Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-07
LAFAYETTE RELEASED.
She Had Eeen Given Permission to
Enter Havana.

W
KEY WEST, May G.-5 z. M.-Com-
modcre Watson this afternoon received
orders from Washington TO Instantly
release The French mail steamer La
fiyettr and 10 send her 10 Havana
Under escort.
The capture of the Frencllman by
che gunboar Annapolis turns out To
nave been an unfortunate incident,
suitng from {, mistake, but no protests
have been made by the foreiSn repre-
= ntaGiveas.
The officials here declare that this
Mill close the affair
Il appears that before the Lafayette
allied for Havana The French legation
In Washington WAS instructed to CHM
nuniesute With the State Department.
This was done and permission granted
20 the stsuiner to enter und discharge
hey Passengers and cargo With the un-
ferstanding ilat she was to take no
Oh. tl-abatd OF War. -
Instructions We're sent from WASH
lrelson To Admiral Simpsons squu dfon
md III was only learned today. after
.:~ capture Was mate, that they were
ever delivered
This afternoon a number of United
states Officials Went out to the La fay
t'4ss.,. examined her papers and cabi+.d
% the State Department for instruc-
mons They came as the above order
10 Commodore Watson
OF the 16S passengers on board tine
Lafayette, svvsnty-slN are for Havana
nearly ull- being young Spaniurds, who
say they are going to Cuba to engage
n mercantile pursuits
HNhea surprise waF Displayed thar
such Was their mblsS-fn at this time
hey merely shrugcS22 their shoulders
AID vuuchsaveI no further eXplana-
ION
One Cuoan was aboard who was re-
cunning 10 JOIN the lnsurgen1 army.
He was banished from the island
seven months ago. but came within
she terms of General Blanco's armistlce
lie was overjoyed when told that he
would be taken with the United States
troops when they moved. The local
jnnta took him in charge and he leaves
tor Tampa tonight
This. United States authorities VINO
examined the Lafayette today saw y ha,
50 laF as The ships manifest shows
size carries no contraband of war. gu;
Win sllcA an Immense cargo it was i'm
2"$-ib!e 10 make a thorough inspection,
ihey sa~ nothing in the nature OF arms
Or ammunition on board. Her release
constitutes the first official act of Com
!.SdnEe Watson in his new command
RI rnls new division of Admiral Samp-
son Ileei. lie arrived on the Oliv.t1e
'.f.S.S and immediately Went ON bouru
mis- tag
The ships in the .harbor doomed =
:omnodore's salute OF eleven gums
GALS AFTERNOON. The Gus tulary act of
souFtesy /" a new commanding officer.
'iT'd 4 distressing effect ON the Iafay-
site: The federal officials were dining
on BOARD at the tln,e and suddenly
"ilry found themselves in THE midst Of
= lsHc The Spaniards yelled that
me enemy had opened fire upon them
and they scrambled about tine decks
T.. to lined PLACES OF shelter. Some of
them burst frantically into the cap
'ain cabin where he was at dinner
with his visitors and begged the Amer
scslns 70 save their lives. One Mexican
woman, wife of a Spanard, VINO was
seized with spasm at the time the
Annapolis held up the Lafayette, dupli-
Gated the performance when the ia lutte
Was fired and for some time it was
feared her life was in danger.
Comn!odo"e Keniey arrived on THE.
MaScou;e This evening.
I While nothing can be learned as to
where he Will take command, it il
said en- good authority that his con
sisnment is 70 be 10 the commend of
the NAVAL station here.
J, SNhe reports from the blockade lime
>oday are that the situation is unchang-
ed The smart cruisers are still lined
dp with the gunboat Annapolis acting
LIS flagship.