The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-03
TAKEN BY THE HORNET
TWO SPANISH VESSELS CAPTURED
BY AN AUXILIARY CRUISER.
Both Were Trying to Elude Amer
leans by Flying Haitian and British
FIags-One Loaded with Provisions.

KEY WEST, Fla, July 2, a. m.-The
Spanish steamer Bonito Esteuger, of about
500 tons, and a small sloop the Emanuel
and Raoul, captured by the Hornet on June
q and 2S off Manzanillo, were brought in
here this morning by prize crew under En-
sign Mark ST. Clair Ellis.
The Hornet experienced a chapter of
thrilling incidents, leading up to the cap
ture of the two little Spaniards. On June
&c, while passing Santiago, one of the bat
teries there ventured a shot at her, but it
fell short and the gunboat proceeded, of
course, without replying. She reached AL
tares the next day, and informed the Span
iards of her presence there by topping over
five blockhouses overlooking the harbor.
While doing so the Dolphin put in an ap-
pearance and set fire to the town and sent
the Hornet off to Guantanamo with dis
patches for Admiral Sampson. Thence she
was ordered to Manzanillo with instruc-
tions from the admiral to look out for the
steamer Ubbenito Estenger, suspected as
a blockade runner, and thought to be in
that vicinity. The Hornet reached Man
Zanillo late the same day and secuted for
the suspect. She went close in the harbor,
incidentlly turning her guns on a couple
of blockhouses and destroying them. She
idu SCdICely InlSHeu tnlS WOIk Wnen the
sloop Emanuel and Raoul came sailing
along with the evident intention of entering
the harbor The Hornet sent shot across
her bows, but the sloop proceeded and took
refuge in shoal water, where the gunboat
could not follow. The mosquito war ship
was not to be denied her prey, however, and
Ensign Ellis, with six men, pulled off in
small boat armed as the exigencies of the
situation would permit and continued the
chase. For six miles they pulled against
the winds and strong tide without mishap,
and, drawing up near to the sloop sent
a couple of shots at her. The capture was
child's play. I'VE expected an old-fash-
ioned sea hight" said Ensign Ellis to-day,
but they gave up WITHOUT a struggle.
The SloOp was flying both the Haitian
and British flags, but there is little doubt
that this was a. blind, and that she was
trying to emulate the trick of the brig
Amapala in her effort to land provisions
for the starving SpaniardS and earn the big
emolument offered by Captain General
Blanco to the successful blockade runners. I
She turned out to be a prize worth taking,
as her cargo consisted Of flour, coal oil,
potatoes plaintainS and other articles of
food. She had a crew of about twelve
men. There were two pilots aboard, but
one, who was a Spaniard, when he saw that
capture was inevitable, dropped over the
side of the sloop and swan ashore. The
other pilot was a Haitian, and he gave val
liable information concerning the defenses
of ManZanillo and the position and opera
tions of the enemy He was put aboard
the Hornet.
The Ubbenito Estenger was taken the next
day trying to get out of Manzanillo. She
was flying the British flag and was empty.
having evidently succeeded in discharging
her cargo. She carried a crew of twenty
four men, which was more than she needed,
and two passengers, boy and an old man.
One shot across her bows Sufficed to bring
the vessel to terms, although she is a
twelve-knot steamer and the fastest yet
captured. The Benito EStenger'S hailing
point is Kingston, Jamaica, and the Sloop
came from Port-au-Prince.
Ensign Ellis and his six men, who were
given the custody of the two prizes, boarded
the steamer and with her towed the sloop
into Key West. 1t was intimated that per-
sons the steamer will prove to be i'm
portant captiveS, but in what way will not
be known until the prize commissioners have
investigated the case.
The city of ManZanillo, near where the
captures were made, has served as a land
ing place for the Spanish troops, who were
hence transported overland to Santiago, Jos
miles distant.
TIE crew of this so-caled British steamer
speaks English. The prize crew said she
had three captains. One is an EngliShman
named Call. who transacted business with
the British authorities, the other is a reg
ular Spanish captain, who manages the
ship and the third is a Spaniard. Jamaica
has for long time been the Spanish base
of supplies and many cargoes under the
British flag have been landed in Cuba.
The Benito EStenger is the Spanish YES
sci that recently obtained a British register
for blockade-running- purposes. She was
formerly a freight and passenger steamer, is
twelve knots and is admirably equipped for
blockade running.