The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-02
SUBLIME %iMPUDENCE.
The Capture of ,h. ranamn BY the Cum
boat MuurfaNs.

WV
or the spanish steamer Psnaua by the
little gunhoat Maugrove was an act o 81
blime impudence. Il was IKE a schoo bor
Win a potato gun demand G the surren-
der Of a Sioux chief ARMED with a rep a
ing winchester. The Panama Is by al
odds the most valuable prize o n cap
tured. She Is valued at SIN thing L..
$4,000, and with her cxtons ", C r.o r
supplies would have be n of n tim r Q
value to the Spanish forces had She q =
capped the vigilance Of tn. d raj gun
boats for one hours run more and
reached Havana harbor.
She Is a 6.0l0-ton craft and haa two IL
pound rapid-firing guns. She Is "a. aux r.
iary cruiser OF the Span sh navy and
ought 10 De able to take car of horse (
with any ordinary enemy. yet. without
snow or resistance. she meekly surren-
dered to the Mangrove, which is LITTLE
more than a harbor tug and has only two
six-pounder guns. Until recently the Man
grove was a lighthouse tender.
When the big Spanish steamer was
brought into Key West to-day by the
little boat IL was a sight to provoke
cheers OF derision from the hundreds
OF Americans and Cubans who swarm
ed the water front. The Spaniard tow
cred high above her little captor. re-
minding one of a huge black mastin
size Dy side with a "a or a skye ter
rier.
. Y VI abbul 20 dll ~
number of passengers, but not a Span
ish face was To be seen on her decks as
she came into the harbor. a member
or the M~angrove's crew. which boarded
her afterward, stated to the correspond
ent that IL was with considerable diff
Guilty that they prevented several span
iards from jumping overheard after the
marines boarded her. This has been the
case with nearly all the Spanish yes
sells captured and especially with the
~ ---G
ards lind they are captives they fall
upon their knees and pray to have their
lives preserved. That Is all they ask
for at the hands of their captors-that
their lives be spared. They seem to
expect that they are to be butchered
the moment they reach land.
The Panama left New York April 80.
with a heavy cargo of supplies for the
Spanish forces in Havana and had no
knowledge of the blockade until she
sighted the United States warships yes
terday. She was captured at s o'clock
In the evening about 10 miles from Ha-
vana, while attempting to make the
harbor unnoticed.
Her arrival had been expected for
several days and she had been watch
ed for by the large cruisers. but the little
Mangrove was the first to see her creep
ing along the coast. The little gunboat
was put after her post haste and the
big steamer crowded her boilers n
engines to their utmost to get out of
The way. b six miles distant was
the Indiana, which, seeing the chase.
steamed up rapidly to the assistance
OF the Mangrove. but did not reach her
in time to participate in the actual cap
ture.
When the Mangrove came within
half a mile of the Panama she fired a
shot from her starboard gun. the big
steamer paying no attention to II.
Then GhA 4raI nnAthA -hAs F.A-. ~
same gun. and a few moments later a
shot from her port gun. The last shot
Missed over the bow OF the Panama
and she at once hove to.
BY this time the indian had come up
crews from both the Mangrove and
Indiana were sent aboard the Spanish
steamer. There were several women
among the passengers and they were
greatly alarmed. They were assured by
the American officers that no harm
would come to them.
The passengers and crew are obliged
to remain on board the ship until the
United States authorities determine
what to do with them. In the case OF
each capture the crews OF the Spanish
vessels have been treated with the ut
most kindness and consideration. They
have not as yet been given their free
dom. They are obliged to remain on
board their ships under guard of naval
officers. but none OF them have been
imprisoned or subjected 10 hardships of
any kind. Several small passenger
steamers have been captured near Ha-
vana and allowed to go when Il was
found that a large number of the pas
sengers were women and children and
that the carRoes were OF no recount.
The enlistment of Cubans to-day at
the MART club resulted in the enroll
ment OF $50 men. Tn arrival Of Gen.
Emilio Nunez, Colonel Acosta and
Senior j. e. Cartaya has greatly aug
mented the enthusiasm of the Cuban
colony. General Nunez has been the
director of a number of previous ex-
petitions. Colonel Acosta was formerly
acting cavalry leader in Havana prov
ince. He escaped from the island seri-
ously wounded. and is anxious to re-
turn. He is the center of an admiring
throng. Senior Cartaya was in charge
Of the Inflated Tillie expedi-
ton, wrecked of the east end of
and his party are arranging for the
departure on the Mascot tomorrow Of
the contingent of the Cuban army now
forming at Tampa The Cubans hope
this contingent will be of the first to
Tonight he ~endeavored to OBJ
lain passage to the fleet to confer with
Rear Admiral Sampson. but ne was
unsuccessful. as nd boat left for the
iagship. General Nunez Is much taken
up with the idea of making Matanzas
the base of operations. Although the
city itself is subject 10 the fever, the
hills a mile and a haif back from the
would furnish an Ideal camp
in every way more healthful
Tampa. The eathe I'm Cuba.
General Nunez saws, will be excellent
until June Il.
Americans in the Cuban army have
been EXEMPT from all disease.
The Spanish troops are decimated By
disease. because not cleanly and be-
Of Improper food. When las
heard from. General Gomez had in all
the armies 5000 able-bcdied men.
Since there has been no fghting OF con-
ard the Cuban armies must
be In better condition except in the
Of clothing. There is abundant
everywhere on the island Their
is no truth whatever in the report or