The record-union., 1898-05-18
CANNONADING. IN GULF OF MEX
TCO
SPANISH WARSHIPS.
Vessels in Martinique Waters Sail
Toward Porto Rico.

ST. PIERRE (Martinique), May IT.
| Copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated
Press 1.-The Spanish torpedo boat de-
| stroyer Terror and the hospital ship
Alicante are still at Fort de France.
1t is rumored that the repairs to the
| Terror are finished and that she will
| leave the harbor tomorrow.
The signal lights continue and last
night a large number were flashed
from the hills. A Spanish vessel en-
tered the harbor late last night, show
ing no light, rapidly secuted and left
| Immediately.
About half past 10 last evening an
| earthquake shock was distinctly felt
| here. This experience, combined with
the excitement caused by the presence
and movements of the Spanish war
ships, keep up the public strain
There is no doubt that the Spanish
| fleet which has been lying in these wa
ters has now left Martinique, going di-
rect to Cuba or Porto Rico.
SPAIN'S RESERVE FLEET.
NEW YORK, May IA dispatch to
the Herald" from Cadiz says:
The dock yard authorities here have
announced that the reserve fleet, which
would consist of the Pelayo, the Carlos
V, the Alfonso XII. and the newly
equipped cruisers, the Rapido and the
Patria, together with the torpedo de-
stroyers AudaZ and Prosperina. will be
ready for sea in the middle of the pres
ent week There has been considerable
difficulty in obtaining skilled engineers,
Spanish engineers being unable to OBJ
tain the proper speed out of the tor
pedo catcherS.
The Giraldi will probably accompany
the fleet as a dispatch boat.
1t is popularity surmised that the
aforementioned fleet goes to the Phil
ippines, but everything depends upon
what may happen in Havana. Were
the Spanish fleet to take a good posi-
ton, and should any misfortunes oc-
eur to the United States warships. the
men-of-war now in Cadiz would be
directed westward, and not eastward,
The Pe1ayo will be the flagship and
several armed transports will accom-
pany the fleet.
SPANISH FLEET SEEN OFF ST.
THOMAS.
ST. THOMAS danish West Indies),
May 17.-(Copyrighted, 1898, by the
Associated Press.)-It was reported
here this morning that on Sunday last,
from noon until 6 p. m, six or seven
vessels slowly steamed westerly north
of Tortola Island, forty miles east of
ST Thomas. One steamer which ap-
preached the land showed the Spanish
flag.
WATCHING FOR THE OREGON.
NEW YORK, May IA special
copyright dispatch from ST. Lucia. w.
l., to the World says:
A large strange warship was sighted
last night lying off the west coast of
this island. Others were also seen to
the northward of st. Lucia. These YES
sells are believed here to be a Spanish
squadron, watching for the battIeship
Oregon, which may pass close TO this
island on its way to Key West.
SPANISH GUNBOATS IN PACIFIC
WATERS.
SAN DIEGO, May 17.-Captain
Leutze, commanding the United States
ship Alert, now in this harbor. which
sailed tonight for San Francisco. re-
ports that there are two Spanish
gunboats of about 100 tons at Quay
quill, Ecuador, and that they have been
there some time, much longer than the
neutrality laws allow. This is the first
news received of any Spanish warships
being on the west ocast of America.
The news was given to Captain Leutze
| by the Captain of Panama steamer