Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-16
CLEVER RUSE .FDL[D
Blanco Attempts to Trap
Blqckading Warships.
+ He HAD SUCCEEDED D IT,
Six American Vessels Would
Have Been Destroyed.
HOW HIS SCHEME WORKED
spanish Steamers Mnkem Pretense or Rum
mig III" .;oeh.n. in Order TO Draw
United states Vcsscls in Range
II. OF akorro Castle. Unin,- VIII
portant Engagement.
HOW HIS SCHEMEW WORKED

e.
Copyright. 1898, by Associated Pressl
mex WEST, FLA. May 15.-(On
ooard the Associated Press dispatch
ooat Kate Spencer, off Havana, May
H. r. NJ, via Key West, Fla, S A.
M.)-Captain General Blanco, two hours
before shutdown tonight. attempted to
execute q ruse which, il successful.
would have cleared the front Of Havana
OF six ships OF the blockading station
Unable to come out to do battle he
adopted the tactics OF the spider. and
cunningly planned to draw the prey in
u his net but though clever and
pretty scheme as an original PROPOSE
tlon' 1t was practically a repetition OF
tue TICK by which the gunboat Vtcks-
burg and the little converted revenue,
cutter Morrill, We're last week deceived
oy a fishing smack under the big krupp
guns OF Santa Clara Batteries.
Late this afternoon the ships on tba
havana station We're dumb-tounded
10 see two ships steam out OF Havana
haroor and head east. Dense smoke
was streaming like black ribbons from
their stacks and j glance showed that
1872 oAioCh u Lull NGau OIL
ny aid OF glasses Commander Lilly, OF
the Nlayilower. which was flying the
pennant. made out the larger vessel OF
the two, which was about 200 feet Ions
ana 1900 tons displacement to be the
cruiser Alfonso NH and the smaller
one to be the gunboat Legazpf, both
OF which We're known to be bottled up
in Havana harbor. at first he sup
posed that they We're taking advantage
OF the heavier lighting ships and We're
making u bona tide run for the open
sea. AS superior officer, he mnledi-
ately sisnailed the other ships on the
station. thet:T ;Uksburg, Annapolis.
Wasp. Tecuml shcAnd Osceola, which
We're moving in, to form a column and
head them Off A running fight fol-
lowed. The Alfonso and her consort
crcued in shore about five miles be-
fore Havana. and after running for
half a mile then headed back for Nor
no Castle Our gunboats and the 9TH
er thin skinned vessels OF the Mosquito
fleet did not follow in.
The Associated Press dispatch boat
kate Spencer witnessed the action,
which lasted over an hour. AS a spec
tacle the greatest master of stage craft
could not have evolved finer setting.
The big Alfonso and her convoy steam
ed swiftly from the dark shadow OF the
harhor'S mouth, and turning sharply
east. ran along the coast as though to
slip through the Gordon of blockade.
transparent. although the folly OF 1t
created suspicion, as there was no
hope of ultimate escape and no object
in escaping. r. f4 "-U
The Maytiower, standing Well out like
a cat with & mouse, gave i slight
start, then swinging her engines and
tiny squadron into line dashed in to
cut them off. The Spanish boats
crowded on steam and stood along the
coast as long as they dare to give zest
to fho bs. Na1 oil 1a,1
her consorts CLOSE in and charge
Word was flung on from ship to ship as
they steamer in column en- echelon.
Seeing the bait had apparently taken,
the Spaniards veered about, and bring
ing their stern chasers to bear on the
Americans doubled back for Moro.
Two of the shells from the Vicksburg
burst in the rigging of the Alfonso and
some of it came down, but it was. of
course. impossible to know whether any
fatalities occurred.
The American fire was much more
accurate than the Spanish. as every
shell of the latter fell short of their
purSuerS.
The Spaniards were a mile off Moro
and our ships We're fully four miles
further out. when flame leaped from
the batteries OF Santa Clara forts and
clouds OF white smoke drifted up the
coast Half a minute later dull, heavy
roar of a great gun came like deep
diaphony of organ on high treble OF
smaller guns. 1t was from one of the
12-inch guns mounted there, and an $50
pound projectile plunged into the water
half a mile inside the American line.
throwing up a tower of white spray. It
richochetted and struck again half g.
mile outside.
The mask was now off Maddened
by the failure of their plot, the Span
ards continued to fire at intervals OF
about ten minutes. In all thirteen
shots We're fired. but none of them
struck within 200 yards of one OF our
ships. AS soon as the battery opened.
Commander Lilly signalied and his fleet
stood off shore. Captain Mckenzie on
the bridge of the Ecksburg watched
the fall of the Shells but he considered
1t useless to waste ammunition at that
distance. He appeased the desire OF
the men at the guns. however, by let
ships in chance hope Of making them
pay for their daring before they gained
the harbor. but they steamed in under
Morro's guns untouched, and as they
disappeared fired several Shots
a number of shots were sent after
them at that moment by the Annapolis
which dropped inside the harbor. prob
ably creating CONSERVATION among the
scores of bum boats on the water 'front.'
Commander Mckenzie thinks. as do
other officers of the fleet. that the AL
fonso has been stripped of her bat
terry and guns, and those used today
were only temporarily mounted. If 1t
was the Alfonso MI. she must have
found new boilers since lately shelwaS
a helpless cripple in Havana harbor.5
From the action of the Krupp guns
it Is evident the Spaniards have no
cordite and are using ordinary cocoa