The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-30
FAKE FIGHT REPORT.
french Newspaper Correspondence
imagination In vivid,


publishes dispatches purpor,ins to come
from Paris giving details OF an alleged bat
Tie near jamaica. In which II is said two
American warships were destroyed ana ono
Spanish warshlp WAS injured. Although
the account is very cireumsianual as 10
time, place, incidents and results. IL is re-
cciyed here with suspicion
Inc story Is that Commodore SchleS's
squadron parted from hear Aamiiai Sump-
sou OIL Cape Maysl, the elstern poluC %
Cula, stetrvd toward the Nucatan passage
followed closely by Sampson s ships. Hob
were sighted from the watun towers OF san.
tiago de Cuba.
hear Adiniral Sampson arrived OF inc
province OF puerto Principe. eontinning
theoce IN the direction o. jamaica.
Admiral Ccrvera left Santiago Thursday,
May g. at midnight. all his lights nelng
eNtnguished, with the Nizcaya aud tue
Almiranto Oquendo, preccdeo by tue tor
pcdo boat destroyer furor
He took up position In proximity to ia,
nraica. Two hours later the remainder u
Admiral Cervera's squadron Withdrew from
the harbor Of Santiago aud Proceeded in a
southerly direction
ON the morning OF Friday the Furor caine
UP rapidly TO the Nlgcaya aud the Amir
ante Oqucndo. advising Cervcra u tha ap-
preach OF the enemy. Rear Admiral Samp-
sons ships steamed at full speed toward the
Spanish vessels. which accepted the com
bat, but moved In a southerly direction 10
effect juncture WIKI the remainder OF tho
spanish squadron. The battle ragged fu-
rlously on both sides. The American de-
tachcd their three cruisers and three
smaller ships TO surround tho Vigcaya and
the Almrante Oqucndo. The Furor be-
tween tine cross IRE OF the enciny made tor
,lss4a. tls.tf Ma
first heavy guns. the outcome OF the con-
test was that two American warahips were
sunk and one Spanish warshp disabled III
It's steering gear.
The remaining vessels Of the American
squadron were so much damaged that they
were compelled to take refuge IN Hayden
waters. It is reported that the Ctstobal
Colon captured one American ship which
had been disabled by shot from the Viz
caya that perforated her side,
The Nizoaya rescued the Colon from an
American destroyer II Is said after the
combat the Spaniards sailed for Havana,
or II the conditions Of the vessels or the
presence Of superior force Of the enemy
required. TO take refuge at Cardenns or
Malanzas.
The publication OF this dispatch from
raris caused an excited dlscusson Of the
conflict Reports from various sources
completely absorbed all sections OF tho
press and all crcles Of the public In
Madrid
Speaking today Of yesterdays rumore ~
the defont Of the Americans and the death
OF Rear Admiral Sampson. Captain Aunon,
the minister Of marine, without creiting
II in the absence of official confirmation
remarked that the event was within the
limits OF possibility.
II Is hoped that the results Of toiay's
cabinet council viii disclose information
confirming or denying the report.
Washington, May 20.-OtficInls of the
navy department not only dscrcdit the re-
ported naval engagement near Jamaica on
Friday night. but declare with tho utmost
positvcness that II did not occur. Advces
received from Admiral Sampson and Com
modore Schloy clf0rly indicate that the
statement contained IN the Madrid story
are without the slightest foundation IN fat.
Secretary Long was shown copy OF the
dispatch tonight After readins 1t, he said
ut is an interesting story. but II entirely
lacks the element OF truth. You Will notice
II is regarded with suspicion even in Mad
rid, It coinea to us from Paris, where II
was received from some unnamed place al
ter being filtered through the Spanish
capital. No, there is absolutely no truth
in It..
Secretary Long declined TO make further
comment upon II.
Officials on duty at the navy department.
read the dispatch with arnnzcment II Wi.
take 1t upon myself" said an officer. -
| say that the report is absolutely untrue.
know IL Is not true
| He would not say how he knew. but tina
! important bit cf Information was supple,
| by Secretary Long. Official advices wcr'
| received tonight irOm Commodore Schlcy
| They contain no Information OF such an en-
| gagement as Is reported from Madrid. al
| though It IL known that they were wrlttei
| after the battle was said TO have occurred
The adyices from Commodore Schiey ih>
| dicate that he Is now and has been Tor
several days guarding the entrance to the
! bay OF Santiago de Cuba. That no mas
| Admiral Ceryera and his fleet bottled up
there Is regarded by naval officials as
beyond any doubt. Commodore schlcy mad
not only his own squadron, but Two or
three vessels besides at his command and
n is not believed to be possible for the
Spanish admiral to escape with ms ilcet
No information Is obtainable as to the
intentions OF Commodore ScEley
Whether he will ATTEMPT to force an en-
trance TO the bay and seek battle with
the Spanish squadron Is not known, bu,
such n course AT present IN not 'cb"Iuto
as likely. II would be the better, In the
opinion OF some naval officials, 20 kelr
Ceryera and his vessels safely In the har-
Der. where they are as absolutely useles'
as they would be at the bottom OF the sea
London. May 29.--The circumstance
under which FL Progresses remarkable
story appears seem TO dlscredit II. Ap.
parently the Paris correspondent OF thu
newspaper is the sole possessor OF the In
formation he pretends TO have. Moro re
liable papers of the news agency have
nothing on the subject. The article ma,
have been given Paris date for some un
discernible object.
Terror II mt san Juau.
Especial Cable to The Post and New yor'
Herald. Copyright. 1898. BY James Gordor
BcnnettD
I -. Thomas. ID. W. l., May 2a.--The spanis
torteeo boat destroyer Terror is in the har
her OF San Juan, Porto Rico She 10 some
what hampered by her engines being slight
, disabled such occurrences are frequent 4
the Spanish navy since the DISCHARGE OF III