Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-04-28
Prizes Captured by American Fleet.

KEY WEST, April 22.-rho cruiser
Nashville has captured the Spanish
steamer Rucna Ventura, for Rotterdam,
having Oh board a cargo of lumber. She
was on her way from tho coast of Texas.
Tho United States fleet was about II
miles OFF Sand Key light house this
morning at 7, when the Spanish NOR
chantman was sighted, bound north.
Tho gunboat Nashville ran her down and
put shot across hcr bows from the
4-inch gun on tho port side aft, manned
by Lieut.. Dillingham;. Tho Spaniard
ignored tho shot, but another, closer &c
her bows, brought her to.
a prize crew under Ensign T. p. Ma
grudcr was put aboard. Capt. I.ucar-
IIo did not know that war had been de-
clared. but when informcd of the state of
affairs he shrugged his shoulders and ac-
ceptcd the situation philosophically.
KEY WEST April 24.--Anothcr prize
was brought in this morning by the
United States gunboat Helena, Com
mandor w. II. Swineburne. She turned
out to be the Spanish steamer Miguel
Jover, bound from Now Orleans for Bar
colona, with a cargo amounting to about
1000 tons Of cotton seed and grain.
The Havana agents of the Miguel
Jovcr arc Balccllo Il Co., 43 Cuba street.
She has capacity of $500 tons, triple
expansion engines and an electric light
ing plant. She is classified Al by
MOBILE, ALA., April pa special
from Biloxi, Miss, says the revenue cut
ter Winona, from Mobile, captured the
Spanish steamer La Cumina at Ship Is
land, Miss, at o'clock to-day, but likely
will nave to remain in quarantine with
tho prize until the time Of quarantine
detention is out, tomorrow or next day.
The name Of the seized steamer is now
learned for the first time. 1t is Satur-
nina, from Sagua to Ship Island, Iuclaga
i'll command, ,87G tons.
KEY WEST, FLA, April 24.-Thc fleet
captured another prize yesterday after
noon, the schooner Mathildo of Ila-
vana, laden with rum. Tho schooner
was taken by the torpedo boat, Porter,
after lively chase, during which num-
Der of solid shots were fired. A prize
crew from tho flagship was put on board
the schooner, but no ship could be spared
to tow her and she was brought into Key
West in tow of the Associated press
dispatch boat Dauntlcss, which arrived
about midnight.
Tho Dauntlcss reports that the fleet
has been divided.
The Nashville and the Machias or Cas-.
tine sailed west at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, while the Amphtrite, tho Puri-
tlllj G1lC NlilClllllttUl thNt UllC N'NSblllc OF
Machias sailed cast later. Tho rest of
the feet at 80 o'clock in the afternoon
was blOckading Havana, which is distant
ton miles to tho southwark.
About 4:30 p. m. on Sunday Capt.
Chadwick sent Chief Engineer c.. j. Nc
Connolly this message: sect up all the
steam you can. A steamer has been
sighted and tho admiral wishes to cap
turo hor."
Tho New York was soon tearing
through the water at d rapidly incrcaS-
ing speed, and was fast leaving tho sqlIa-
drOn in tho rear.
Away in tho distance, close under the
mist cOvcreded hills of Cuba, midway,
between Havana and Matanzas, could be
seen tho outlines Of largo steamer head
ing to the eastward. Then the old cry of
"a chase" "a chase ro.cchoed fore and
aft. The officers and tho crew of the
Now York gathered on her decks, eagerly
watching tho flag ship churn through 5ho
blue water, foaminG white at her stern,
until sho was making about Is knobs.
Tho admiral paced the forward bridge
as calmly as if Watching potato race.
1t was evident that the Sr.tniaNd was
doing her best to got away from nc
cruiser, and was heading in nearer and
nearer to tho coast, hoping to find safety
in shallow wator where tho war ship
would not dare to follow her.
Whom tho Spaniard was about three
miles from tho shore and about mile
from tho Now York an &-inch gun from
tho cruisers forward turrct suddenly
bclcbed out stream of fire, accompanied
by crashing report. 1t was only meant
as a warning shot, but the steel proicc-
tile went rcochoting over tho watcr in
dangerous proximity to tho fleeing mcr-
chairman.
The echo of tho report had hardly died
away among Cuba's hills when tho Span
lard hove to. About ton minutes later
tho Now York was near hor. In tho dis
tancc fcw lonely looking houses could
DO seen pcrching on II wild looking booUii
a prize crew, commanded by Lioiit. =.
T.. Capchart, and composed Of Assistant
Engineer Noall, four marines and n boats
crow, all well armed, wcro lowered over
tho side of the cruiser and, amid oxultant
cheers from their comrades on board tho
Now York, thoy pulled ovor to tho Span
lard, which proved 10 DO tho Pedro, 0f
Bilbao, an oXcolIont prize.
In addition to tho above it. is reported
that tho Algonquin captured and towcd
into port two Spanish echo0nors.