Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-31
cERvERA's COLLIER NABBED.
Taken by the St. Paul ~ She Waa
steaming Into Santiago
Hsrhor. ...l-.-. T.


KEY WEST, FLA. May 3o.-The Brit
ish steamer Restcrfnel was brought in here
this morning, under. her own steam. by
prize crew. She was captured while try
ing to put into Santiago de Cuba with a
cargo of coal. The steamer. was bound
from Cardiff to Porto Rico. As the Re
stormel came in. the British flag was flying
half way down her main mast. She was
leaking badly. -
The Restormel was captured under the
very guns Of Moro castle. at Santiago de
= Cubs, at 6 q. m. on May Is. She carried.
200 tons Of best Welsh coal, from cardfff.
presumably for Admiral Cerveras Hest 8
According to Lieutenant J. A. Pattson.
who Is in command Of the prize crew that
brought in the Restormel. her capture was
q very commonplace AFFAIR. Lieutenant
Patterson says: Ast
"About O'Clock last Wednesday morning
the St. Paul. scouting on Santiago harbor.
sighted the Restormel, twelve miles, away.
apparently heading for the port. She was
going In openly and honestly and not
skuiking along the shore. The st. Paul
took O course. 20 cut her Oh, and when
within haiIing distance. fred blank shot
The pursued steamer paid no attention.
but she hove to Immediately when . rseaid
shot was fired across her bows.
About o'clock went out with prize
crew and took possession without protest:
The captain talked frankly. saying that
he was bound for Santiago. though he had
sailed from cardin on April q for San
Juan. This was before the declaration Of
war was received. At San Juan, he was
ordered to proceed to Curacao and from
the latter place to Santiago de Cuba.
There never was any possibility Of her
escaping from the st. Paul, as her best
speed vas only eight lnstE. She was leak
ing badly and her boilers were out of or
der In fact, according to her captains
account. ahe had been leaking for twenty
days because o4 q sprung plate. and the
leakage waa increasing. q IS
s.The .caDtufe.was -maae. Ieas.thaq four
miles from MORO castle, But the forts
were silent and perhaps asleep. Ike the
6an Juan fortiacations when Admiral
.6ampeon began his attack. The only ex-
citing part Of the adventure came after
we left santiago Tor Key west, The lsals-
ing increased constantly, and all hands
manned the three pumps night and day
:. crew. marines and officers.
81 have not taken on my shoes or been
In bed since we started, 1--WE days ago. At
times We were about to give up hope OF
keeping the Restormel afioat, and thought
Of saving ourselves II she went down.
I'VE were all very glad when Key West
wos sighted. The story that there wore
Spanish ofncers aboard the ship Is false;
but there is no resisting the conclusion that
the Restormers coal was intended for the
Spanish feet. for the captain told a per-
fectly straightforward story about his voy.
age"
Wien the Restotmel arrived here It was
believed 1t would be necessary to beacf
her. take out her coal on lighters. then
repair the feak anu raise her, usridee1 ~
was practically decided to tow her ito the
government dock and unload the cargo
there.
Interesting light is thrown on Admiral
Cervera's plans by the log OF the Restor.
mel She sailed for San Juan de Porto
Rico. where the Spaniards expected to coal
San Juan being deemed unsafe. Curacao
was selected. but the collier hailed to con.
meet with the fleet there ana was ordered
to Santiago. Owing TO her leak. she did
not reach Santiago; the. spaniqrds re-
manned in port short of coal and 20 wer'
caught.
The prize commissioners have been bus,
ail day taking testimony in the Restorme
case. and. as result of the hearing. tht