The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-25
With the BloCkading Fleet Off Cuba

When the Spaniard was about three
miles from the shore and about a mile
from the cruisers forward turret sud
! denly belched out a stream of fire, &C
companied by a crashing report. 1t was
only meant as a warning shot, but the
steel projectile went ricocheting over the
water in dangerous proximity TO the fee
ing merchantmen.
The echo of the report had hardly died
away among Cuba's hills when the Span
| lard hove TO. About ten minutes later
| the New York was near her. In the dis
lance few lonely looking houses could
| be seen perching on a wild looking beach.
prize crew, commanded by lieuten-
ant E. E. Capehart and composed o: AS
sistant Engineer Neal. four marines and
a boats crew. all well armed. were low
cred over the side of the cruiser, and amid
| exutant cheers from their comra jas on
| the Spaniard. which proved to be the
| Pedo Of Bilboa, an excellent prize.
Scarcely had the prize crew left the New
York to their new command before a
blank shot was fred from a forward four
inch gun of the New York This was a
| signal for a steamer to the westewa:d to
stop. The latter was scurrying away as
! fast as the wind and water would allow.
Once more the New York swiftly cut
! the dark waters. churning it into a foam
| at the stern and once more her four en-
! gines throbbed as if impelled by the eX-
! element of the chase. Then again The
| four-inch gun beloved out its noe OF
warning, this time hurting across the wa
| er a steel injunction emphasis to the
order to heave to. The second strange
steamer soon came to a standstill nd
was boarded But, great to the dsap-
! pointment on board the New York when
| it was seen that she was flying the GER
! man flag.
Ensign F. II. Brumby. who boarded the
German, reported that she was a tramp
steamer. the Remus, Captain Schwarnor.
| Of Mambug, bound from Havana 10 San
| tiago de Cuba, in ballast. The command
er Of the Remus said he knew nothing OF
war having been declared by the United
States and Spain and Ensign Brumby
made the usual apologies. The Remus was
then permitted to proceed, after having
had moro narrow escape than falls to
! the lot OF a merchantmen.
The sun was setting. casting red. angry
looking rays on the desolateappearing hills
Of Cuba, when the New York returned to
the Pedro, took her in tow and proceeded
to rejoin the squadron.
The flagship and her prize were almost
off Moro castle at 6 p. m. and six miles
off shore The harbor light of Havana
could be plainly seen from the decks of
the flagship which during the afternoon
had been stripped for action and showed
no lights at all
Ensign Brumby Joined Lieutenant Cape
hart on board the Pedro, and the prize
sailed for Key West, without an escort at
8 p. m.
The New York then steamed to the
northwest and eventually picked up the
squadron. In so doing. a serious collision
was narrowly averted. A newspaper DIS
patch, the Anita, unable to distinguish
the flagship in the darkness. attempted to
cross her bows. The New York was then
under good Roadway, and to the cores
pendent of the Associated Press, who was
on the bridge, it seemed impossible to
stop the New York in time. The presence
vi
watch who signalIed to reverse the en-
gines, and had them put hard to port,
at the same time blowing the signal to
close the water-tight bulkheads, saved a
catastrophe.
The Anita slipped past the New Ycrk's
ram with about twenty yards to spare,
thanks to the cool judgment and prompt
action Of Ensign Eide. At 9 o'clock the
admiral and Captain Chadwick had Turn
ed in for much-needed rest. They sept
in the chart room instead of in their COM
Portable cabins. The admiral said 10 he
correspondent previously:
II shall not report the blockade TO the
secretary of the navy until it is thorough
" established. This, it is likely, VIII be
tomorrow"
The admirars plucky dash with the
New York almost onto the CUBAN coast
and its satisfactory termination have
gained new laurels for him with his
already enthusiastic and devoted COM
rnand. During the concluding features OF
the boarding Of the Pedro and the Re
mus. the rest Of the United States squad
ron had disappeared from view and mere
was no one TO dispute the honor with the
New York, of the first capture in Cuban
waters A newspaper boat followed Ter
but was left far behind in the race. The
Dauntless, dispatch boat OF the Associa;-
ed Press, was the first to arrive on the
scene of action. She came UP Just as
the prize crew of the Pedro was embark
ing on board that steamer
The entire plan OF action here is fraught
with danger not so much from the Span
ish guns as from the difficulties OF manel-
wiring a large squadron at night without
showing any lights TO The enemy on shore
Speculation is rife as TO what the Span
iards are doing, and as to what they
intend 10 do. 1t is not believed Admiral
Sampson will confne himself entirely g a
blockade of the island. although he II
formed the correspondent that se did nor
expect any action TO occur in TIRE imr1e- I
date future. It is certain. however, that
some movement viii be made on Natcn-
zas. probably tomorrow. Wha,har this
Will be simply in a nature of a blockade !
or for the purpose OF securing a tasa %
supplies can not yet be ascerJs,usd With
any degree Of assurance.
ONE MORE SPANISH PRIZE
Key West. April 24.-Tne United States