection to investigate the re-
ports. An old Spanish schooner
with her deck loaded to the rails with
rusty iron, car wheels, etc, closely
packed together, was found floating in
the track of torpedo boats and dis
patch boats. The iron laden schooner
had evidently been sent out of Havana
harbor in the hope that a torpedo boat
or small craft of the blockading forces
would crash into it and be so damaged
as to cause her to sink. AS wires were
noticed around the iron rails on the
schooner. Commander Todd believed
the Spanish trap might also contain
explosives and, therefore, laying off
considerable distance from her, his
guns promptly sent her to the bottom