The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-30
HOISTED SPANISH FLAG
AN AMERICAN WAR SHIP CHARGED
WITH DECEIVING THE ENEMY.
BIancO's Account of the Capture of
Several SIOOps by a "Strange YES
sci" Carrying 600 Men.


Copyright $685. by the Associated Press)
HAVANA, June %, delayed in transmits
sion.)--It is said at the palace of the cap
tain general here, the headquarters for off,
cial news, that the American forces are find
ing difficulty in advancing on Santiago Gle
Cuba. 1t is claimed that they followed the
railroad track to Juragua from the mines
situated a short distance from the coast,
between Siboney and Aguadores, but were
unable to reach the latter place in spite of
the protection afforded by the war ships.
The commander of the Spanish gunboat
Ardilla reports that while accommodating
on June 26 at Coloma, Punta Cortes and
other places at Coyaela, he was informed
that "a strange steamer with one smoke
stack, apparently a war ship of 5000 tons,
was in sight. The stranger soon caught
sight of the Ardilla and pursued her. The
gunboat succeeded in keeping out of range
of the guns of her pursuer. To the south
eastward the stranger. which turned out to
be an American ship, appeared to be in
company with several other vessels. The
Ardilla made a reconnaissance on the fol-
lowing day, June q, and discovered that
the American ship had captured the sloops
Nemesia, of Batabano, province of Havana,
Amistad and Manuelita, of Coloma, prov
ince of Pinar del Rio and the pilot boats
Luz and Jacinto.
1t is claimed that when the sloops were
sighted tho American ship hoisted the
Spanish flag, which caused the pilot of the
Spanish ship to hoist the Spanish flag, be-
leving he had to do with a Spanish war
ship. The pilot also approached the Ameri-
can vessel and did not find out his mis-
take until a blank shot and few loaded
smells We're fired at The pilot boat The
shells, it is claimed. exploded near her. The
American ship by this time seemed to have
driven the Spanish craft into a bunch in
Guiding the Luz, Jacinto, Amstad, Venesia
and Manuelita. The latter. it is further al
leged, let go their anchors and were aban-
doned by their crews, who made for the
shore, going in the direction of Punta de
Piedras on the southwestern extremity of
Pinar del Rio. between the Isle of Pines
and the mainland The commander of the
Nemesia, with one of her crew, remained
on board his sloop and was captured and
taken on board the american ship. Later
he was set at liberty, after having been
questioned regarding the Spanish feet and
the general situation of affairs. The Ameri-
can ship is described as carrying one gun
forward, another at her stern and four on
each side. She is said to have been com
manded by. frigate captain and to have
carried about six hundred men with blue
pants and red fringe who said they were
going to Cuba and afterward to Key West
The American auxiliary cruiser referred
to in the dispatch from Havana was UNI
doubleday the Yankee, manned by the naval
reserves which arrived al Key West from
Cienfuegos on Monday last. She then re-
ported that off the Isle of Pines southwest
coast of Cuba, she captured, burned and de-
stroyed five Spanish small craft loaded with
fish, and that she also captured two prison
erS, who were released.
The auxiliary cruiser, which was formerly
the Morgan line steamer Ell Norte, also re-
ported having been engaged with a Spanish
gunboat, undoubtedly the Ardilla referred
to in the dispatch from Havana. The YAM
kee met the Spaniard on June IL, off Glen
fuegos and opened fire on her with the re-
suit that the Ardilla was greatly damaged,
the officers of the American ship say, and
probably sank soon afterward.