The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-06
X / r A !!
FRENCH PRIZE.
Mail Steamer, Lafayette,
Captured as a Blockade
Runner.
CAPTAIN DEFIED WARNING
Stopped Twice by the An
napolis and Finally Taken
Into Key West.
MAY CAUSE MUCH TROUBLE
French Likely to Protest Il
the Vessel Is Not Speedily
Released.
DULL DAYS OFF HAVANA
Sampson's Gallant BIuejackets
Just Spelling for a Real
Fight.
NOTHING RELIABLE FROM DEWEY
Singapore Says He Holds Manila,
But Spain Says He Is Caught
in Trap.
By Copyright, 1898, by the Asso-
ciated Press)

(By Cable-copyrigh 1SsS by the Asso-
ciated Press)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DESPATCH BOAT KATE SPENCER,
VIA KEY WEST, Fla, May g. 1S9S.-The
Lafayette of the French General Trans
atlantic Company's Line, vessel of
1894 tons gross register, bound from Co
rurna, Spain, on April %, for Havana,
was captured yesterday evening off the
latter port by the United States gunboat
Annapolis, Commander ]. j. Hunker,
while trying to run the blockade, after
having previously been warned off. She
has on board a large number of passen-
gers and a valuable general cargo, pos
sibly containing contraband OF war,
The Lafayette, which halls from st.
Nazaire. France, is a fine vessel, of the
old type. She is over 3s4 feet long, has
"A feet beam and is over q feet deep. She
was built in 1864 at Greenock, of iron.
Her capture was effected shortly be-
fore sundown last night in the following
manner. The Lafayette was heading for
Havana and was boarded by an officer OF
the Annapolis and warned not to enter
the port. But she afterwards made an
attempt to do so and was captured after
an exciting chase The Wilmington,
Newport and Morrill, took part in the cap
lure of the Frenchman.
After an examination of the Lafayette's
papers had been made, prize crew from
the Annapolis was placed on board of
her. and she was sent to Key West, es-
corted 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
signals for over an hour. A delicate in
ternat ational question is thought to be in
volved in the capture of the French
steamer, but it was seemingly finally de-
cided to send her to Key West. The fact
that she left Spanish port, Corunna, on
April %, after the declaration of war.
which occurred on April Il, seems to war
rant holding the Lafayette
On the question of contraband-ofwar
the officers of the Wilmington were reti-
cent, but it seems hardly possible that
the steamer could leave Spain with so
many male passengers on board and not
have contraband-of-wari in her cargo.
1t is reported that the Lafayette, in ad-
dition to being a regular French mail
steamer, is French Naval Reserve YES
sci. mounting guns and carrying 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, despatch boat of the
Associated Press, just before the chase
began, had spoken the Annapolis a little
east of the Cojnar battery, and five miles
off shore. The Annapolis, with canvas
ventilators spread, had come up lazily
from the east, and having been spoken
by the Spencer, had gone about to follow
her down the coast. The Cuban shore-
lire, gray with the hot atmosphere Of the
afternoon, never looked more peaceful.
The big Krupp guns on the battery were
silent and pretty effect was caused by
the white smoke wreaths curling up from
the roofs of the little settlement Cojmar,
showing up daintily against the gray
green slopes of the Cuban hills. Four
miles down the coast, the grim old tower
of Aforro stood frcwning, silent guar
dian of the Cuban capital, whose roofs
already reflected the red glow of the de-
clining sun. 1t was fine picture of Cuba
in siesta.
Suddenly the feeling of calm was broken
bv the electric call of "A chase which
echoed from the stern of the Spencer.
The Annapolis had put her helm hard-a-
starboard and was putting on full steam
and cleaving the waters in a northeast
direction. Her dark tunnels belched out
clouds of black smoke as the stokers piled
coal on the furnaces and every effort was
made to drive the gunboat at high
speed On the horizon could be seen the.
faintest trace of smoke. This was the
quarry of the American warshio. and
clrcling swiftly She was off at full cry
after her prey.
The stranger came rapidly up even with
the sky-line and the marine glasses soon
made out to be q big liner, with red fun
nels, heading straight for Havana. On
she came, under full steam, carrying A
bone ia her teeth. as the sailors say
when steamer Or other vessel y throw