The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-05
THREE SPANISH PRIZES

key West. Fla, Aug. mo conH<ma-
ton has been received here OF the repOrs
that Neuvitas. the chief PORK ef the
Puerto Principe province. has been evsc-
uatea by the Spaniay6s after . lombard
ment by American warshsps.
The auxiliary cruiser Badger captured
three prizes At Neuvstas on July 3 and
left with them that day fOr the TortUg2s.
arriving here this morning. Captain snow
said that at the time OF ais departure al
but abou; LSoo Spanish troops had lsft
the city and a general evacuation waS
expected. but thaS 10 all intents and par-
poses the place was sta held BY TIA
nature OF an attack TIE large EunSsas
P.zarre and the AIMED tugs Anita and
Yumuri were IN the har6or.
The only intelligence % the reported as
sauit and evacuation Of Neuvitas was that
furnished on July 20 BY Lieutenant Cole
rel Rojzs OF ths insurgent forces 70 COM
mandsr Maynard. OF the gun6Oa, Nash
Vile.
T,as Badger was covering me elocknde
station al Nsuvitas on July % when ons
OF the Spanish boats slipped stern fore
most TO the mouth OF the hSrbor and took
peep az her. The enormous hull Of TIA
American ship. brstliag win Norden-
selds guns scared her and she seurrisa
back TO shelter.
A Hide while latsr three vessels were
observed coming out IN excellent forna-
ton. ana Captain Snow thought a good
fight was coming. He brought his ship
up to ne mouth OF the hsrbor and pre-
pared 10 give the Spaniards a warm
greeting when Il was discovered that in
stead OF gunhoats the advancing ships
were a tug. a er!gantine and barge. tho
last two IN tow. All flying spanish ana
Red Cross rags. A couple OF shots frona
a s!x-pounder was fired IN their direction
and they promptly surrendered. The tug
was the Humborto Rodriguez. aae and
new, and worth about y7o.ooo. The brig
antine was the SAT- and the barge was
the san Fernando.
A party from the Badger boarded the
prizes and found distributed ever them
about 900 Spanish soldiers who. u was
saiG. had been ordered 20 Havana BY Gen.
eral Sasclde. The surgeon IN charge as
serted that there were SIX cases OF yellow
fever among the troops. bat careful
examination BY The Badgers doctor and
afteryvard by othe< physicians az Tortu-
gas showed there was no infection among
the men. and that the Red Cross aags
were used as a decoy.
At Nsuvi;as the Badger also took aboard
eight deserters rom the spanish army.
who are stu on board the ship. They arc
sergeant and seven privates o. tho
Twenty-secoud Cadiz battalion They
were marching from the town q Puerto
Principe 20 Neuv1tas. and when near tbs
latter place the sergeant reported four
men missing and asked Cor detaii OF
three men 20 md them. This was granite
81 but the detail also deserted. and With
the other men made their way 20 Marti-
ns1les Light. Here they took The nsht-
keepers boat and rowed ont % the Bad
ger. surrendering themselves. with their
sfausers and ammunition. They sa71 they
did not want 20 serve under spanish rule.
In Neuvitas. and IN fact throughout ths
entire province. they said. tho Inhabitants
are starving.
The Badger proceeded win her prizes
from Neuvifas 10 Havana. where ne re-
ported to Commodore Howell. who or
Sered thorn TO Tor.ugas. Al that placa
Captain SNOW communicated with The
washington authorities and was instruct
Cd 20 sena all OF tao passengers TO Ifa-
vana.
one OF the passengers in the rneanwhlle
died OF dyssntsry AZ the Tortugas
In. accordance with the Departments In
structions. Lieutenant Edwari NJ Peters.
with two officers and two men. was pat
in charge Of the prizes and lef; with them
for Havana He will then proceed With =
tug-load OF the Spanish prisoners 10 New
York.
The Badger Is manned by New Jersey