St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-05-04
WAR NOTES.
Spanish Steamer Argonauta Caught on the
South Coast.

Spanish Steamer Argonauta Caught on the
South Coast.
The gunboat Nashville. that fred the
first shot OF the war when she captured
Buena Ventura. is now coming TO Key
West TO report the capture OF a valuable
Spanish mail steamer and brief en-
counter between hree American warships
and three Spanish gunboats. The yacht
Kanapaha met the Nashville fifteen miles
northeast of Havana. Both were look.
ing Tor the fl igship. They cruised east
ward and spoke the torpedo boat Porter
and the cruiser Montgomery aud then
headed for Key West.
The story of the adventures Of the
blockadng division on the south shore
OF Cuba under adverse circumstances
owing to the weather, is that at 2
O'Clock on last Friday the cruiser Mar
blehead, gunboat Nashville and converted
yacht Eagle, late the Alma, were cruising
to and fro off the mouth Of the harbor OF
Cieniuegos on the south coast. They
were lying Their close in because Of gun
boats being seen inside, and they hoped
that they might yet be nagged into
coming out and making fight, although
frutless efforts to make them do 50 had
been steadily maintained since last Sun.
day.
However, a few minutes past 2 O'Clock
Monday the strange steamer was seen
west ward, and all hands on the three
Yankees went running to quarters. The
Nashville, being nearest was started on
tour of investigation. A little later
the stranger was seen to turn and run,
but she WIS already within range, and a
solid shot following blank one brought
her to at 80 p. M.
Meantime the Eagle, which was nearest
to the harbor, saw torpedo gunboat
coming out, and went in tor look at
her. The Eagle was fred on from the
shore and the gunboats. The fire was
returned 1.-THE Eagle carries four 6-pound.
ers), and the Spaniard returned into the
harbor
On boarding the prize the Nashville
found that she was the Argonauta, a
mail steamer from Havana, bound to
CieniuegOs with mails, dispatches, etc.
Among the passengers were Gen. Vincente
de Corttjo and his staff, in all ten officers,
gers to the number of two boat loads,
men, women and children, say 80 in all.
They were put ashore, but the General
and his staff were detained as prisoners
OF war
When the passengers had been landed
from the Argonauta 1t was learned that
her coal was about exhausted. The
Marblehead was compelled to take her
in tow Tor Key West, where they should
arrive soon.
Cieniuegos is a sugar and coffee port.
Regular mail lines connect the port with
Jamaica, Porto Rico and Cadiz. The
population was over 10000 before the
war. 1t was the headquarters for the
Spanish gunboats that patrolled the
southern coast before the blockade.
The President Says Dewey's Victory Does Not
End the Fight.
The views Of those optimistic public
men who are declaring that Dewey's de.
cisive victory had ended the war with
Spain and that collapse OF the enemy s
cause will follow soon are not shared by
by the president and the members of the
administration. 1t is among congress.
men that these predictions OF a speedy
termination OF hostilities are most fire.
quenlly heard so strong is the convic.
ton among cert ain OF the legislators that
serious consideration is already given to
questions concerning terms oi peace.
There was some general discussion
among senator's of the character OF the
demands the United States should make
on Spain to prevent further disaster to
the Spanish arms. One proposition
which met with favor was that the
treaty should contain a provision bv
which Spain should ctde Porto REQ to
this country as payment tor the Maine
and as war indemnity. But President
Mckinley does not put any faith in the
view that the end oi the war is in sight.
He understands that Havana must be
taken before success can come TO the land
and naval forces OF the United States
in their Efforts to drive the Spaniards
from Cuba. Few if any OF the president S
advisers believe that the enemy will sue
cumb without lighting bitterly, and they
probably share the presidents views in
their expressed opinion that hard fights
on land and sea will occur before peace
is at hand.
The greatest concern now lelt is over
the intention of the powerful squadron
which sailed westward from the Cape
Verde Islands. The opinion most gener.
ally held at the Navy Department is that
the enemy's force is after the battleshir
Oregon and the gunboat Marietta, now
at Rio Ianero taking on coal and other
supplies Tor the long run to Key West
This view is based largely on the TACT
that the Spanish fleet is stronger than
the two American vessels, and in at
tempting to intercept them would hav,
the shortest distance to cruise.
There is not any reason other thar
speculative to indicate that the Spanish
fleet is not on its way to Porto Rico o.
to the North Atlantic coast of the Unitet
States. Some naval experts draw thu
conclusion, from the desperation will
which the enemy fought in the battle O
Manila harbor, that the Cape Verd
squadron will not hesitate to take grea