The record-union., 1898-04-25
MORO CASTLE FIRES
ON OUR SQUADRON.


tie New York, an 8-inch gun from the
cruisers forward turret suddenly
belched out stream of fire, followed
by a crashing report 1t was only meant
as warning sshot, but the steel pro-
jectile went riocheting over the water
in dangerous proximity to the fleeing
merchantmen.
The echo Of the report had hardly
died away among Cuba's hills when the
Spaniard hove to. About ten minutes
later the New York was near her. IN
the distance a few lonely looking houses
could be seen perching on wild look
ing beach.
A prize crew, commanded by Lieuten-
ant +. E. Capehart and composed Of
Assistant Engineer Neal, four marines
and a boats crew, all well armed, were
lowered over the side Of the cruiser and
amid exultant cheers from their COM
rades on board the New York they
pulled over to the Spaniard, which
proved to be the Pedro of Bilboa, an eX-
cellent prize Scarcely had the prize
crew left the New York for their new
command before a blank shot was fired
from a forward finch gun of the New
York This was a signal for a steamer
to the westward to stop.
Once more the New York swiftly cut
the dark waters, once more her four en-
gines throbbed as if impelled by the ex-
citement of the chase. Then again the
finch gun beloved out its note Of
warning, this time hurting across the
water a steel injunction to emphasize
the order to heave to. The second
stranger soon came to a stop and was
boarded. But great was the disappoint-
ment on board the New York when it
was seen that she was flying the Ger
man flag.
Ensign Brumby. who boarded the Ger
man craft, reported that she was a
tramp steamer. the Remus, Captain
SchWarner of Hamburg, bound from
Havana to Santiago de Cuba, in ballast.
The commander of the Remus said he
knew nothing of war having been de-
clared by the United States and Spain
and Ensign Brumby made the usual
apologies. The Remus was then per-
mitted to proceed. after having had q
narrower escape than falls to the lot of
a merchantmen.
The sun was setting: casting red
angry looking rays on the desolate ap-
York returned to the Pedro to take her
in tow and proceeded to rejoin the
squadron.
The flagship and her prize were almost
off MORO Castle at p. m. and six miles
off shore. The harbor lights of Ha
vana could be plainly seen from the
decks of the flagship which, during the
afternoon. had been stripped for action
and showed no light at all. Ensign
Brumby Joined Lieutenant Captain
Hart on board the Pedro and the prize
sailed for Key West without an escort
at n m.
The New York then steamed to the
northwest and eventually picked up the
squadron. In so doing a serious col
lision was narrowly averted. a news
paper dispatch boat, the Anita. unable
to distinguish the flagship in the dark
ness, attempted tC cross her bows. The
New York was then under good head
way and to the correspondent of the
Associated Press who was on the bridge
it seemed impossible to stop the New
York in time. The presence of Ensign
Edie, the officer of the watch, who sig
nailed to reverse the engines, and had
them put hard to port, at the same time
blowing the signal to close the water
tight bulkheads, saved her.
The Anita slipped by the New York
without twenty yards to spare, thanks
to the cool Judgment and prompt action
of Ensign Edie
At 8 o'clock the Admiral and Captain
Chadwick had turned in for much
needed rest. They slept in the chart
room instead of their comfortable
cabins. The Admiral said to the cor
respondent previously: Il shall not re-
port the blockade to the Secretary of
the Navy until it is thoroughly estab
ished. This, it is likely, will be to-mOr-
row"
The AdmiraPs plucky dash with the
New York almost on to the Cuban coast
and its satisfactory termination. have
gained new laurels for him with his al
ready enthusiastic and devoted COM
mand
During the concluding features of the
boarding of the Pedro and the Remus
the rest of the United States squadron
had disappeared from view and there
was no one to dispute the honors with
the New York of the first capture IN
Cuban waters. A newspaper boat fol-
lowed her, but was left far behind in
the race. The Dauntless, dispatch boat
of the Associated Press, was the first to
arrive on the scene of action. She came
w just as the prize crew Of the Pedro
was embarking on board the steamer.
The entire plan of action here Is
fraught with danger, not so much from
the Spanish guns as from the difficulties
OF maneuvering a large squadron at
night without showing any lights to
the enemy on shore.
Speculation is rife as to what She
Spaniards are doing and as to what they
intend to do. It is not believed Ad-
miral Sampson will confine himself en-
tirely to a blockade of the island. al
though he informed the correspondent
that he did not expect any action to oc
cur in the immediate future It is Ger
tain. however. that some movement will
be made on Matanzas, probably to-mor-
row. Whether this will be simply in the
nature Of a blockade or for the purpose
Of securing a base of supplies cannot be
ascertained with any degree of assur-
ance.
POOR GUNNERY.
None Of Moro Castles Shot Reached