The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-04
EXPLOIT OF THE MAEGROVE.
The Navy Is Laughing Over Her Cap
ture of the Panama.

Key West Letter in the Sun.
The story of the capture of the
steamer Panama by the Mangrove is
so remarkable as to be worth retelling.
The Mangrove is, in the eyes of "a ma
val man, mere tub, very good light
house supply ship doubtless, but as
warship well nigh ridiculous. Her
model and power enable her when
Providence also helps, to steam at
eight knots. When it was decided to
make a warShip of her Lieutenant
Commander William Ii. Everett was
placed in command, and two siX-pound-
ers We're mounted, one on each bow.
This done, she was placed in commits
sion, although she had neither mus
ket nor revolver for the use of her
crew, and only few Of her compile
ment had ever served in the navy.
After the squadron had been gone a
day or so the Mangrove followed, and
on her arrival off Havana went wash
ing about on station that kept her
commonly in sight of the flagship. on
Monday evening, soon after darkness
set in, she was lying perhaps fourteen
miles northeast of Havana with the
Indiana in sight to the westward,
when the lights of a steamer were seen
coming from the northeast. The Man
grove was, of course, lying without Il
light burning.
we ate dinner IN the galley and put
hoods over our cigars" said one of the
officers. That was tiguratively speak
ing. of course, but accurately illustra-
tive.
The cigars had not yet been finished
when the steamer lights appeared, and
all hands went to quarters. Thereafter
they waited in silence until the Panama
had arrived within easy range, when a
blank shot as Is usual on such OcCa-
slCns, was fired. The Panama turned
at once to westward as il to escape but
Capt Everett ranged alongside after
firing a solid shot, and said he would
fire into her il she did not heave to,
whereat she stopped, although the
Panama carried two li-pounders in
each broadside, with "A Maxim lead
squirt on the bridge. she is rated as a
member of Spain's naval reserve, while
her speed is not less than "A half greater
than the ManSroVes.
However, it is but fair to say that her
captain could not see clearly, and could
not know what kind of a ship had held
him up. Ii should also be said that the
hrccch blocks of his rifles were slowed
IN the hold.
Iaving stopped his ship, Captain
| EVeritt had next to board il, He had
put i'm requiston for muskots, with
proper belts, cartridges, etc, and il had
| been approved and forwarded. More
| over word was received az long ago
as April IA that the arms had been sent.
| But they had not, as said, leen receiv-
| ed, and the only weapons To be found
among the crew included one revolver,
| the property OF Il cadet midshipman,
/ and the swords Of the three officers, In
| fact, the crew who manned the cutter
/ to put the boarding officer on the Pana-
/ ma We're not even in uniform, How
! ever, away they went, and the boarding
/ officer Ensign Dayton, with the utmost
] Conlnass, took possession of tie Pdna
| mas bridge and Ecaded the ship for the
! Indiana,
As captor and prize hove to near the
! Indiana Captain Taylor Of the battle
! ship hailed in the usual fashion, and
| after moment of perfect silence, Cap
tain Everett replicd that his ship was
the Mangrove, ana 1--WE have captured
! the Panama
"Whoo-ee!" The crew of the Indiana
! forgot for a moment. in the abSurdty
! of the contrast between Captor and
prize, their discipline, and yelled at the
top of their voices. 1t is but fair to say
that the officers were no less amused il
they were less demonstrative,
The Indiana, of course, supplied a
proper prize crew and sent both Man