The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-26
NEWS MEACER
FROM SEAT Of
HOSTILITIES,
CONTINUED from First Page)

Lieutenant w L. Rogers commanding,
has the honor of being the target for the
first shots fired by the Spaniards at the
American flag during the war just be-
gun. The firing occurred between ana
6 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, while
the torpedo-bo was taking soundings
in the harbor of MatanZas. She was
within 200 or 300 yards of the shore.
suddenly a Spanish masked battery on
the east side of the harbor, and not very
far distant from the Foote, fired three
shots at the torpedo-boat They al
went wide Of the mark, and the Foote
returned to the Cincinnati, where she
reported the result of her soundings, aud
then announced that she had been fired
upon. The Cincinnati was anxious &c
steam in instantly and reduce the Span
Il sh batteries, but she was not permitted
to do so.
No captures are reported by the fleet
off Matanzas 1t is alleged that two
Spanish gunboats were seen insh0re,
but the report could not be verified.
PROGRESS OF THE BLOCKADE.
The Dauntless, the dispatch boat Of
the Associated Press, steamed from off
Havana to the bIockading squadron off
Matanzas yesterday, being the first dis
patch boat to visit the United States
vessels cruising off this port. The
Dauntless left the squadron at Havana
just after the flagship New \ ork sailed,
presumably for Key West. She fol-
lowed the flagship for an hour, and
then gave up the chase, as the destina-
ton of the New York was apparently
Che yvoc a10uc-ci1p Indiana
for a while The Wilmington, Detroit
and several other vessels were further
in shore The Iowa, following the or
ders of Rear-Admiral Sampson, was
far enough off Havana TO escape any
fire from the shore batteries.
There has been no incident worth
noting since the capture of the Spanish
steamer Catalonia and two schooners
in the early morning. The Nashville
and Castine are doubtless still off Glen
fugos. On her way from Havana TO
Matanzas the Dauntless passed the tor
pedo boat. with instructions to report
to the flagship.
OFF HAVANA, Aoril 25.-10 a. M
The early morning hours to-day Were
taken up by vigorous chase of moving
lights. The only vessel spoken was the
British schooner Iolanthe of Windsor
N S. She was allowed to proceed She
was just out of Matanzas. No shots
have been fired since yesterday morning
on either side.
The Dolphin and the converted yacht
Eagle arrived from Key West this
morning The Dolphin carried the Off
GERS and men who had been placed on
the steamer Pedro and the schooner An
tonic. All We're glad to get back, al
though they said they had no trouble
with their prizes.
The torpedo-bOat Porter made a Oar
ing trip in to the shore under cover of
darkness last night, and Lieutenant
Fremont, ner commander, landed with
a small party and obtained valuable
information. The blockade continues,
under beautiful weather conditions
The flagship returned to the blockade
line about 4:30 o'clock last evening,
after an uneventful trip. Nothing OF
Importance, apparently. had occurred
during her absence.
When darkness came on last night
MORO Castle showed a powerful search
light and flashed it nervously around
the horizon. Another searchlight was
ton of the Santa Clara batteries, to the
westward of FL MORO. The searchlight
itself could not be distinguished, only
its rays being visible This is due either
to the extremely low position of the
light or its distance from the blockade
line. The MORO light is placed higher,
and is an excellent light
Last night was the first time the
searchlights have been used What
benefit they will be to the Spaniards nc
one knows. They may possibly induce
munition in futile shots at the squadron
but the blockade continues as before
searchiights or no searchlights, as, CT
course, they do not reach far enough to
show orr shi9s.
If any ships run the blockade they
will have to run gauntlet of vigilance
that has never been surpassed. Alert
ness of the officers and men continues
at the same pitch as was exhibited the
first night the squadron arrived Adj
miral Sampson is more handicapped in
his blockade than We're naval command
ers during the civil war. in many cases
they were able to anchor. while Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet is obliged to drift
around in two-knot current, with nc
stationary shore light for 4 guide. u
is believed that every steamer which
has attempted to enter Havana since
the blockade began has been captur ed
CUBAN INSURGENTS.