The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-23

distance from shore two-masted, black
hulled ship. with white upper works and
black smokestack. having the colors of the
Spanish fiag painted around it was seen. A
Spanish flag was flying to the breeze above
the taffrail The squadron had been steam
ing dead slow, say six knots, but at o'clock
the Nashville suddenly left the line. and at
fuil speed headed toward the steamer. A
moment later gun was fired from the port
battery of the Nashville and the shot
struck the water few hundred yards away.
The Spaniard was half mile from the
Nashville. and she held her way, making
no sign of having given the shot any atten-
ton. For two minutes the Nashville kept
on in the chase and then tried another shot
that passed apparently within a rod OF the
Spaniard's bow and clipped spray from the
crest of the waves for mile beyond. The
ofleer on the steamers bridge at once re-
versed her engines. while a man came aft
ana hastily lowered her flag.
PRIZE CREW PUT ABOARD.
eat 7:15 the Nashville brought to alongside
the steamer. having every gun. big and lit
tie in the starboard broadside, pointed at
her Then a whaleboat was lowered and
Ensign Magruder, with a boarding crew Of
six men, was sent to take charge of the
prize. She was found to be the Ijuena Ven
tura, plying between New York. Havana
and West India ports. She had
cargo OF lumber on her deck for
ward that was slowed so as to give her
a list to port. Meantime the torpedo boat
Foote had run down in the wake OF the
Nashville and brought to beside the Buena
Ventura. For the next half hour there was
am 1l,n rfr,cr hxy he
Nashville and the Foote as they lay about
the Spaniard. Ensign Magruder took charge
of the Spaniard and sent report regard
ing them to the Nashville. These were even
tually sent to the flagship by the torpedo
boat Foote. The flagship, with the battle
ships. had been lying to during this time,
and soon after a number of guns were fired
from the New York, the object of which
was not apparent from the dispatch boat.
However, the torpedo boat Foote, after
tarrying briefly at the side of the flagship,
returned to the Nashville. She brought
orders that the Buena Ventura was to be
held and a few minutes later the Nash
VILE headed toward Key West and was
followed by the Buenta Ventura.
ut was observed that when the Nashville
and the Buena Ventura had run a mile
or so toward port they were stopped by
signal from Admiral Sampson, and for fif-
teen or twenty minutes they hung wind.
Then they headed once more for port AS
the Buei,a Ventura lay waiting orders from
Admiral Sampson, her crew hung listlessly
over the rail walked about her deck and
gazed at her captors. Two Spanish officers
were on this bridge most of the time, but
one, apparently the captain. went to and
fro from the bridge to the deck and down
below AN American sailor had the wheel.
Another stood on the bridge near Ensign
Masruder and the others guarded the main
deck. The sailors carried muskets on board
and Ensign Magruder had side arms
Commander Lyons, of the Dolphin, has
delivered to United States District Attorney
Stripping the papers of the Buena Ventura
captured by the Nashville. He will libel the
ship in the usual way. The unfortunate
merchantmen is still lying in the harbor.
Her captain was allowed to remain on
board; but the crew of twenty-eight were
taken over to the Dolphin and made to as
sist in the work of coaling
The gunboat Nashville steamed proudly
out of the harbor late this afternoon, hav-
ing achieved the first victory of the war,
although bloodess one. She had gone
about twelve miles when the Dolphin
signaled her to return. She steamed back
and received orders, the nature or which
was not divulged, and put to sea again
finally to join the fleet, and incidentally, to
pick up any other vagrant ship of the
enemy that happens to come within range
of her guns. The cruiser Marblehead, the
monitor Puritan, the Algonquin and the
Mangrove sailed this afternoon to join the
fleet The only ships of the squadron row
remaining here are the Dolphin, the Terror
and the Helena, all of which are likely to
move within few hours.
1t is reported this evening that the Buena
Ventura ran aground on d reef about a
mile out and is leaking. Tugs went to her
assistance and pulled her off. Considerable
mystery surrounds the affair.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. April 22.-Com-
mander Washburn Maynard, of the Nash
vile, which fired the first shot and made
the first capture in the war, is a Knoxville
man. The enthusiasm on receipt of the news
was intense.
MOBILE, Ala, April 22.-The Buena Ven
tura, from Pascagoula, Miss, which was
captured by the Nashville was loaded by
Mobile parties for Rotterdam with $4,000
feet of lumber, valued at $4,000