Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-12

On board The Associated Press dis.
patchboat Kate Spencer, via Key West,
Fla, May 6.-The Lafayette, Of the
Frunch Geueral Transatlantic Co. g
line, vessel Of 3, 394 tons gross regis
ter, hound from Corunna, Spain, on
April 23d for Havana, was captured
yesterday evening, off the latter port
hy ths gunboat Annapolis. Commanuer
j. j. Hunker, while trying to run tho
blUckade, after having previously heen
number Of passengers and valuable
general cargo, possibly containing con
traband of war.
The Lafayette, which halls from st.
Nazaire, France, is an iron vessel of
the old type. She is 344 feet long, 4i
feet beam. and 2S feet deep. She was
built in 1864 at Greenock, Eng.
Her capture was effected shortly be
fore sundown last night in the follow
ing manner:
The Lafayette was heading for
Havana and was boarded by an officer
Of the Annapolis and warned not to
enter the port. She afterwards made
an attempt to do go and was captured,
after IN exciting chase. The Whining.
ton, Newport and Morrill, took part in
the capture of the Frenchman.
After an examination Of the La.
fayette's papers, prize crew from the
Annapolis was placed ON board of her
and she was sent to Key West, escorted
by the Wilmington.
Previous to this Htep being taken.
Commander Hunker Of the Annapolis,
the temporary flag officer, and Com
nander Chapman G. Todd OF the Viii
mington exchanged signnIs for over an
hour. A delicate international gues
tion is thought 10 be involved in the
capture of the French steamer, but it
was tinally decided to send her to Key
West. The fact that enc left Spanish
port, Corunna, IN April 23d, after the
declaration of war, which occurred on
April 2lsf, aeems to warrant holding
the Lafayette.
On tne question OF contraband of war
the officers OF thu Wilmington we're reti-
cent, but il seems hardly possihle that
the steamer could leave Spain with so
many male passengers on board and not
have contrauand OF war in her cargo
1t is reported that tho Lafayette, in
addition to being a regular French mail
steamer, is a French naval reserve yes
sci, mounting guns and carrying crew
sufficient to make her ready for active
service at short notice. This, il is saiG.
adds considerably TO the gravity OF tho
international aspect of the case
The Kate Spencer, dispatchboRt of
The Associated Press, just before the
chase began had spoken The Annapolis.
a little east of the Cojimar battery anu
i've mllus off shore. The AnnBpoliH,
with canvaa ventilatorH snreRd, had
come up lRzily from the past and attar
having spoken the Spencer had gone
about to follow her down the coast.
Suddenly there was call of IN chase. -
The Annapolis had put her helm bard
a-starboard and was putting on full
steam and clsRving the waters in
northeast direction. Her dark tunnels
helched out clouds of black smoke as
the stolers piled coal on tho furnaces,
and ever effort was maiie to drive tine
gunboat at a high speed On the
horizon could be seen the faintest trace
of smoke. This was the quarry of the
American wRrship, and, cirCling swiftly,
she was off at full cry after har prey.
The stranger came rapidly up evon
with ths sky line and the marine
glasses soon made her out tn bB big
liner, with red tunnels, heading straight
for BavaDa. On she came, under full
steam, carrying bone in her teeth. "
as the sRilors say when a steamer or
other vessel is throwing UP q roll of
white waves forward as she drives
through the water with good speed.
Thers seemed to be no doubt that the
stranger was bent on running through
the blockading squadron and getting
under the guns of Morru Castle. II
possible, before being overhRuled.
But within five minutes, from as
many different directions, three of
Uncle Sam warships, which had been
drifting idly on the Eropic sea, had been
galvanized into life. attracted by the
chase aud speedily joined in the attomp,
to block the strangers entrance TO
Havana.
While the Annapolis was rushing
down upon the chase, in the distance
the Wilmington and the Newport were