The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-24
CAPTuRE oF THE! PEDRO.
How the Cruiser New York Took n
Spanish Steam FreIghter.

Spanish Steam FreIghter.
NEW YORK, April 23.-The Journal
prints the following from Key West to-
day:
THE Journals dispatch boat Echo ar
rived this morning with the following dis
patch, dated Friday. April %, on board the
Anita fifteen miles from Havana, off the
Cuoan coast
"One of the first guns fired in anger from
an American ironclad across the bows of an
enemy's ship since the close of the civil
war was hurled from the deck of the New
York as a signal to the Spanish freighter
Pedro of Bilbao, to heave to shortly before
o'clock this evening The little Pedro,
scurrying like scared rabbit near shore,
favored by the closing hours Of foggy
misty day, was sighted by the New York
and Immediately brought about by a solid
shot across her bows.
1T was shortly after o'clock that the
New York signaled the fleet to halt and
scudded away like greyhound along the
coast Of Cuba. Far off against the dim,
vague background of Cuban hill. half
seen, half fused with the mist, could be
traced a faint film of grayish smoke, the
one visible evidence of a frightened Spanish
freighter striving vainly TO race out the day
without being discovered by the gray mon
sters that darkened the sky to the west in
one solid mass of black cloud from the fun
nels of roaring furnaces. Vainly the Span
lard raced. Charging along at the liveliest
speed the New York soon lay across the
bows of the Spanish ship and the crashing
challenge nlazed from the deck of the
cruiser. A huge puff of white smoke rolled
cut from the SIDE of the flagship, and, far
of. Just in front of the Spaniard, foun-
tain of white foam leaped into the air. In a
moment the course of the strange Spaniard
was changed and she hove to.
when the New York led her prey fur
Their out from the shore and laid her to, the
crew and captain could be seen rushing
abu1t the deck of the ship like nest OF
arts hiding their valuables and striving to
avert some impending fate they could only
guess ut in their Ignorance. As she came
around her name could be clearly read on
her stern She is the Pedro. of Bilbao a
Spanish freighter, two-masted, with a black
funnel and single yellow stripe, and hull
black above red. AS soon as she was
laid alongside the Pedro was boarded by
Ensign Frank Marble. of the New York.
Ensign Marble led the prize crew, consist
ing of file of marines and seamen. With
great formaIity the ensign swung aboard
and Assumed command. burly American
tar showed the Spanish quartermaster away
from the. wheel and began to set the course
of the Spaniard. The Spanish crew gath
cred in a terrified huddle near the forecastle
and awaited developments. Hardly had the
prize crew been put board until another
freighter was seen going down the coast to
the eastward.
THE New York, leaving the captured
Spanish craft in charge of the prize crew,
drew across the bows of the stranger and
sent a shot into the water directly in front
OF her bows. She paid no attention to the
challenge, but kept steadily. on. and few
seconds later another shot was sent hurting
across the water in front of her. After this
hostile demonstration she hauled up and was
soon following the New York out to sea. 1t
was discovered, however, that she flew the
German flag, and consequently was per-
mitted to proceed.
- AS this is carried from the scene OF the
occurrence by the Echo. the Pedro is being
headed for Key West, to be used as a
transport in carrying American troops to
Cuba.