The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-27

Refugees from Havana on n British
Steamer-CavaIry on the Beach.


Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press.)
ON BOARD THE FLAGSHIP NEW
YORK. off Havana, April 25.-Midnight.-
The capture of the Spanish steamer Pana-
ma, with her rich cargo, by the Mangrove.
is the best prize expected in these waters
for many a day. When the achievement
became known on the New York, loud
cheers broke from the crowded decks. The
Mangrove which was going to Key West
for coal, ran right into the Spaniard, which
endeavored to get away. The Indiana was
signaled by the prize ship and joined in
the chase, but apparently the chief glory
belongs to the Mangrove. Intense satisfac-
ton is felt among the officers of the New
York over the capture, for vigilant look
out has been kept during the last few days
and tonight some feared that the Panama
might have slipped into Havana. Her value
is great, quite apart from the intrinsic
worth of the hull and cargo. 1t would have
been most detrimental to the blockade had
the provisions which she carried got
into Havana.
The first news from Havana reached the
squadron this evening when the British
steamer Luciline was stopped by the flag
ship. The Luciline is commanded by Capt.
Tucker. She halls from London and was
bound from Havana for Bermuda and Phila-
delphia. She has about two hundred Gu
bans, men, women and children on board,
besides a cargo of horses and sugar She
is the first boat known to have left Ha-
Vana since last Friday when the blockade
was commenced. She was seen coming out
from Ell Moro about 5 p. m and was about
six miles from land before the New York
started on her trail. Smoke poured from
the hagship's SmokeStackS as she rushed
through the calm water to cut off the
Vyh al a
pace.
Lieutenant Marble was sent on board by
Captain Chadwick. The Cubans on the
Lucilnes deck shouted "Hurrah and waved
their hands at the New York. Captain
Tucker gave satisfactory proofs Of the Luz
ciline's Identity. He said that the people
in Havana did not know that the war was
in progress. The English consul general,
Mr.. Gollan, had said nothing to him, so
Captain Tucker alleged, about the war or
the blockade When asked what eXplana-
ton was given in Havana for the appear
ance of American ships outside Ell MORO,
Captain Tucker said ne had not potnered
his head about it and had not heard any one
talking the subject. There were no evil
dences. he continued, Of starvation In the
many of them children in arms-were being
taken out of Havana ION general pr1n-
ciples" He had heard that more mines were
to be laid in the harbor Captain Tucker
declared that he had not read any OF the
Havana papers.
After a careful inspection Lieutenant
Marble left the Luciline. Three cheers were
given when he went over the side. 1t is
the opinion of this correspondent that very
little reliance can be placed upon Captain
fuckers story. About two hundred Spanish
cavalry were seen on the beach about fif-
teen miles from Ell MORO this afternoon.
The flagship was lying at no great dis
lance from the shore and they were within
easy range, but no shots were fired. 1t
is believed the Spanish cavalry is estab
fishing a patrol to prevent a repetition OF
such incidents as the Porter landing last
night.
The En- MORO batteries were believed to
be firing at something about p M, but it
whether this was so or not.
The Wilmington captured the tiny schoon-
er Sol, of Sagua, with a cargo of sugar, but
let her go, after being careful to see that
she went in a direction opposite to Havana
The news from Matanzas, Cardenas and
Mariel is meager, but it indicates that the
blockade has been firmly established at
ported as having been fairly on the Ma
tanzas batteries, but thus far not single
casualty of any kind in the fleet has been
heard of on the flagship
Lieut.. Pedro Fernandez, of the Spanish
infantry, and his orderly, were brought on
board the flagship this morning from the
gunboat Wilmington to whom they had
The cruiser captured the Spaniards while
they were In q small schooner bound for
MatanZaS Lieut.. Fernandez was on a fur
Tough and going to see his wife and infan.
child. The child was born last Friday and
he had never seen it. In these circumstances
Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain Chad
wick decided to let the officer and his or
derby go under parole. They were sent
ashore in one of the newspaper dispatch
boats.