Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-28
LANDED UNDER WHITE FLAG
Gunboat Algonquin Put Off Paroled Span
ish Officer.
Cavalry Watched the Incident From
the Forts on the Hills-Quiet
ut Havana.

| patch boat to Key West.-Admiral Samp-
sons flagship, the New York, does its share
in maintaining a peaceful blockade of the
| northern Cuban ports. Both the Cuban
| and Spanish population have had a chance
to learn something about the big cruisers
| for along the coast near Marc there are no
| reefs, and the biggest vessels can lie well
frshore. One of the gunboats has been
cruising within less than a mile of the
beach, and the flagship has been close
enough for a row boat to push off AMI
reach it. The people of the village of
Santa Cruz can be easily seen from the
deck
They do not seem surprised or overcome
at the nearness of the American warships.
Most of them came down to the beach,
The village itself is a typical one, with its
church and cemetery as it's most conspicu-
Gus objects. Back of it stretches two
ranges of hills, and each knob is crowned
seems to be abandoned, but with a strong
glass it can be seen that others are vet
garrisoned.
A squadron of Spanish cavalry appears
to be camped in the neighborhood for drill
The regulations of war are understood.
because when the tug Algonquin put off
from the flagship flying white flag there
was no hostile demonstration on shore
This was the first time since the squadron
left Key West that this peaceful emblem
had been seen. The tug carried a paroIed
Spanish officer who was picked up Off
shore near Matanzas the other day by
cruiser, the Cincinnati, when he put out to
sea in small schooner to enjoy a furloueh
that had been granted him. The Algonquin
steamed right up to the mouth of the
creek, which is called the Santa Cruz riv
er' landed the released prisoner, signaled
the flagship and then proceeded directly to
Key West.
Old FiIibuster Landing.
In the old days this creek. was the land
ing place for the filibustering expeditions.
1t makes a cut through hills in which
many insurgents are said to be encamped
now. If they looked closely the crew of
the Algonquin saw earthworks which men
We're even then engaged in throwing up
along the coast line for these are visible
from the ships further out at sea- These
earthWorks are said to be part of line
of fortitications extending from Matanzas
TO Havana. They are not formidable If
any batteries are masked along there the
Sunners have been good enough not to
tempt Il return on ,,f h.,
guns which point shoreward from the battle
ships or even from the gunboats. What
ever batteries exist If any, would be quick
ly reduced and small landing parties would
have no difficulty in getting ashore in the
many coves and inlets. In the day time
brown stubble can be seen close to the
beach and on the sides of The hills where
fire has swept These fires are still raging.
Half dozen of them can be seen. Last
night three or four big ones were seen on
the hills far back in the interior. What
there is to burn is mystery, for all the
cane fields in this part of the country
were fired weeks ago. They are not sig
nal lights from the insurgents, for they
have other means of communicating. The
officers of the flagship and other vessels in
the blockading squadron are looking for
ward to period Of dullness until the bonn
bardment Of Havana Is ordered.
1t is the opinion that few Spanish mer-
chantmen now atioat will come close
enough to Cuban waters for pursuit by the
fleet. Blockade running will probably be
of
for the smaller vessels of the fleet.
Should the decision be made in Washing
ton TO land food supplies before the bonn
bardmeilt of Havana is begun, that under
taking will furnish work for several YES
sells. PEPPER
The Blockade at Matanxas.
Special From Star Correspondent
OFF HAVANA, Wednesday Morning. via
Dispatch Boat to Key West.-Matanzas
harbor is completely closed and no ef-
forts are mads to run the blockade.
Last night the New York started in chase
after what seemed to be Spanish steamer,
but the cruiser Detroit signaled she was
already in pursuit, and chase was left to
her. The efficiency OF the squadron Will
soon be increased by number of tugboats
and other mosquito craft, which can run
close inshore where the big ships cannot
go, and keep watch OF small blockade run
ners.
MORO Castle no longer shows its lights
at night. PEPPER.
roRpEDoEs IN span sIsH PORTS.
British Foreign Oaices Resolves Of
fetal Notifications 81 the Fact.
LONDON. April 2S.-The British foreign
Office has been officially notified by the
Spanish embassy that the government OF
Spain has ordered the ports of Cuba. Phil