The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-26
WiIkin & Co.
NARROW ESCAPE

OF the Associated Press Dispatch Boat
Dauntless-Got Inside the Blockade
Lines and Compelled to Haul to.
Copyright, 1895, by the Associated press.)
On board the Associated Press dis,
patch boat Dauntless, MATANZAS. IS
LAND OF CUBA, via Key West, Fla,
April 25.-7:42 {. m.-Between . and 10
o'clock last night the Associated Press
dispatch boat Dauntless steaming quiet
ly towards Matanzas, whose lights were
reflected on the sky a few miles south
eastward, a large fire on the shore was
exciting comment on board the dispatch
boat and wonder was rife as to where
the United States blockadinE fleet was
to be found. Suddenly a lookout on
board the dispatch boat reported: TOR
pedo boat astern, coming up ifast."
"A moment or so later, by her lights,
two red and one green, and by a rocket
which she sent up. the torpedo boat Du-
ipont vas made out. The rocket was an
swered by the glare from two search
lights on board the cruiser Cincinnati,
the beams being thrown full on the
~ NupOi Nv ulSItdkCIl
boat OF the Associated Press had come,
unawares. within three miles Of the Gu
ban shore. and far inside the prescribed
limits. What followed was short, sharp
and war-ltke. Il
After some coll"quy, much more
friendly in tenor, as the Dupont learned
our peaceful mission. we were directed
to proceed slowly towards the Cincin-
-.o "a ID nd y,a| ,,,arn a leo "o1y,t,al - ,,.
caution, as otherwise. 1t was added,
trouble would befall us.
The Dauntless proceeded slowly, but
1t seems not slow enough, and the glare
of the cruisers s%earchlighls fell on Cap
tain Floyd. The first intimation that
we were IN too close proximity TO the
war ship, was contained in the report of
a six FOUNDER. Then came a quick hail.:
"Heave to Dauntless.
Then came the order: Back her, back
her, or you Will get a shot through you"
She was backed. Then the Dupont
stole up, quietly reporting to the Cinc!n-
natl: This is the boat we sighted III
shore"
A voice from the Cincinnati replied:
very. good, We will send a boat TO board
her." = IL
AL. this time the glare OF the cruisers
search lights on the Dauntless was al
most lntolerable.
Soon afterwards a boat from the Gin
~cinnatl pulled by six oars, with Ensign
Mcintyre in the stern sheets, came
alongside. The first order was: Your
papers and log. please" These were
produced andswere found to be salts
factory. Then sure of cordial relations
being assumed, we found we had trans
crossed far within the limits set for YES
sells, and had had 4 close shave of being
fired on with shot.
We exchanged news, and the Cincin-
natl having ordered the Dauntless to lay
to, permission was requested to return
to Key West. Ensign Mcintyre said he
would transmit the request to the Gin
Sclnnatl. Before leaving the Dauntless,
the cadet made the following entry in
the log OF the dispatch boat: "At
o'clock boarded by Naval Cadet e. w.
Mcintyre, OF U. s. S. Cincinnati, and
captain was informed that they were not
to, enter any Cuban port under penalty
OF being fired upon. Boat must first re-
port TO outside squadron and obtain per-
mission before entering and port"
The Cincinnati was also informed that
the Dauntless would cheerfully take
back any mail. In ten minutes q boat
returned with this message: Captain
Chester's compliments, and he will be
obliged II you will take On this mail.
You can so. Advise that you steam due
west six miles when you make your first
course, or you may get into more trou-
ble."
The acknowledgements obeyed, literally
and the Dauntless set off on her return.
Before she had gone six miles, we saw
q torpedo boat ast.rn, evidently keeping
an eye on US. Then We saw the Cincln-
natl's sea,ch lights sweep the horizon,
and soon afterwards we heard four shots
In quick succession. AS they were not
followed by others, we presumed that
some ether boat had been overhauled.
Certainly there was no bo~mbardment OF
Matanzas commenced ut night. The
Dauntless made n good run, the north
gale having abatcd and the water being
smooth In the straits. She arrived OF
Sand Key Light at 8 o'clock this morn
Ing.
IHHEH "IIaF s