Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-07

gray hulk Of the Wilmington, with her
men at quarters, and the delicateiy
lined Newport were looming up rapid
W. A moment or so later the three
warships lay by till the boat from the
Annapolis started back from the liner
to the gunboat. Then suddenly 10
TIE establishment of all on board the
warships. the Frenchman blew long.
querulous whistle and put on full
steam ahead, pointing straight to the
entrance of Havana harbor.
A sharp word of command rang out
on board the Annapolis, and in less
time than it takes to pencil these
words, her crew were at quarters and
the muzzle of every gun on her star
board side was pointing in deadly ear
nest straight at the runaway. Then
the big after gun roared forth a
hoarse order from over the starboard
quarter, while the crews of the other
guns looked up anxiously, eager to
follow suit. But the big liner stopped
her engines, and then put them going
astern, while columns of steam from
her escape pipes told of the high pres
sure below pleading for release.
The Wilmington and the Morrill, had
already started across the Lafayettes
path, but their services We're not nee
essary, for the Frenchman no longer
dared to make run for it.
Then there was a long spell of wig
wagging between the Annapolis and
and the Wilmington in the dusk of the
evening, the sun dropping behind the
horizon and the night falling over tie
scene like a drop curtain, for there is
no twilight in these ATTITUDES. Later,
electric signals succeeded the flags;
and there was a nervous period of rig
ring and blinking red and white ques-
tons and answers. The signalling
continued for almost an hour, while
the puzzled dispatch boats gathered in
the weak moonlight, almost rolling
their boilers out in the northeast swell
as they impatiently awaited the solu-
ton of the signal consultation.
At p. M the Annapolis and the
ficers boarded the Frenchman The
examination of the liner was soon over
and after the boats had returned to
their respective ships a prize crew
from the Wilmington was put on board
the Lafayette, and at S:15 last night
the big F'renchman was headed north
ward and was escorted to Key West
under the guns of the Wilmington.
The prize anchored here this morning,
and the prize court Will probably de-
termine what is to be done with her.
Ensign II. II. Ziegomeier, of the An
napolis, who is in charge of the prize
crew on board the Lafayette, says the
latter's commander denies that he has
Spanish soldiers on board. The
French commander, however, admits
that he left Corunna on April sd af-
ter the declaration of war. and that
he took on board many male passen-
gers. He feigns ignorance of the ma
ture of the ships cargo and says he
will be unable to ascertain what she
has on board until he examines her
manifest
The officers of the Lafayette pretend
to be very indignant and declare that
the detention of the steamer will be-
come an international episode
WASHINGTON. May 6.-The seiz-
ure of the French liner Lafayette by
the gunboar Annapolis caused a dis
tinct sensation in official and diplo-
matte circles here, as it was believed
to involve the responsibility of more
serious foreign complications than
had arisen thus far.
The officials of the State Depart
ment and the French embassy received
the news of the capture from the AS
ISOLATED Press dispatches, and in both
quarters it was given grave attention.
In the State Department it was taken
as a forerunner of a number of cases
of like character to follow, for this
was the experience of the United
States blockading forces during the
civil war. Many times during the pro-
gress of that war the country was on
the verge of breach of diplomatic re-
lations with some of the European
nations because of the seizure
blockade runners. Taking the facts
as reported the officials of the de-
partment declare positively, and in
this they are supported by the unani-
nous voice of the naval officials, that
there can be no question that the La
fayette was a blockade runner pure
and simple, and as such is a lawful
prize. The State Department has been
disposed to treat with the greatest lib
crafty the shipping of neutral powers
and. as already stated, we have TAX
en- an advanced position in this mat
ter. In his proclamation of the 18th
ultimo the President said:
The right of search is to be exer-
cised with strict regard for the right
of neutrals, and the voyages of mail
steamers are not to be interfered with
except upon the clearest ground of
suspicion of violation of the law in
respect of contraband or blockade
1t will be noticed that in this the
President expressly warns foreign yes
sells, even mail vessels, against break
ing the blockade, which seems to be
exactly what the Lafayette attempt
ed. 1t is said that whether or not the
ship carries contraband of war is abb
soluaely immaterial in the disposition
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