The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-05-12
FRENCH VESSEL CAPTURED
The Seizure of the French Liner
La Fayette Causes a Sensation
in Washington.
TWO FISHING ScHOOSERs CAPTURED.
The Spanish Boats Orien,e snd the Antonio
suarez Towed rs Prizes to Key West
The Havana blockade Enective-Jm-
portsnt News Expected About Porto
Rico In a Day or Two.


WASHINGTON, May THE seizure of
the French liner La Fayette by the
United States gunboat Annapolis yes
terday evening caused a distinct SEN
sation in official and diplomatic circles
here, as IL is believed they involve the
possibility of more serious foreign
complications than had arisen thus
far. The officials OF the state de-
partment and of the French embassy
received the news of the capture from
the Associated press dispatches and In
both quarters IL was given grave
attention. In the state department IL
was taken as a forerunner of number
of cases of like character to follow,
for this was the experience of the
United States blockading forces dur
ing the civil war. Taking the facts as
reported, the officials of the de-
partment declare positively. and
In this they are supported by
the unanimous voice of the naval
officials, that there can be no question
that the La Fayette was blockade
runner and as such Is lawful prize.
The seriousness of the question, how
ever, arises from the fact that the
foregoing view of the officials here is
not likely to be accepted by the French
government and It's representatives in
Washington. The La Fayette, of the
French General Transatlantic com
pany's line. is a vessel of 1894 tons,
gross register. 1t is reported that the
La Fayette, in addition to being a
French steamer, is a French naval re-
serve vessel, mounting guns and carry
ing a crew sufficient to make her ready
for active service at short notice.
This, it is said, adds considerably to
the gravity of the international aspect
Of the case.
Two Fishing scbooners Captured.
KEY WEST, Fla, $50 soon as sun
rise this morning lifted the regula-
tions forbidding the entrance of vessels
into Key West harbor during the dark
hours two little prizes were brought
in. They were both Spanish fishing
schooners of no great value, the
Oriente and the Antonio Suarez. The
0riente was captured by the gunboat
Helena off Havana yesterday. She
was bound from Yucatan for Havana
with cargo of dried fish and had
been out 35 days on account of the
gales and contrary winds. One blank
shot was enough to bring the little
fellows to terms. The skipper de-
clared he knew nothing of the existing
war conditions. The Helena put a
prize crew on board and sent her in
here. The Antonio was captured by
the dispatch boat Uncas, off Bocas
Cieja near Havana. 1t is said that she
was signalling information to a French
steamer as to where she could land
without interference from the block
aiding feet.
The Havana blockade Effective.
KEY WEST, Fla, May THE block
ade of the Cuban ports by the war
ships of the United States is as effect
i've as ever. No vessel has entered one
of the blockaded ports. 1t is monot-
onously weary work, drifting idly
about in the burning sun during the
day and patrolling the coast at night
with only an occasional chase for di-
version.
Important News Expected from Porto Rico.
WAsHINGToN, May lit is expected
in administration circles that by Sun
day news will be received of impor-