Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-25

YORK, 1OliOWeu Dy the sharp report Ol
six FOUNDER. The shot passed ovel
the bows of the steamer and threw ul
great spray when it struck the water
There was no MISLEADING it's meaning
The steamer stopped its engines i'm
| mediately and swung around In the
heavy sea which was running. A large
whale boat was lowered from the New
York filled with sailors and marines
all fully armed and in charge of an Of
ficer. The prize proved to be the Pedro
of about 1000 tons. She was apparently
in ballast or had light cargo.
The sun was just sinking below the
horizon, when the prize crew from the
New York climbed over the side of the
Pedro and few minutes later the
Spanish ensign was hauled down.
While this was transpirng the out
line of another steamer was seen sew
| eral miles to the westward and the
New York put out for her as soon as
she had cast loose the Whaleboat con-
tanning the prize crew for the Pedro.
The New York then fired another
blank shot of warning to 'heave to" in
the direction of the second vessel sight
tt w 'i'> iie'o''i'p iiiti 'p''i otAiiiii s,
proper distance, the New York fired a
second shot this time across the bows
of the second steamer, and the latter
hove to at once. Upon investigation
it was seen that she was Il German
steamer that had just left Havana and
she was allowed to proceed.
The Pedro was taken TO Key West,
the New York returned to the remand
er of the fleet and all the vessels lay
to and drifted all night outside of Ha-
vana harbor The torpedo boats and
one of the cruisers did patrol duty in
the vicinity of the fleet all night. but
no vessel of any kind approached the
men-ofWar.
That shots had been fired by the New
York and that one steamer had been
seized and that another had been
stopped must have been known in Ha-
vana very soon after the occurrence.
for the whole affair could be witnessed
from the shore. However, none of the
vessels was close enough to the CITY.
of Havana itself to known what dem
onstrations the events caused there
This was the second seizure Of the
day. the first being that Of tn" Spanish
steamer Beuna Ventura. by the Nash
vile. early in the morning.
\ third seizure occurred this morn
ing. a few miles west of the entrance to
Havana harbor. 1t was a small
schooner, apparently a fishing craft,
and she was captured by the Cincin-
natl. The cruiser toNed her to the
flagship, and her captain made salts
f..,, la,
son. who released the vessel
Shortly before noon. yesterday, the
torpedo boat Porter captured a Span
ish coasting schooner, Mathlde, which
the Dauntless lowed into Key West
last night.
The New York, with the torpedo boat
Porter in close attendance was lying
about : or u miles off Havana. when
the smoke of a steamer was seen few
miles to the eastward. The flagship
and Porter started for her immediately
but when they drew near they found
that she was the Italian man of war
Rausan, bound for Havana. The Ital-
ian ran the American co1ors up to his
masthead and fired a rear admiral's
salute of - guns, it being the first sa
lutte Admiral Sampson had received
from a foreign warship since his APP
pointment to his present rank.
The New York returned the salute and
as the firing occurred only a few miles
off shore. the incident probably created
considerable CONSERVATION in Havana.
just as, this ceremony was completed, two
schoonors Were sighted in shore from
where the New York and the Italian lay
and the flagship sisnalled the Porter to
80 after them. The torpedo boat giided
over the water at very rapid rate AMI
passed almost under the bows of the Bau-
san on her capture of the Mathilde. As
She ran. the Porter fired shots from her
siX-pounder across the bows of both
schooners. One of them came about i'm
mcdiately, but she proved to be a fishing
boat and was released. But the Mathide
was more obstinate and probably did not
appreciate being stopped by what looked
like a toy boat. or else she failed to un
derstand what the Porter wanted her to
do But, when two more shots were fired
from the torpedo boat. the Mathilde came
about and the Porter ran alongside, in
formed her that she was seized by the
Inited States and promptly took her in
tow, and started off to the flagship with
her
The Mathildc was loaded with barrels
or rum and the Porter had considerable
difficulty in dragging the heavy schooner
through the water. But she finally
brought her prize alongside the flagship
and by this time she had hoisted the
Stars and Stripes above the Spanish flag
at the Mathilde'S masthead.
Nearly the entire crew of the New
York assembled on the deck, and as the
Porter came up with her prize. they gave
her a great cheering.
The Dauntess was about ready to leave
for Key West and Admiral Sampson
asked the dispatch boat to tow the prize
to that port for him. which was done a
prize crew from the New York being
placed on board the Mathilde.
There was q strong wind blowing and
Havana to Key West. but the Dauntless
plowed through the water with her tow.
which had her rails under half the time.
with great volumes of spray dashing over
the sailors and marines from the New
York, who sat on top of the schooncr's
cargo. each man ready with his rifle to
prevent any attempt that might be made
by the schooner'S own crew to cut loose