The record-union., 1898-04-23
Several Men Assert That There Was
a Running Fire for an Hour.
The GunhOdt Nashville Captures Spanish
Merchantmen, and the New York
Captures a Spanish PasSGa-
ger Steamer.
JACKSONVILLE (Fla.), April %


According to private advices received
by the Times Union and Citizen" to-
night, the first naval battle of the war
took place opposite Boynton, about
twenty-five miles south of Palm Beach,
at 10 o'clock this morning.
George Lyman, a reliable man, and
several others who were fishing in Lake
Worth, which is separated from the
ocean by a narrow strip Of land, heard
heavy firing and ran to the beach.
They reported to the railroad agent and
Postmaster at Lantana that United
States monitor was chasing and firing
upon a Spanish man-Of-War or gunboat
conveying a coal or transport ship.
The Spaniard replied shot for shot. All
the ships were travelling with a bone
in their teeth
The men say they watched the bat
tie for an hour, or until only the smoke
from the tunnels was visible on the
southwestern horizon, in which direc-
tion they were travelling.
a special to the Times Union and
Citizen" from Lantana says: An eye
witness has just arrived from Boyn-
ton and reports q supposed transport
vessel, southwark bound. guarded by
q man-of-war, pursued by a moIitof,3
keeping up heavy running fire.
This dispatch was dated 10 q. m.
FIRST SPANISH PRIZE.
KEY WEST, April 22.-The first
Spanish prize is the steamer Buena-
ventura, from Pascagoula, Miss, for
Rotterdam, with lumber. The Nash
vile fired blank shot, which the Span
lard ignored This was followed by a
shot from a siX-pounder. The Buena-
ventura then surrendered, with her
crew of twenty Eight men. The Nash
Vile towed her prisoner into this mar
Dor at II O'Clock this morning, and put
a prize crew on board. Both ships are
lying well out in the stream. The
news of the capture of the Spaniard set
the people of this city wild. Work
has been suspended and the docks are
crowded with people.
The United States fleet was about
twelve miles off Sandy Key light this
morning at { o'clock when the Span
ish merchantmen Buenaventura was
sighted. bound north. The gunboat
Nashville ran her down and put a shot
across her bow from the four-inch gun
on the port side aft, manned by Lieu
tenant Killingham. The Spaniard ig
nored the shot. but another, closer to
her bows, brought her to. A prize crew
under Ensign Magruder was put
aboard.
Captain Lucarraga, in command Of
the steamer, was astonished. He said
that he did not know that war had
been declared, but when he was in
formed of the state of affairs, he
shrugged his shoulders and accepted
the situation philosophicalIy.
The Nashville has taken on stores,
and will return to the fleet, carrying
Ensign Magruder, who will be relieved
by Ensign Carleton of the Snow
A body of marines is pacing the deck
of the Spaniard, and her crew of
twenty-eight are lounging about the
decks in a nonchaIant fashion. Not a
man is in irons.
According to prize laws, Captain
MAYNARD will turn the prisoners of war
over to the United States District At
torney. who will decide the question of
their disposition.
The monitor Puritan is taking on coal
and water, and viii sail to join the
fleet tonight.
On excellent authority it is reported
that the destination OF the fleet is Mat
anzas. On board the flagship is Cap
tain Aranguren, brother of the late
Brigadier-G General Nestor Aranguren.
He will pilot the fleet to Matanzas- The
Cuban pilots went on board last night
after u o'clock.
The Detroit sailed to join the fleet
this afternoon. 1t is said one or two
ships will be left here at least tenn
porarily
ANOTHER STEAMER CAPTURED.
KEY WEST, April %, 2:20 a. m.-An
incoming tug reports that the New
York has captured a Spanish passenger
steamer plying between Havana and
Porto Rico.
1t is balia,-~-s .-o--- -1--- - - ~---
tured py the nassE.p -~ew 1oth - 49,
Alfonso XIII, the mail steamer due Ct