The Topeka state journal., 1898-04-25
OPENS FIRE.
Moro Castle Trains Her Guns
on the Fleet
Of q. s. Warships BlOckading
Havana.
SENDS TEN SHOTS.
None Of Which Proved Effec-
tive.
Her Cannon PowerIess to Reach
So Far.


| Havana, April 24.-(2 a. m.-Morro cas-
| tie opened fire on the fighting squadron
OF the United States at o'clock last
night.
About ten shots were sent in the d.
rection of our ships. but none of them
took effect, and no shots were returned
The Spaniards apparently had seen
the lights of the New York while the
latter was signalling to a ship of the
squadron.
The firing was reported by the officer
of the deck. Ensign ]. r. Edie, to Cap
tain Chadwick. who was asleep at the
time. The young officer asked the
captain whether the New York had not
better discontinue signalling. NO.
muttered Captain Chadwick with the
utmost GOODNESS, there is no necessity
for stopping the signals; go ahead
A little later Captain Chadwick was
on the forward bridge, whence he
watched the tongues of flame shooting
from Morro castle. He glanced at the
direction of the Spanish Notifications
Tor a few seconds and then turned his
back on them in silent contempt and
went back to his bed perfectly satisfied
the Spaniards could do no damage at
five miles, which was then the approx
1AA1e1IC OAS SletACG u Tie 11dSSnlp from
MORO castle.
Another officer said: "The Spaniards
probably became nervous and decided
they could not sleep without some fire.
works. They can't hit anything, any
way"
There was no excitement on board
the flagship during Moro castles futile
attempt at gunnery. The discipline was
really splendid. In fact, at this hour
many people on board the flagship do
not know that Spain's first guns of
war have been fired and that the New
York was their target.
The United States cruiser Cincinnati,
Captain c. NJ. Chester, reported to the
flagship at midnight: ''I have prize
It is therefore evident that other ships
besides the New York have ben busy
during the night. The extent or value
of the capture made by the Cincinnati
is not known at this writing.
MORO castle light, which was burning
brightly all evening, was put out at
midnight. The Spaniards evidently re-
allied, though rather late, that the sole
use of MOrro light up to that time was
to serve as guide for the fleet of the
United States.
The capture of the Spanish ship Pedro
and the incidents attending on the
squadron's appearance before Havana
already reported briefly in these dis
patches, form an intensely interesting
initial chapter in the history of the
war.
About 4:3o p. m. yesterday. when Ha-
vana was fifteen miles distant. the
alton of double column, the New York
leading the batleships and the Cincin-
natl leading the cruisers and gunboats.
JJ st as the evolution was completed the
following signal was hoisted on the flag
ship: Disregard movements of COM
mander-in- chief" simultaneously Cap
tani Chadwick sent CHIEF Engineer c. J.
Mcconnell this message: Get up all
the steam you can. A steamer has been
sighted and the admiral wishes to cap
ture her"
Ja4
ing from all three of the New Yorl<'s
tunnels and she stood away to the
southeast.
The squadron, led by the Iowa, con-
tinued on it's course, heading in a south
westerly direction.
The New York was soon tearing
through the water at a rapidly increas-
ing speed and was fast leaving the
squadron in the rear. Away in the dis
tance. close under the mist-covered hills
of Cuba, midway between Havana and
a large steamer, heading to the east
ward. Then the old cry of "a chase
a chaser echoed from fore and aft and
the officers and crew of the New York
gathered on her decks eagerly watch
ing the batleship churn through the
water, foaming white at her stern. She
was making about IS knots; The ad-
mtral paced the forward bridge as calm
ly as If watching a potato race.
The New York gained rapidly on the
stranger until to the great delight of all
that the latter would cut off the steam
er from escape. The crew of the New
York by this time was at their stations
and the guns were loaded and trained |
When the Spanish flag was seen flying
at the strangers stern, a cry of delight
went up from the blue jackets on board
the New York. 1t was evident that the
Spaniard was doing her best to get
away from the cruiser and was heading
in nearer and nearer to the coast, hop !
ing to find safety in shallow water, |
where the warship could not dare to
When the Spaniard was about three
miles from the shore and about a mile
from the New York, an S-inch gun from |
the cruisers forward turrets suddenly
belched out a stream of fire, accOmpa-
MED by a crushing report 1t was only |
meant as a warning shot. but the steel |
projectile went ricocheting over the wa |
ter in dangerous proximity of the flee !
ing merchantmen.
The echo of the report had hardly |
died away among Cuba's hills, when the |
Spaniard hove to. About ten minutes |
the distance a few lonely little lonely |
houses could be seen perched on a wild |
looking beach. prize crew, COM |
manded by Lieut. E E. Capehart and |
composed of Assistant Engineer Neal |
four marines and boats crew, all we'll |
armed, were lowered over the side of /
the cruiser and amid cheers from their |
comrades on board the New York, they |
pulled over to the Spaniard. which prov |
ed to be the Pedro of Bilboa, excel |
lent prize.
Scracely had the prize crew left the |
New York for their new command be- |
fore blank shot was fired from a for |
ward four inch gun of the New York. |
This was a signal for a steamer to the |
westward to stop. The latter was sour |
rying away as fast as the wind and wa |
ter would allow her.
Once more the New York swiftly cut |
the dark waters. .churning it into foam |
n ST. n nd hEaT an