Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-27
TAKEN IN BY THE LITTLE LIGHT
HOUSE TENDER MANGROvE.
MOST IMPORTANT CAPTURE YET
PANAMA COULD EASILY HAVE ami
HILATED HER CAPTOR.
Did Not Heave To Until Three shots
Had Been Fired-Tnken Within
Twenty Miles of Havana
Had Spanish Refugees
and Supplies on
Board.

Key West. Fla. April 26.-The lighthouse
tender Mangrove puffed proudly into Key
West harbor this morning with the rich
est prize of the war thus far. The captive
was the Panama, Captain Quevedo. a big
transatlantic liner. which had been plying
of late between New York and Havana
She had twenty-nine passengers. including
three women. one Frenchman and one Mex
lean, and a crew of seventy-two.
AS the Panama carried two twelve.
Founders. she could easily have annihiated
the little Mangrove. and as the latter came
into harbor with her prize there was not a
craft but saluted her with rousing cheers.
The Mangrove. under Lieutenant Com
down from the photographic office a few
weeks ago to take her, was cruising along
the Cuban coast, navigated by Ensign
Palmer, shortly before o'clock last even
ing, about twenty miles north of Havana.
At 5:i5 p. m she sighted the Panama The
only other ship of the fleet in sight was
the battleship Indiana, three miles to the
rear Lieutenant Commander Everett
scented a prize, and scudded toward the
stranger.
When the latter came within range. a
shot from the Mangrove's twelve-pounder
was sent across her bows. but the Spaniard
ignored the challenge and went on. An
other shot followed without result. but the
Mangrove was drawing nearer the strans-
er, who calmly proceeded on her course.
apparently without any intention of rum
ming away.
When the third shot was fired. the Man
grove was within 100 yards Of the Panama,
and Lieutenant Commander Everett shout
ed to the deck officer that If she did nof
surrender he would sink her.
The Mangrove's officers admit that they
expected the enemy's twelve-pounder to
open on them in response to the threat,
but the Spaniards promptly came to.
Ensign Dayton, the senior officer of tho
Margrove, boarded the prize. The battle
ship Indiana had seen the capture and.
meanwhile, drew up to the Mangrove. Civ
ing her a lusty cheer. Lieutenant Com
mander Everett reported to Captain Tay-
lor, Of the battleship. and the latter put a
prize crew on board the captive. consisting
of Cadet Falconer and fifteen marines.
They then proceeded to the flagship. where
a formal report was made, and Rear Ad-
miral Sampson ordered Lieutenant Com
mander Everett to convey the prize to
Key West.
The Panama is of about $500 tons bur-
den and her passengers were mainly Span
ish refugees fleeing from New York and
other points in the United States to Ha-
vana. She sailed from New York April
20. Captain Quevedo was grief stricken
and greatly Inundated because of the cap
ture. The passengers declare they knew
nothing of the blockade and that when
they saw the searchlight of the Mangrove
they thought it was the light of a SPAN
ish man-of-war.
The first shot changed their joy to ap-
prehension; the second and third created
a panic. The women ran screaming for
shelter from the enemy's guns and the
captain locked himself sullenly in his
cabin.
The Panama carries valuable cargo of
general merchandise, including large
quantity of corn. Much of it was meant
to provision the Spaniards in Cuba, and
the cargo, with the ship itself, undoubtedly
makes the richest prize thus far taken.
Under the regulations. however. the bat
tleship Indiana will share in the prize
money, as she was in sight when the cap
ture was made
This makes five steamers thus far cap
trred. in addition to a number of schoon-
ers and small craft.
The entire fleet has been on the lookout
for the Panama for several days. as she
was due at Havana yesterday or to-day.
The United States g,inboat, Captain 3.
F. Tilley has brought in the Spanish sloop
Paouete and the Spanish schooner Pireneo.
Cuban coasting vessels. which she cap
tured off Havana this morning.