The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-16
Big Krupp Guns of Santa Clara
of the United States Navy.
NOT ONE SHOT TOOK EFFECT
AND THE SPANISH DECOYS FINALLY
SOUGHT REFUGE IN PORT.
Activity at Key West That Indicates
an Important Strategic Movement
Is Being Planned.
copyright 1898, by the Associated press>

Copyright 1885, by the Associated Press)
KEY WEST. Fla, May 15.--On board the
Associated Press dispatch boat Kate Spen-
Ger, off Havana, May IA, p. M, via Key
West Fla, May 15.-Captain General
Blanco. two hours before sundown tonight
attempted to execute a ruse, which If sue
cessful, would have cleared the front OF
Havana of six ships on that blockading sta
ton. Unable to come out to do battle, ne
adopted the tactics of the spider and cum
ningly planned to draw the prey into MS
net, but though a clever and pretty scheme
as an original proposition, it was practically
a repetition of the trick by which the gum
boat vicksburg and the little converted rev.
enue cutter Morrill, were last week decoyed
by fishing smack under the big Krupp
guns of the Santa Clara batteries. Thanks
to bad gunnery both ships on that occasion
managed to get out. of the range without
being sunk though some of the shells burst
close aboard and the Vicksburg's Jacobs
caught twice in the same trap.
Late this afternoon the ships in the Ha-
vana station were dumfounded to see two
ships steam out of Havana harbor and head
east. Dense smoke was streaming like
black ribbons from their stacks and
glance showed that they were under full
head of steam. BY aid of glasses Com
mander Lilly, of the Mayfower, which was
flying the pennant, made out the larger ves-
sci Of the two, which was about two hum
dred feet long and about 4,5O0 tons displace-
ment to be the cruiser Alphonso XII and
the smaller one to be the gunboat Legazp
both of which were known to be bottled up
in Havana harbor. At first he supposed they
were taking advantage of the absence of
a bona fide run for the open sea. AS senior
officer, he Immediately signaled the other
ships on the station, the Vicksburg, Annap-
oils, Wasp, Tecumseh and Osceola, which
were moving in to form column. The little
squadron moved in obliquely towards the
fleeing Spaniards, keeping up a running fire
as they went.
MERELY RUSE.
The Alphonso and her consort circled in
shore about five miles below Havna and
after running in for half mile headed back
for Moro Castle. Our gunboats and the
thin-skinned vessels OF the mosquito fleet
did not follow them In. Commander Lilly
saw that the willy Spanish ruse was to draw
them in under the guns of the heavy bat
teries, where Spanish artillery officers could
plot out the exact range with their tele-
meters and pot them. So the return was
made in line ahead parallel with the shore
Commander Lilly had not been mistaken
AS his ships came abreast of the Santa
Clara battery the big guns opened and fired
thirteen shells at distance of about five
miles. The range was badly judged as more
than half the shells overshot the mark and
others fell short. some as much as a mile.
The Associated Press dispatch boat Kate
Spencer witnessed the action, which lasted
master Of stage craft could not have evolved
a finer setting. The low sun dyed the Cuban
hills royal purple, against which Havana's
white walls cleaned like alabaster. Morro's
gray sides and yellow tower stood out
against the blue waters of the gulf, while
directly behind sprung broad band of the
rainbow woven in and out through dense
gray clouds until lost at the zenith.
The big Alphonso and her convoy steamed
swiftly from the dark shadow Of the har-
boris mouth, and, turning sharply east, ran
along the coast as though to slip through
the Gordon of blockade. 1t was a bold
trick and not at first transparent, although
the folly of it created suspicion, as there
was no hope of ultimate escape. The May
flower, which. standing well out like a cat
with mouse, turned slightly and then the
entire squadron dashed in to cut the enemy
off. The Spanish boats crowded on steam
and stood along the coast as long as they
dared to give zest to the chase. The May
flower signaled her consorts, "Close in and
charge" ,-,,-c, 49,
Word was flung on from ship to ship as
they steamed in column. Seeing the bait
had apparently taken, the Slaniards veered
about, and, bringing their stern chasers to
bear on the Americans, doubled back for
Morro. 1t was beautiful running fire
viewed from where the Kate Spencer Law.
seven miles off Moro Castle. Little puffs
of white smoke burst from the sides of the
gunboats and occasionally an explosion of
a shell in the air. like spark of fire. could
be discerned with the aid of glasses. The
flashes of the Spanish guns were plainly
visible, but reports of the same were dull
and indstinct. Two of the shells from the
Yicksburg burst in the rigging Of the AL