The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-07
TAKEN BY THE ANNAPOLIS.
The Lafayette was Doing Her Best to
Run the Blockade.

The Lafayette W0s Doing ber BEST 10
RIM the Blockade.
Or board the associated press dis
patch BOAT Kate Spencer, via Key
West. May 6.-(Copyrighted associated
press. 1.-THE Lafayette of the French
Genera Transatlantic company's line.
a vessel of 1894 tons. gross register,
bound from Corunna, Spain, April %,
for Havana, was captured yesterday
evening off the latter. port by n gun
boat Annapolis, Commander Hunker,
while trying to run the blockade after
having previously been warned off.
She has on board a, large number of
passengers n a valuable general car
go, possibly containing c~ontraband of
war. Her capture was effected shortly
before shutdown last night i'm the fol-
lowing manner The Lafayette was
heading for Havana and was boarded
by an officer Of the Annapolis and
afterwards made ar attempt to do so
and was captured after an exciting
chase.
The Wilmington, Newport and Nor
rill took part in the capture of the
Frenchman. After the examination of
the Lafayette's papers, a prize crew
from the Annapolis was placed on
board and she was sen to Key West.
escorted by the Wilmington. Previous
to this step being taken Commander
bunker, temporarily flag officer, and
Commander Toe Of the Wilmington
exchanged signals for over an hour.
An International question was thought
to be involved. but 1t was seemingly
finally decided to send her to Key
West. The fact that she left a Spanish
port after a declaration of war seems
to warrant the holding of the Lafay-
ette. 1t is reported that the Lafayette,
in addition to being a French mail
steamer. Is a French naval reserve
vessel, mounting eun n carrying a
crew SUFFICIENT to make her ready for
active service at short notice.
The Annapolis. however. had been
doing such fine work that the stranger
was overhauled two miles ahead of
the Morrill,. There was a flash. a puff
OF white smoke to the lee. followed by
the boom of a gun. which announced
that Uncle Sam had ordered the strang-
er to heave to. TIT liner obeyed. and
the Morrill, and the associated press
dispatch boat started on a neck and
neck race for the big prize. In the
meantim a boat from the Annapolis
had boarded the Frenchman, as the
stranger proved to be. On board the
liner was a crowd of excited passengers
pressed a~nxiously about the vessels
side. Up from the south the wicked
gray hulk of the Wilmington, with her
men at quarters. and the d~elicately
lined Newport were coming up rapid
ly. A moment or so later the three
warships lay by until h boat from
the Annapolis started back from the
liner TO the gunboat.
Then suddenly, to the astonishment
OF all on board the warships. the
Frenchman blew q long. querulous
whistle and put on full steam ahead.
pointing straight TO the entrance OF
Havana harbor. A sharp word or
GGran nd rana n,t An hnord tho An
napolis, and in less time than II takes
to pencil these words her crews were
at quarters and the muzxle or every
gun OF her starboard ~broadside was
pointing In deadly earnest straight at
the runaway. The big after gun roare1
forth a hoarse order from her s~tarboard
quarter. while the crews OF the other
guns looked up. anxiously eager TO
follow suit. But the warning note
had its effect. The big liner again
stopped her engines and put them go
ing astern. The Wilmington and the
Lafayette's path. but their services
We're not necessary, for the French
man no longer dared to make a run for
IL.
There was a long spell of wig-wag-
GIN between the Annapolis ana the
Wilmington in the dusk OF the even
ing. Later electric signals succeeded the
iag signals. The signaling continued
for almost an hour. while the puzzled
dispatch boats gathered In the moon
hight and impatiently waited the soi"-
lion OF the signal consultation
AT s;45 the Annapolis and the VIII
minston lowered boats and the omcers
boarded the Frenchman. The examina.
ton OF the liner was soon over anu
after the boats had returned to their re-
epective ships a prize crew from tne
wilmington was put on board the Ia
fayette, and At Sis last night the DIG