Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-25
REAL WAR.
Spanish Prizes Taken by American War
Ships.

| Key West, Fla, April 23.-Two mor'
| prizes have been taken by Captain
SIMPSONS fleet under the guns of Nor
70 Castle. The Spanish steamship Pc
| dro, loaded with rice, iron and beer
was the vessel captured, last night
just as she was leaving Havana harbol
| to go to Santiago de Cuba. She was
| loading when her captain, Bonet, learn
| ed that the fleet had been sighted He
| feared that Havana was to be bonn
| barded, and started out to sea. He
| was not quick enough, and the men or
| the flagship New York sigted him going
at full speed and gave chase. The
| Spaniard showed no signs of stopping
and the New York sent several shots
after her These were from the ships
| lighter guns. They were ineffective
| Then the New York let go heavy Shot
across the bow of the fleeing merchant
| man, who come to standstill. The
chase has covered 10 miles.
A prize crew of y men from the New
| York, Differed by Lieut.. f. f. Capre-
hart Ensign Brundy and Engineer
Walter Ball. was put aboard the Pedro.
and she then came to Key West under
leT own SltdIu anu HltiIoul tStcIt 1.
The quarantine flag is now flying
from both the Pedro and the Spanish
steamer Buena Ventura, which was
brought in, yesterday, by the gunboat
Nashville The Buena Ventura, this
morning, was badly listed. Three gov
eminent tugs are working to pull her
into deep water.
United :. ates marines are now pac-
ing the decks of both captured steam
ers. but the Spanish ag still floats
from the jackstaff of the Pedro. She
came in at $50 O'Clock. last night. and
was watched by large crowds from the
Key West docks as she went to her
anchorage.
The third prize belongs to the Fries
son. 1t was captured at dawn, today.
close To the harbor. 1t was a small
fishing schooner. Lieut. Usher. in com
mand of the Ericsson. caught sight of
the little vessel trying to beat out of
the harbor to the open sea. The Eric
cson soon headed her off. and, not being
provided with any spare men to act IS
a prize CREW. Lieut. Usher simply or
dered the schooner to run on ahead of
him
he could turn her over to the tender
mcrcies of the cruiser Cincinnati, The
Ericcson's officers then resumed their
duties without waiting to learn what
disposition was made Of their little
prize
The prize crew had just been put
aboard the Pedro from the flagship
when the torpedo boat Foote which
was scouting. ran up and reported that
a large steamship had been sighted !
seven miles away. apparently bound |
out of Havana. and showing no colors. !
The NcNsYoIl: soon oveihurled the /
stranger and boarded her She was
found TO he the German steamship /
Amrum. bound for Havana. Htr pa |
pers were all right and she wa2 per /
mitted to go. after being Informed that /
Havana is under blockade.
The German is a ship of 800 tons, un- (
der Capt Sehmrull. She had been in !
Havana harbor with cattle from Tam (
pico. Hearing of the arrival IF the /
United States ships off Havana. Capt /
Schmrull not anxious to be bottled !
up in the harbor. ran out and was over /
haulded by our fleet The Amruin put |
into Key West early this morning. and /
is now awaiting orders by cable.
The Pedro is owned by the Naviga-
ton Company of Bilboa. is OF lG2S tons
net register. is about $50 feet long. has ,
over SO feet beam. and draws IS feet /
of water She was built at Newcastle /
in 1889. and has on board crew of &c .
men.
Speaking of the two prizes now lying 4
o. n,1Na II A,,t
Lyon Of the Dolphin, who is now senior
officer here. explained why the Spanish |
flag still flies from the Pedro, while the
Buena Ventura shows no colors The |
captain of the Pedro flew his coors |
during the entire time of the pursuit
by the New York, and refused to haIl |
them down.
Technically these prizes do nots be-
come the property of our government /
until prize commission has passed /
upon the captures and adjudicated the
claim.
In the mean time. at a point Is miles |
east OF Havana. the New York sighted |
another Spanish steamer. the Don Pc |
dro, 20o0 tons, and signalled. the fleet !
to slow down while she went in pursuit |
The Pedro seemed to appreciate the |
situation better than did the first
steamer, and made desperate efforts to
escape capture by steering for shallow |
water in the coral reefs.
Both Warship and steamer We're at
fun speed. and from the yacht in which |
The Herald correspondent followed |
them. ii appeared as though the steam I
er would make the dangerous water be-
fore the 10,00o-ton ship of war could |
overhaul her.
Two shots from the New York's bow |
guns failed to intimidate her. and il |
was not until the flagship fired a shell
that the Pedro gave up the race.
a German steamer bound for Ha- |
vana was turned back after her papers |
had been examined and the declara- |
ton of the blockade explained to her |
captain.
Spain Has Received No Information Of Cap
ture OF American Vessels.
Madrid, April 2i.-G f. M.-The cabinet |
council. today. approved the general
buget
DpSpitp statements unfinished in New |