The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-05
TAKEN BY THE BADGER
THREE SPANISH VESSELS CAPTURED
AT NEUVITAS, CUBA.
400 Soldiers AbOard-Eight Deserters
Prisoners Sent Back to Havana.

KEY WEST, Fla, Aug 4.-No confirma-
ton has been received here of the report
that Nuevitas, the chief port of the prov
ince of Puerto Principe, has been evacuated
by the Spaniards after a bombardment by
American war ships. The auxiliary cruiser
Badger which captured three prizes at Neu-
vitas on July rs and left with them that day
for the Tortugas, arrived here this morn
ing. Captain Snow said at the time of his
departure all but 1900 Spanish troops had
left for the city and a general evacuation
was expected, but that to all intents and
purposes the place was still held by the enc
my and there had been nothing in the ma
ture of an attack. The large gunboat Pr
zarro and the armed tugs Anita and Yumuri
were in the harbor. The only intelligence
of the reported assault and evacuation of
Neuvitas was that furnished on July 26 by
Lieutenant Colonel Bojas, of the insurgent
forces, to Commander Maynard, of the gum
boat Nashville, at Gibara.
The Badger was covering the blockade
station at Neuvitas on July 26 when one of
the Spanish boats slipped stern foremost to
the mouth of the harbor and took a peep
at her. The enormous hull of the American
ship, bristing with Nordenfeldt guns
scared her and she scurried back to shell
ter. A little while later, three vessels were
observed coming out, in excellent forma-
ton, and Captain Snow thought a good
fight was coming. He brought his ship up
to the mouth Of the harbor and prepared to
give the Spaniards warm greeting, when
1t was discovered that, instead of gunboats
the advancing ships were tugs, brigantne
and barge, the last two in tow, all flying
Spanish and Red Cross flags. A couple of
shots from six-pounder were fired in their
direction and they promptly surrendered
The tug was the Humberto Rodriguez fine
and new and worth about $4,000. The brig
antine was the Saf and the barge was the
San Fernando. A party from the Badger
boarded the prizes and found distributed
over them about 400 Spanish soldiers, who
it was said, had been ordered to Havana
asserted that there were Six cases of yellow
fever among the troops, but a careful ex-
animation by the Badgers doctor and after
showed there was no infection among the
men and that the Red Cross flags were used
At Neuvitas the Badger also took aboard
eight deserters from the Spanish army, who
are still on board the ship. They are SER
geant and seven privates of the Twenty
second Cadiz battalion. They were march
ing from the town of Puerto Principe to
Neuvitas and when near the latter place the
sergeant reported four men missing and
asked for detail of three men to find
them. This was granted, but the detail also
deserted and with the other men made their
way to Martinillas Light. Here they took
the light keepers boat and rowed out to sea-
surrendereing themselves with their Mauser
rifles and ammunition. They said they did
not want to starve under Spanish rule. In
NeuvitaS and in fact throughout the entire
province. they said, the inhabitants are
starving.
The Badger proceeded with her prizes
from Neuvitas to Havana, where she re-
ported to Commodore Howell, who ordered
them to Tortugas. AT that place Captain
Snow communicated with the Washington
authorities and was instructed to send all
the prisoners to Havana. if one ship could
carry them if not. to put some of them on
a second ship and send them to New York.
One of the prisoners. in the meanwhile. died
of dysentery at Tortugas. In accordance
with the departments instructions, Lieuten-
ant Edward McPheters. with two officers
and two men, was put in charge of the
prizes and left with them for Havana He
will then proceed with a tugload of the
Spanish prisoners to New york The Bad
ger is manned by New Jersey naval re-
serves.