The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-27
Tls Big Spanish Steamship l'snsms
Now a. American.
WAS TAKEN IN BY THE MANGRovf,
Had Been Fitted Out as Ono Of the
Auxiliary Cruisers.
THE CHASE MAS EXCITING,
aeauired Three shots 10 Make Her
Hcavc ToA-Hcr Capitals Locked
Himself Up in ITS Cabin.

Key West, April 25. l1:56 y. m..--The big
Spanish steamer Panama Of the ccbclos
line. which left Now York on April 20 for
Havana with a humber OF Spanish refugees
on board and very valuable cargo, in
GLIDING. 1t IL understood. stores fer the
Spanish army, was captured last evening
about twenty miles from Havana BY the
lighthouse tender Mangrove. now belonging
( TO the mosquito fleet. The Mangroyc
volvcrs. She is commanded by Lieutenant
W. II. Everett and has u crew OF fifteen
men. Tho Panama is OF about $500 tons
and very valuable prize.
When the Mangroyo sighted tho Spanlnrd
she ran UP to hor and fired gun across
her bows. The liner did not take the hint,
and second shot WIS fired, after which
the Panama slowed down little a third
shot was fired ncrCss tho bow Of the Pan
anna at 100 Yards ard The deck officer Of
the Spanish vessel WAC notified that If he
cid not bcave TO SHOT would be sent
through hrs vessel. This caused the Pam
anna TO be brought TO-
Ensign Dayton boarded the Spanard and
took possession Of her. The battleship In
diana then steamed w and Ccmmarder
Everett notified Captain, Taylor OF the In
uiana that he had captured the Panama.
n and borrowed a prize crew from the battle
ship consisting OF Cadet Falconer and fiji
/ teen marines The Maagrovc was thcn Or
dcrcd to tho flagship and Rein Admiral
Sampson told Commander Everett to take
his prize into Key West
The Panama III understood to have thir
iy-ninepassenge on board. Az she round
led TO after the little Mangrnvc captured
her, the latter. knowing the Panama was
an auxiliary cruiser. expected to be fired
upon. II is not yet know whether the
Panama had guns on board.
The Panama Is an auxiliary cruiser OF
the Spanish navy which has been plying OF
lato between Now York ana! Havana. Sine
had twonty-nine passengers, including three
women. and crew OF seyenty-two, and as
the Panama carried two 12-pounders size
could ensily have annihiated the little
Mangrove. and as tho latter carried her
into the harbor every craft saluted hor with
rousng cheers. Tho Mangroye, Under Licu-
tenant Commander William H. Everett,
was cruising along the Cuban coast short
Is before o o'clock last evening. about
twenty miles north OF Havana. At 5,A5
y. m. nhe sighted the Panama. The only
other ship of the fleet In sight was tho
battleship Indiana. three miles To the rear.
Lieutenant Commander Everett scented a
prize aud scudded toward the stranger.
When the latter came In range n shot from
the Mangroyes l2-pounder WAS sent across
her bows. but the challenge was not mo-
ticed, Another shot followed without re y
suit, but tho Mangrove was drawing near
tho stranger who calmly procpedad on her
tv M tht,fi Inf nt ian nr
running away. When the third shot was
fired the Mangrove was within n hundred
yards Of the Panama and Lieutenant Com
mander Everett shouted to the deck officer
that II she did not surrender he would sink
her
The NIangrovc's officers admit that they
expected the enemy's twelve FOUNDER TO
open on them In response TO the threat.
but the Spahiard promptly came to. En-
sign Dayton. tho senior officer OF tho Man
grove. took charge OF the prize, The In
diana had seen the capture and mean.
while drew mp to the Mangrovc giving hei
a llisty cheer.
Lieutenant Everett reported 10 Captain
Layter OF the battleshp and lntcr put n
prize crew on board the captive, consisting
Ct Cadet Falconcr and hlteen marines
They then proceeded to the flagship. where
a formal report was made and Rear Al
miral Sampson ordered Lieutenant Com
mander Everett 10 convey the prize to
Key West.
The Panama IL Of about $500 tons bur.
den and her passengers were mainly ref
ugees fleeing from New York and Other
points In tho United States to Havana
Captain Quevedo WAS gricf-striclen and
greatly Inundated by cause OF the cap.
u'ra.
The passengers declare they know moth
ing OF tho blockade and that when they
saw the scarchiight on tho Manerovc thay
thought II was the fight of Spanish man
of-war, The first shot changed their JOY
to apprehension. the second and third ere.
Ated panic, The women ram screaming
below and the captain locked himself In the
cabin.
The Panama carries valuable cargo Of
general merchandise. including a large
quantity OF corn. Much Of II was meant to
provision the soldiers In Cuba aud the shin
undoubtedly makes II the richest prize OF
the war thus far.
This makes five steamers thus far cap
tured IL addition TO number OF schooners
and small craft The entire fleet hayc
been on the lookout for the Panama for sew
eral days, as she was due NJ Havana yester-
An~x AnS~