The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-25

squadron was signaled into battle forma-
tion of double column, the New York lead
, ing the battle ships and the Cincinnati
leading the cruisers and gunboats. Just
as the evolution was completed the follow
ing signal was hoisted on the flagship:
Disregard movements of commander-in-
chief" simultaneously Captain Chadwick
sent Chief Engineer c. j. Mcconnell this
message: Get UP all the steam you can. A
steamer has been sighted and the admiral
wishes to capture her.
"A CHASE! A CHASEv
few moments later smoke was pouring
from the tunnel and she stood away to the
southeast. The squadron, led by tie Iowa,
continued on its course, heading in a south
westerly direction. The New York was soon
tearing through the water at rapidly in
creasng speed and was fast leaving the
squadron in the rear. Away in the distance,
close under the mist-covered hills of Cuba,
midway between Havana and Matanzas,
could be seen the outlines of a large steamer
heading to the eastward. Then the old cry
of "a chase" "a chase echoed fore and
aft and the officers and crew of the New
York gathered on her decks, eagerly watch
ing the flagship churn through the blue
water, foaming white at her stern, until she
was making about eighteen knots. The ad-
miral paced the foreward bridge as calmly
as if watching potato race.
The New York gained rapidly on the
steamer. To the great delight of all on
board the cruiser it was evident that the
latter would cut off the steamer from es.
cape. The crew OF the New York by this
time were at their stations and the guns
were loaded and trained. When the Spanish
flag was seen flying at the strangers stern
cry of delight went up from the blue
jackets on board the New York 1t was evil
dent that the Spaniard was doing her best
to get away from the cruiser and was head
ing in nearer and nearer to the coast, hop
ing to find safety in shallow water, where
the warship could not dare to follow her.
When the Spaniard was about three miles
from the shore and about a mile from the
New York an eight-inch gun from the
cruisers foreward torret suddenly belched
stream Of fire, accompanied by a crash
ing report. 1t was only meant as warning
shot, but the steel projectile went ricochet-
ing over the water in dangerous proximity
to the fleeing merchantmen. The echo of
the shot had hardly died away among
Cuba's hills when the Spaniard hove to-
About ten minutes later the New York was
near her. In the distance a few lonely
houses cOulu De seen percleQ on a
wild-looking beach. A prize crew, COM
manded by Lieutenant Z. E. Capehart and
composed Of Assistant Engineer Neill four
marines and boats crew, all well armed
were lowered over the side of the cruiser
and amid exultant cheers from their COM
rades on board the New York they pulled
over to the Spaniard, which proved to be
the Pedro, of Bilbao, an excellent prize.
Scarcely had the prize crew of the New
York taken their new command before a
blank shot was fired from a foreward four
inch gun of the New York. This was
signal for a steamer to the westward to
stop. The latter was scurrying away as fast
as the wind and water would let her. Once
more the New York swiftly cut the dark
waters. cllurning it into foam at her stern,
and once more her four engines throbbed
as If imTelled by the excitement of the
chase. Then again the four-inch gun bel
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