Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-05-12

Key West, May 1.-Commodore Wat
son yesterday afternoon received or
ders from Washington instantly to re-
lease the French mail steamer Lafsy-
cite, and send her to Havana under
escort. The capture Of the Frenchmau
by the gunboat Annapolis turns out
to have been an unfortunate incident,
resulting from mistake; but no pro-
test has been made by representatives
of the French government in the
United States. The officials here de-
clare that this will close the affair. 1t
appears that before the Lafayette
sailed for Havana the French legation
at Washington was instructed to COM
munlcate with the state department.
This was done and permission was
granted the steamer to enter and dis
charge her passengers and cargo, with
the understanding that she would take
on nothing there. Instructions for the
fulfillment of this agreement were
sent from Washington to Admiral
SIMPSONS squadron, and it was only
learned yesterday that they were
never delivered. Yesterday afternoon a
number of federal officials went out to
the Lafayette, examined her papers
and Cabled the state department for
instructions. These came without de-
lay in the form of an order to Com
modore Watson.
The Lafayette is of the French
Transatlantic company'S line and is
of 1884 tons. She was bound from
Corunna, Spain, on April %, for Ha-
vana and was captured Thursday even
ing off the latter port, by the gunboat
Annapolis, Commander ]. J. Hunker,
Will trying to run the blockade. She
has on board a large number of pas
sengers and a valuable general cargo.
The Lafayette is a fine vessel of the
old type. She is 344 feet long, has Al
feet beam and is 70 feet deep. She
was built at Greenock, of iron.
Of the 1913 passengers on board the
Lafayette, rs are for Havana, nearly
all being young Spaniards who say
they are going to Cuba to engage in
mercantile pursuits. The United
States authorities who examined the
Lafayette say that so far as the ships
manifest shows she carries no contra
band of war; but with such an i'm
mense cargo it was impossible to make
a thorough inspection. They saw
nothing in the nature of arms or am
munition on board.
Commodore Watson assumed his
new command, arriving on the Olivette
during the day. He Immediately went
on board the cruiser Cincinnati, where
he hoisted his flag. The ships in the
harbor doomed the commodore's sa-
lutte of II guns in the afternoon. This
customary act of courtesy to the new
commandant had a distressing effect
on the Lafayette's passengers. The
federal officials were dining with Cap
tain Chapleta at the time and suddenly
found themselves in the midst of a
panic. The Spaniards yelled that the
enemy had opened fire and scampered
about the decks to find places Of
shelter. Some burst frantically into
the captains cabin, where he was at
dinner with his visitors and begged
tue ALueIICduS W save luelI lives. Oue
woman, who was seized with a spasm
when the Annapolis held up the La
fayette, duplicated the performances
when the salute was fired.
Reports from the blockade line Is
that the situation is unchanged. Ths
smaller cruisers are still lined up.
with the gunboat Annapolis acting as
flagship.