Evening journal., 1898-08-04
A VALOROUS BOS'N.
With Assistant He Captured
Two Spanish Ships.
FLEW THE SPANISH FLAG ON PRIZE.
Left In Charge of Captured Schooner
lie Ran Up Her Former CoIors and
Surprised six spnniards, Who
Dared Not Call His Blur

bhftu Noi NaAA
KEY WEST, Aug. 4-Another jackie
has achieved the reputation Of hero.
He is Boatswain's Mate Nevis of the
gunboat Bancroft. and the tale Of his
valor is not unmiXed with humOr. One
day late last week the Bancroft, ac-
companied by the converted yacht Ea-
Gle which had been covering the block
aiding station around the Isle of Pines.
sighted a small Spanish schooner in
Sigunea bay.
The Bancrofts steam launch, in
charge of Nevis and one other seaman.
each armed with a rifle, was sent In to
take the schooner. This was only a
task Of minutes. and the pretty launch
returned with her prize, which proved
70 be the schooner Mite, little more
than a smack and with no cargo. Her
captain was an American, and with
him We're his Cuban wife and seven
children, all vowing loyalty to the Gu
ban cause. They pleaded poverty and
that the Mite was their only means Of
livelihood.
Commander Glover Of the Bancroft
promised to return her at the proper
time. Meanwhile he sent Nevis in with
her to anchor near the wreck OF the
Spanish transatlantic liner Santo Do
mingo, sunk by the Eagle few weeks
ago. Then the Bancroft and Eagle
cruised OF to Maugle Point. where they
happened to be put in communication
with the insurgent camp. Two hours
later they returned. For time moth
ing could be seen OF the launch or the
prize.
Suddenly Commander Glover, who
was scanning the waters with his glass,
shouted to Captain Sutherland of the
Eagle. "By heavens. they have cap
tured my prizel" The little schooner
lay near the wrecked steamer, but the
Spanish flag was flying from her mast,
and instead of only Nevis and his COM
pRnion she was apparently filed with
men.
Meanwhile the gunboat Maple had
drawn up, and Commander Clover or
dered her in to the work of rescue.
With guns ready she steamed toward
the schooner but the sight that greet
ed her was not what was expected.
Nevis and his companion sat at one end
Of the boat attempting to navigate her
out OF the harbor. Each had his rifle
across his knee and was keeping wary
eye on a party Of half a dozen COVER
ing Spaniards huddled in the other end
OF the boat
The Maple asked for information. and
offered Nevis a tow, but he replied with
a Joke and declined the proffered as
sistance. Then it developed that in
going in 10 anchor he had observed two
otaer small Spanish boats near the
wreck Of the SantO Domingo and had
resolved to capture thsm too. He knew
Il was haGardoHs work. bHt bluff" car
rLsd hlm through. He took the Spanish
sobors 0f tha schooner, ran them up aud
bqldlf nshLsd h.
Pher0 we're s3x men on the two other
beats. and they waAched the approach
Of thear supposed oompatriots With
oalmnoss that speedily changed 10 con-
stornatlOn when Nevis and che other
baelsie suddenly whipped their rifles
10 their shoulders and demanded an inn
mediate surrender. The scared seamen
lost no time in complying and had the
unique experience Of surrendering to
their own flag.
Then. scoFning ell aid, Nevis took
them out TO his ship and IN the most
matter OF fact manner reported his ad-
venture to his astOnished commander
The capture was no mean one. for these
men gave important information to the
American ship. They We're residents OF
the htNe town Of CorteE. province Of
Pinar del Rio. situated about two miles
from the 5anto Domingo wreck. on what
is called Pirates lagoon, because in an
eient days it was favorite resort OF the
brethren OF Captain Kidd. The town has
a population q 1000, and the only rea-
son for it's existence is that 1t serves as
depot for the Vuelta Abajo tobacco dis
trict and contains number OF large to-
bacco warehouses
The Bancroft and Eagle would have
taken the town. which is defended only
by 100 soldiers, but they could not spare
a permanent force 70 protect the nom
combatant women and children.