The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-07
France Had Obtained Permission
for Her to Enter.
TAKEN TO KEY WEST.
Government Orders Her Released
and Sent to Havana.


On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Kate Spencer, via Key West Fla,
May 6.-The Lafayette of the French Cen
eral Transatlantique Company's line, a
vessel of 1884 tons gross register. bound
from Corunna, Spain, on April 2S for Ha-
vana, was captured yesterday evening off
the latter port by the United States gun
boat Annapolis, Commander ]. J. Hunl1er,
while trying TO run the blockade, after
having previously bNen warned off.
She has on board large number of pas
sengers and valuable cargo. possibly con-
| tanning contraband of war.
The Lafayette. which halls from ST. Ma
zaire, France, is a fine vessel of the old
type. She Is over S4 feet long, has A feet
| beam and is over 2s feet deep. She was
built in 1854 at Greenock of iron. Her cap
ture was effected shortly before sundown
last night In the following manner:
The Lafayette was heading for Havana
and was boarded by an officer of the An
napolis and warned not to enter the port.
She afterwards made an attempt to do so
and was captured after an exciting chase.
The Wilmington. Newport and Morrill, took
part in the capture of the Frenchman.
After an examination of the Lafayettes
papers had been made prize crew from
the Annapolis was placed on board, and
she was sent to Key West and escorted by
the Wilmington.
Previous to this step being taken Com
mander Hunker of the Annapolis, the
temporary flag officer, and commander C.
C. Todd of the Wilmington exchanged sig
nails for over an hour.
1t is reported that the Lafayette in nd
dition to being a large French mail steam
er, is a French naval reserve vessel, mount
ing guns and carrying a crew sufficient to
make her ready for active service at short
notice. This, it is said, adds considerably
to the gravity of the international aspect
of the case.
The Kate Spencer, dispatch boat of the
Associated Press, just before the chase be-
gan, had spoken the Annapolis little east
of the Cojmar battery, and five miles off
shore. The Annapolis, with canvas -ventll-
ators spread had come up lazily from the
east and having spoken the Spencer had
gone about to follow her down the coast.
The Cuban shore line, gray with the hot
atmosphere of the afternoon. never looked
more peaceful.
Four miles down the coast the grim old
MORO stood silent guadrian OF the Cuban
capital, whose roofs already reflected the
red glow of the declining sun. 1t was a
fine picture of Cuba in slesta.
Suddenly the calm was broken by the
electric call of "A chase" which echoed
from the siern Of the Spencer. The An
napolis had put her helm hard a-starboard
and was cleaving the waters in a north
east direction. Her dark tunnels beicbed
out clouds OF black smoke as the stokers
piled coal on the furnaces, and every eff
fort was made TO drive the gunboat at a
high speed. On the horizon could be seen
the faintest trace of smoke. This was the
quarry Of the American ship, and circlng
swiftly, she was off at full cry after her
prey.
The stranger came up rapidly and the
marine glasses soon made her out to be a
big liner with red tunnels, heading straight
for Havana. On she came under full
steam, carrying a bone in her teeth" as
the sailors say when vessel Is throwing
up roll of white water forward as she
drives through the water at good speed.
There seemed TO be no doubt that tho
stranger was bent on running through tho
blockading squadron and getting under
the guns Of Moro castle If possible before
being oyerhauled
But within five minutes from as many
different directions. three of Uncle Sans
warshlps, which had been drifting idly On
the tropic sea, had been galvanized into
life. attracted by the chase, and speedily
joined in the attempt to block the stran-
gers entrance to Havana. While the An
napolis was rushing down upon the chase
in the distance, the Wilmington and the
Newport were also bearing down upon
her, and the Morrill,. which had been nos
ing up toward the Associated Press boat.
also saw game afoot and swung around
across the path of the liner, a sort ~
David challenging a Goliath for the Nor
rill Is only a smart little revenue cutter.
now acting as dispatch boat, and a
member of the so-called mosquito fleet
The Annapolis, however, had been doing
such fine work with her engines that she
overhauled the stranger two miles ahead
OF the Morrill,. There was a flash, a pun
OF white smoke to the lee, followed by the
boom Of gun fired down the wind, when