The times., 1898-04-27

Key West, Fla. April 26.-Yesterday
CAIouday) was q quiet day with the block
aiding squadron of Havana. The sun
yacht arrived at dawn. At that hour all
the divisions were stretched out along
the coast as in the night formation, so
that the line extended beyond Cardenas
on the east 10 the westward of MarieI
ove- 100 miles. The weather was like
morning in June Off Sandy Hook. There
was a low swell on the sea. over which
the ships rolled in lazy fashion, while
tiny rippIes tapped their sides.
Only one torpedo boat was in sight at
frst-the Porter-but as the sun rose it
was apparent that they had been cruis-
ing about as usual. keeping the gaps he
tween the ships closed. Soon after noon
the gunboat Wilmington was seen coming
from the east with a tiny schooner in
tow. but before she had arrived within
three miles OF the flagship the latter sig
nailed her 10 follow and headed straight
in shore towards Jaruco Cove. twelve
miles east of Havana. under her lead. The
sun yacht trailed after until she stopped,
three or four miles of shore, when the
yacht held on until only a mile from the
sandy beach.
At the bottom Of this cove the land
lies low. and the wide Eulch al the rear
opens through a low, rounded range of
hills 10 a valley. where canenelds could
be seen, with q range Of somewhat rugged
mountains in the distance. Near the beach
stood the white ruins Of an old stone
house. To the eastward the hillside seem
ed utterly wild and is covered with scrub
by timber. West of the gulch the hill
rose gradually TO a height Of POO feet or
more. At q distance of mile from shore.
on q rounded crest, stood d huge house,
apparently stone. with a smaller house on
the side and a tive-foot stone wall around
the yard. To the east Of the house and
within the yard were TWO rows Of tents
or TWO long awnings.
When looking al the house from posi-
Lon just north a huge archway was
seen 10 run through it. There We're a
number Of pinnacles about the crest of the
walls. and apparently portfolios in the
second story, though this could not be
definitely determined.
A winding eartroad ran up the wester-
y side Of the knoll where this house
stood, while another cartroad. straight
and fair but grassgrown. ran from the
beach 10 the hili 10 the west where the
house stood. The beach in front of all
this is smooth sandy and easy for land
ing when the water Is smooth. but lust
of shore the water is too shoal for any
craft but rowboats while the chart shows
dangerous rocks a half mile or more from
the beach
As the yacht turned to the west to
avoid these rocks and ran parallel with
the beach, and just as reporter who had
been in Cuba was saying to another that
the big house on the hill had been con-
Verted INTO Spanish fort. a sudden COM
motion was seen about the house. Sew
eral men were running 10 and fro outside
OF the yard on the east side. They soon
disappeared behind the yard but a mo-
Inent later eight mounted men came from
the east side and two from the west and
all went hurrying down back Of the hill.
They plainly feared that the yacht was
about to lombard the fort.
Having remained opposite the deserted
fort for a few minutes, the yacht turned
out to sea. and as she drew away the
garrison returned. walking their horses.
As the yacht returned TO the flagship
the Wilmington brought up her prize IN
tow. il was dinky schooner called the
Sol Of SagUa. There were three men in
the crew and the cargo was loo bags
Of crude sugar bound 10 Havana En-
sign Bailey had the prize in charge. The
crew crouched on the taffrail in detected
fashion, while the officer went 10 report
10 the admiral. but few minutes later
the officer returned. took the prize crew
into his boat and started for the VIII
mington. There The crew jumped up ana
in a jify had the schooner's three sails
set and headed east toward home They
Were Cubans and were released on the
promise TO keep away from Havana
The flagship ran out till ten miles from
The beach, headed westward and kept
the wheels turning enough TO maintain
position of Jaruco Cove. The Whining
ton held TO southeast and half way 20 the
beach, while The Indiana appeared four
or five miles outside the flagship.
Thereafter little was done until night
fall when the British s-eamer Lucillian.
coming from Havana was overhauled
and boarded by the flagship She carried
about fifty Cubans en route TO the United
States They cheered the American flag
Justify as the New York came alongside
They said no ri0Ing had yet occurred
81 Havana, but they We're glad TO get out
ana everybody there was anxious TO leave
The city.