Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-06

Uncle Sam had ordered the stranger
to heave to.
The liner obeyed, and the Morrill,
and the Associated Press dispatch
boat started on a neck and neck race
for the big prize. In the meantime.
II boat from the Annapolis had board
ed the Frenchman, as the stranger
proved to be. On board the liner a
crowd of excited passengers pressed
anxiously about the vessels side. Up
from the south the wicked, gray hulk
OF the Wilmington. with her men at
quarters. and the delicately lined New
port, were coming up rapidly.
A moment or so later the three war;
ships lay by until the boat from the
Annapolis started back from the liner
to the gunboat.
Then suddenly. to the establishment
Of all on board the warships. the
Frenchman blew long querulous
whistle. and put on full steam ahead.
pointing straight to the entrance of
Havana harbor.
A sharp word OF command rang out
on board the Annapolis and In less
time. than 1t takes to pencil these
words her crews were at quarters,
and the muzzle Of every gun of her
starboard broadside was pointing In
deadly earnest straight at the rum
away.
The big after gun roared forth a
hoarse order from over her starboard
quarter while the crews Of the other
guns looked up anxiously. eager to
| follow suit
But the warning note had Its effect.
| The big liner again stopped her en-
| gines and put them going astern.
while columns of steam poured from
| her escape pipes, telling of the high
pressure below pleading for release.
The Wilmington and the Morrill, had
! already started across the Lafayette's
| path, but their services were not
| necessary, for the Frenchman no lon-
ger dared to make Q run for it.
| There was long spell Of wigwiggine
between the Annapolis and the Will
| mington, in the dusk OF the evening,
the sun dropping behind the horizon
! and the night falling over the scene
I like drop curtain. tor there Is no twl-
| light in these ATTITUDES. Later elec-
trio signals succeeded the flag signals
| and there was nervous period Of rig
ging and blinking wind and white
| questions and answers. ~
| The signalling continued for almost
an hour, while the puzzled dispatch
boats gathered In the moonlight almost
rolling their boilers out In the north
the solution of the signal consultation.
At 7:4b the Annapolis and the Will
mington lowered boats and the officers
boarded the Frenchman. The ex-
| animation of the liner was soon over,
| and after the boats had returned to
their respective ships. prize crew
| from the Wilmington was put on board
the Lafayette, and at S,l5 last night
the big Frenchman was headed north
and was escorted to Key West under
| the guns of the Wilmington. The prize
anchored here this morning, and the
| prize court will probably determine
| what is to be done with her.
Ensign II. II. Ziegomeir, of the An
napolis. who was In charge of the prize
crew on board the Lafayette, says the
latter's commander denies that he has
| Spanish soldiers on board. The French
commander, however, admits that he
left Corunna on April 2Srd. after the
| declaration of war; and that he took on
| board many male passengers. He feiEns
| ignorance OF the nature OF his ships
cargo, and says he will be unable to
ascertain what she has on board until
| he examines her manifest.
The navy department at Washington
] has been communicated with, and In
| structions as to the disposition Of the
\ French steamer are eagerly awaited.
| The officers of the Lafayette pretend
to be very indignant. and declare the
| detention of the steamer will become an
international episode,