New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05


Sunday. and Immediately after his congregation
began to play cards. The priest sorrowfuy
shock his head at this. and remarked in his
native tongue that the average Spanish soldier
was "a pretty hard lot reigously"
TO TAKE THE SOLDIERS TO HAVANA.
The Badger and her prizes lay off Dry Tor
tugas until Monday. when the quarantine was
raised from the Badger and Captain Snow re-
ce'Ned what proved TO be unwclcome orders from
Washington. The orders were that the Rodri-
susz should proceed back to Havana with the
San Fernando and SAT- report to Commodore
Howell and send the San Fernando and the San
with the $50 Spanish prisoners into Havana
Harhor under flag of truce. 1T is Just like
giving Blanco go more men to fight against
us" was the remark Of one OF the Badger crew
However, the Jerseymen on the Badger are
much consoled with the handsome tug which,
after conveying the Spaniards to Havana. will
proceed to NewYork under command Of Lieu
tenant Peters to be sod prize. They will
probably put in a claim for the value Of the
San Fernando and the SAT- and the go able
bodied Spanish soldiers
The men on the Badger worked all Tuesday
night and Wednesday putting coal on the Rodri-
guez for her trip to Havana and New-York. and
seven days provisions were also placed on each
prize ship. The capture OF the Rodriguez and
her two conveys ny the Badger is likely to give
rise TO an international discussion as 10 how
far the Red Cross flag can he legtimately used.
and under what circumstances surgeon Mo-
rallies wanted TO cable to Madrid about the mat
ter on Sunday, but permission was not granted
Captain Snow will probably claim that the evil
dent intention Of the Spanards was to reinforce
Havana, and that few sick and wounded were
scattered among the three vessels to give a col
orng to the excuse for flying the Red Cross flag.
The Spaniards will probably simply claim that
the presence of sick and wounded under the Red
Cross flag exempted them from molestatiop
Every man and officer on the Badger Is con-
WINGED that the Red Cross merely a ruse.
The soldiers had all their personal effects and
valuables with them. and they admitted that In
com,ag out of Nuevitas. when they saw the
Badger making for them. they threw overheard
large quantities OF arms and ammunition
The Badger is under orders 10 coal up as
! quickly as possible and proceed to Porto Rico
! Her entire crew. including a corps of marines
| and the engineering and freroom forces, are eX-
clusively members of the New-Jersey Naval Re
serves Captain Snow and Executive Officer
Gearing are the only Regular Navy men on
| board. and Captain Snow says his crew Can
work the guns like the devil and fight like hell"
| On Sunday, July %, the Badger overhauled
| large schooner off Nuevitas which, on being
hove to. showed the English flag It's name was
| the Bolencita. and IL laden with provisions
ostensbly for Santiago. It's papers were altered
by making its destination Santiago instead Of
| Nucvitas. the latter name having been scratched
! of Captain Snow was tempted to hold the yes
sci as a priz. because of It's altered papers. but
| decided to let her go.
MIGHT HAVE CAPTURED NUEVITAs
Later in the day a sloop came out from the
lighthouse. and 1t proved to be the keeper, with
a fine. large turtle and quantity Of fresh fish
for the Badgers 1t also brought out an
additiona! soldier from Nuevitas, who gave the
| information that Nuevitas about to be
evacuated and that the Badger could take pos
session of the place at pleasure. Another sloop
came out of the harbor with pilots on board
| The pilots wanted to take the Badger into the
harbor and point out the location of six mines
which they stated were sunk there. Captain Snow
could not enter the harbor under his orders.
| however, and was obliged to forego only the
work of finding the mines. but of capturing the
| two gunboats. the Pizarrio and the Yumuri.
which were known to be In the place.
AS soon as the Badger Goals up she will go TO
! Gu lntaaamo with a cargo Of small boats The
I mer on tie Badger say that II the orders to
! Captain Snow had been sufficiently liberal they
co lid nave returned to Key West with pro-
| cessior Of prizes three miles long. Schooners
and soops from Nuevtas came out to them IN
shoals and seemed anxious to be captured. The
! Badger merely had to pop off gun and they
| hove to, evincing terror Of capture. Most OF
| the occupants Of the boats said their condition
was such that 1t could not possibly be worse.
and they did not care what done with them
by the United States. so long as they got enough
TO eat
The night before the Mayfower captured the
Newfoundland trying TO run the Havana block
ade the Badger encountered the same steamer
about eight miles off Nuevitas. The Newfound-
land apparently making for Nuevitas. AS
she was beyond the threeme limit and her
papers regular Captain Snow was obliged
to let the vessel 60 but neither he nor his crew
were surprised later when they heard the New
foundland had been caught in the act Of running
the blockade
The armament Of the Badger consists Of six D.
inch rapid fire guns and secondary battery
consisting OF six 3-pounder maximum guns. She
was formerly the Yumuri. of the Ward Line.
| and ran to Havana and Vera Cruz.
SITUATION AT NUEvITAS.