The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-05-05
ALINER CAPTURED
The Little Tender Man
grove Takes the
Big Panama.
LOADED WITH PROVISIONS
Captain Everett's Threat to Sink the
Spaniard Brought 1t to . Stop-The
Panama Carried Two 12-POunders,
But Did Not Use Them.


spaniard Brought 1t to . stop-The
Panama Carried Two 12-Pounders,
But Did Not Use Them.
Key West, April s8.-The lighthouse
tender Mangrove pulled proudly into
Key West har5or this morning with the
richest prize of the war thus far. The
captive was the Panama, Captain Que
vedo, big trans Atlantic liner, and an
auxiliary cruiser of the Spanish navy,
which has been plying of late between
New York and Havana. She had 80
passengers, including three women, one
Frenchman and one Mexican, and
crew of 70. As the Panama carried
two 12-pounders, she could easily have
.annihilated the little Mangrove, and
as the latter came into the harbor with
her prize, there was not craft that did
not salute her.
The Mangrove, under Lieutenant
Commander William FL. Everett. was
cruising along the Cuban coast, navi-
gated by Ensign Palmer, shortly before
6 O'Clock last evening, about 20 miles
north of Havana. At 9:45 she sighted
the Panama. When the latter came
within range, shot from one of the
Mangrove's 2-pounders was sent across
her bows. but the Spaniard ignored the
challenge and went on. Another shot
followed without result, but the Man.
grove was drawing nearer the stranger.
who calmly proceeded on her course,
apparently without any intention of
running away.
When the third shot was fired, the
Mangrove was within 100 yards of the
Panama, and Lieutenant Commander
Everett shouted to the deck officer that
if she did not surrender he would sink
her. The Mangrove's officers admit
that they expected the enemy's 49,
Founders to open on them in response
to the threat, but the Spaniard prompt
ly came to.
Ensign Dayton. the senior officer of
the Mangrove, boarded the prize. The
battleship Indiana had seen the capture,
and meanwhile drew up to the Man
grove, giving her lusty cheer. Lieu
tenant Commander Everett reported to
Captain Taylor, of the battle-ship, and
the latter put prize crew aboard the
captive. They then proceeded to the
flagship, where formal report was
made, and Rear-Admiral Sampson
ordered Lieutenant Commander Everett
to convoy the prize to Key West.
The Panama is of about 2,800 tons,
and her passengers were mainly Span
ish refugees fleeing from New York and
other points to Havana. The Panama
carried valuable cargo of general mer-
chandise, including large quantity OF
corn. Much of it was meant to pro-
vision the Spaniards in Cuba, and the
cargo, with the ship itself, undoubtedly
makes the richest prize thus far taken.
Under the regulations, however, the
battle-ship Indiana will share in the
prize-money, as she was in sight when
the capture was made.
The entire feet have been on the
lookout for the Panama for several
days, as she was due at Havana yester-
day or today.
If the pace set by the vessels of the
North Atlantic squadron in the taking
of prizes be long maintained, SPANS
merchant marine is destined to need
reconstructing from the ground up be-
fore the war closes. During the five
days since hestilities opened, II prizes
have been brought in. and there is
prospect that several other Spanish
vessels now in Gulf waters will also be
captured.
The gunboat Newport brought in the
Spanish sloop Paquette and the Spanish
schooner Pirene, Cuban coasting YES
sells, captured off Havana this morning.
These captures, following upon the
Mangrove's clever achievement, have
reused the people here to high pitch
Of enthusiasm.
~ SfVo