Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-26
ONE PRIZE CAPTURED
Spanish Lumber Steamer Falls Into
Our Hands.
CUNBOAT NASHVILLE is THE CAP1OR.
Refuses 20 "Hsavs To" Until . SOLID
Shot L. Sent After Hsr-SteamshiD
City of Paris Said to be I'm
Danger of Capture.

Key West, Fla. April 23.-The United
States fleet was about IL miles OFF Sand
Key light Friday morning at seven,
when the Spanish merchantmen BuenA
Ventura was sighted. bound north. The
gunboat Nashville ran her down and
put a shot across her bows from the
tour-inch gun on the, port side aft,
manned by Lieut.. Dillingham;. The
Spaniard ignored the shot, but another,
closer to her bows, brought her to. A
prize crew under Ensign T. P. Magruder
was put aboard. Capt. Lucarraga, in
command of her, was astounded. He
said he did not know that war had been
declared, but when he was informed Of
the state of affairs he shrugged his
shoulders and accepted the situation
philosophically. A body Of marines is
pacing the deck of the Spaniard, and
her crew of 20 are lounging about the
decks in nonchalant fashion. Not
man is in irons. According to prize
laws, Capt. Maynard will turn the pris-
oners of war over to.the United States
district attorney, who will decide the
Destination of the Fleet.
The monitor Puritan is taking on coal
and water and will sail to join the feet
at once. On excellent authority it Is
reported that the destination of the
fleet is Matanzas. On board the flag
ship is Capt. Aranguren, brother of the
late Brig. Gen. Nestor Aranguren. He
will pilot the fleet to Matanzas. The
Detroit sailed to join the fleet Friday
afternoon. 1t Is believed that one or
two ships will be left here at least tenn
porarily.
Steamer Paris Sails.
Southampton, April 23.-The steam
er Paris, of the American line, char
tered by the United States government,
sailed at 2:15 p. ~. Friday for New
York, though her regular sailing day
is Saturday. She had on board $50 pas
sengers, and her cargo included guam
THY of guns and ammunition. There
was great enthusiasm among the
crowd on the dock and the band of the
Union Steamships company's steamer
Britain played Yankee DOODLE" "a the
Paris steamed seward.
London, April 23.-The Spanish en-
bassy notified Madrid Of the departure
Of the City of Paris. 1t is probable fast
cruisers from Cadiz will try to inter-
cept her.
Said to Have Foundered.
London, April s3.-It is rumored here
that the United States cruiser Topeka,
formerly the Diogenes, foundered Tues
day night in collision with the bark
Albatross.
According to the Daily Mail, the cap
tain of the Albatross asserts that after
the collision, the steamer, whose name
he did not ascertain, flashed light and
suddenly disappeared. he believes abe
foundered.
Spain Declines.
London. April 23.-Spain, it is semi
officially announced, has declined to act
In conformity with the declaration OF
Paris respecting neutral vessels and
neutral goods.
Madrid, April 2a.-El Epoca (oonser-
vatve) declares Spain will not re-
nouncs the right OF privateering.
London. April ga special dispatch
from Madrid says that the Spanish
government has been officially notified
that Great Britain will regard coal as
contraband OF war.
Where Ii the Spanish FleetY
Washington, April 23.-Up to noon
Friday nothing had been received by
the government indicating that the
Spanish feet had left Cape Verde
islands. What may be the purpose of
the Spanish government as to disposi-
ton OF this fleet Is not known.
Sails for Manila.
Shanghai, April 2s.-The American
squadron at Hong-Kong has sailed for
Manila.
blockade Is Begun.
| Key West, Fla, April 23.-The North
Atlantic squadron, except for the mon.
itors Terror and Puritan and the
smaller cruisers, sailed from Key West
at b:45 o'clock Friday morning, headed
for the Florida straits. The skies wers
growing gray with the coming dawn
when the formidable family Of destroy
ers quietly and most cautiously
steamed away, presumably for the
| shores OF Cuba,
| Follow the Flasship.
The Wilmington and Amphitrite hai
slipped from their anchorage and ad
vanced with hailing distance of tn
flagship. 1t was just 5:42 when til,
New York, without unnecessary dis
play, moved pompously and slowly
toward the outer waters Of the gulf
The red light flashed the signal to cage,
eyes on the following feet and toll
| them to get in motion at last.
To those ashore it looked as If tn
New York was somewhat in advance O
the line, with the Iowa and Indian
following on either side, but separates
from her by good stretch of water
AS the line advanced toward the no
rizon, the ships spread out until per
haps there was a distance of tire
miles between the tips Of the crescent
The ships of the inner harbor ha
stepped out one by one, and stopped a
various stations until the entire forma
ton was ready to move. The exact OF
der of the ships could not be ascel
tanned from the shore. From the high
est point in Key West the line was sem
circular. The ships that followed tn
three leaders were the cruisers Cincir
natl, Detroit, Nashville, the gunboat
Wilmington, Casino, Machias, New
port, monitor Amphitrite, the Mar
grove, Mayfower, and torpedo boat
Foote, Dupont, Porter, Winslow, Left
Ericsson and Cushing.
/
Mal Bar Stolen