The San Francisco call., 1898-07-08
The Pennsylvania Very
 Nearly Captured.
THREATENED AT M0NTEVIDE0
SHE STEAMED AWAY UNDER
 COVER OF DARKNESS.
The Temerario, Torpedo Boat De- stroyer Designed to Intercept the Oregon, the Vessel
 Feared.

The steamship Pennsylvania which ar rived here from Philadelphia Sunday morning was in immediate danger of be- ing blown up by a Spanish torpedo boat destroyer when entering and leaving Mon tevideo, and the officers and men are con. graduating themselves that they were able to elude the war vessel.
 The Spanish citizens of Montevideo raised S1,000000 early in the war and fitted up the Temerario, POO foot and p knot boat, as a torpedo boat destroyer. The avowed intention of the vessel was to intercept and, if possible destroy the Oregon. Being unsuc- cessful in this, the Temerario has been cruising about near Montevideo putung into that port every day or two. shortly before the arrival of the PennSyl- Nania, 1t was learned that there was a plot, matched by the officers of the Span lsh boat, to destroy one of the twelve American sailing vessels in the port. The United States consul heard of the plot and asked the protection of the Argentine Republic authorities for the American vessels. The result of his request was that the Temarario was ordered out of the harboF' and left on May 15, the day be- Tore the Pennsylvania arrived.
 Mneh th the steamer came into the har-- DOT the United States consul came aboard and congratulated Captain DoXman on HIS naNlnS been successful in escaping an encounter with the Spanish vessel, The
 
 with hlm on the ship a good portion of the stay at Montevideo and expressed great delight at being able to stand once more under the American flag. They said that while they received good treatment rom the authorities a good many of the people are Spanish and there is constant danger of trouble.
 .. The English paper at Montevideo pub Hshed a translation from a Spanish sheet the substance of which was that while the Iemerario had failed to capture the PennsyIVania as she entered the port, the escape or the American vessel was i'm This, together with the rumors and nu- merOus warnings the Americans received made them extremely fearful lest their ship should be destroyed. It was decided that an attempt should be made to leave by disguising the ship. The smokestack was painted down, changes made in the rigging, and on dark night, ten days 2fter the arrival at Montevideo. the FeRnSylNania started out of the harbor at full speed, which was kept up until all danger of an encounter with the torpedo- boat destroyer was past.
 The Pennsylvania had a hard time of if Just before she reached Montevideo, which was the reason for putting into that port When about 800 miles south of there a se- were gale, which soon proved to be a cy- clone, was encountered. Large quantities or water were shipped, and the officers say that they never experienced more Se- were weather. During the storm such damage was done to the machinery in the engine-room that the vessel was helpless She drl1ted Tor fVe days, and the captain at one time contemplated sending out a boat to seek aid from land. The machin- cry was finally patched up so that a slow trip could be made to Montevideo, where repairs were made.
 Not a single vessel was sighted during the entire trip, and the first authentic news of the war was that received from the pilot outside of San Francisco.