New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-07
CAPTIVE FOR A FEW HOURS.
THE BIG FRENCH LINER TAKEN OFF
HAVANA THROUGH MISTAKE
DY AGREEMENT SHE WAS TO RE PERMITTED TO
ENTER HAVANA NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ORDERS FROM WASHINGTON
FOR HER RELEAsE.
FOR HER RELEASE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNs.l

IBT TELEGRAPH THE TRrBuNEl
Key West. Fla May 6-Whe the United
States gunboat Annapolis was cruising OIL Ia
yesterday afternoon she noticed the
French steamer Lafayette making for the DOCK
AIDED port at all speed. with the evident ih'en-
ton Of entering the harbor. Co'ninahue'
Hunker. Of the gunhoat Immediately gave chase
and a few minutes later was within haih"S
distance Signals ordering the steamer to heaVe
to were run up but they were disregarded ana
the more persuasive argument Of a blank shot
used with instant effect.
The warship's whaleboat. with an officer. was
sent out to the Frenchman. whose manifest was
inspected and the results were sent to Com
mander Hunker Tie latter ordered the board
ing officer to warn the captain Of the French
man that Havana was in state Of blockade.
and II at ne would have TO make for his ulu-
mate destiration. Vera Cruz. Mexico. without
touching at any port in Cuba Captain De
Chapolainc. the commander Of the French YES
sci agreed 10 do this. and he boarding officer
and his crew returned 10 the Annapolis.
some hours later. or just after dark. the La
fayette was again detected trying to slip through
the line Of the hlockading squadron. and the
Annapolis again cave chase. The WilmlnEtoh'
the VicksburG and Two of the tugs joined IN
the hunt. and. after another gun was fired
across
TO- This time a permanent boarding crew un-
der Ensign Segamond. Of the Wilmington was
placed aboard. and escorted by the latter yes
sell the prize was headed for this port, where
she arrived early this morning Her arrival
here caused n considerable sensation. as 1t was
said that she had left Corunna after the block
ade had been declared. and that she carried
among hey 1Gl passengers a number oi ofhceFs
Of the Spanish Army. besides arms Ammunition
medicine and other contrahand Of war
Early in the day the prize commission went
out To the Lafayette and made critical exam
nation OF her manifest. While this work was
I'm progress n note was received from 'omm'-
dore Watson. who had Just taken command "f
the squadron which lies here. saying that ne
had received orders from Washington requiring
him to release the Lafayette and have her con
voyed to Havana ~ man-of-war Inc snip ;
papers were at once returned to her c"mmanH'r
and ne was informed that he vas free TO 60 10
Havana. According to tho ships papers S"'
carried 161 passengers with n crew OF l'6 and
a general cargo of great value consisting
largely Of rnedclne. clothing and provisions.
She left Corunna on April -, before tho block
ade was established. and was. Consequently not
arnouanle - the rules ~ war
one II the members ~ the prize commission
that he was convinced that she was righifn'y
taken and that she carried contraband 81 war
and probably a large amount OF material tha'
would be valuable to the Spanish army "h'cn
was net mentioned in her manifest However
The orders from Washington were ohcyed ana
the Lafayette Will probably leave Key West 'h'S
evening with her captor as escort
While the prize commissioners "er" ABOARD
tho Iafayo;fe the vessels IN the harhor hrcd i
salute in honor 81 Commodore Watson VINO
had just raised his flag on the cruiser 'in'''
natl The passengers on The steamer not kh'"
ing the circumstances were thrown INTO pane
by the noise. and one woman went 'h'' '."-
wilson's It was with the greatest d'in'"''Y
that quiet was restored after th" commissioners
had EXPLAINED that tho noise was merely 'he
result Of salute Considerable excitement was
occas'oned in the uppct part o. the city 'y 'he
firing. tn, residents fearing that the spanish
feet was bombarding the town.