The herald., 1898-04-25

fate which gave to the famous ex-hlibus-
ter the first opportunity to tow q Spanish
prize to tho United States. for which the
thanks OF Captain Chadwick were re-
ceived. As the Dauntless passed under
the lee OF the New York she received the
heartiest of cheers from the blue Jackets.
while the officers clapped their hands, the
megaphone roared some encouraging
words, and Rear Admiral Sampson lifted
his cap in answer to the salute Of the cor
respondents.
The sea picture there presented was
worth remembering. The big hull Of the
New York, like steel-gray granite blum,
but more deadly looking, the long black
hull of the Porter, with her threatening
looking torpedo tubes, over which the
spray dashed violently; the saucy Daunt-
less, with forestaysail and mainsail set,
her smokestack belching forth thick
smoke, the snaky hawser leading to where
the schooner, heavily laden, was rolling
with her scuppers under, her crew busy
getting up her foresail mainsail and jb,
her Spanish crew working away under the
orders of an American officer side by side
with Uncle Sans tars; all around rolling
seas topped by white horses, and over all
the freshening gale. This picture had for
background pale haze which was the
mountains of Cuba, and in the middle dis
tance lay Havana, with a speck Of yellow
striped with red floating over Morro cas-
tie. How long will that standard stay
there? This was the thought which en-
tered every mind as the hawser tightened
and the Mathilde, following the Dauntless,
was rushed through the water toward Key
West. The passage was a rough one Of
course, but 1t was no worse than usual.
and without any special event to chron-
icle.
To the flagship New York belongs the
honor Of firing the first shot that an
nounced the intention of the United States
to establish the blockade Of the port Of
Havana.
The scene of the first event of what may
prove to be prolonged hostilities between
the government of the United tSates and
Spain was just of the coast of Cuba at a
point about ten miles east of Moro castle.
The shot was fred across the bows of a
Spanish steamer of Bilbao outward bound
from Havana. She hove to Immediately
and in the course of an hour prize crew
from the flagship was in charge of her
and she was on her way to Key West.
The capture Of the Pedro occurred at s
o'clock on Friday afternoon in view of the
( Associated Press dispatch boat Dauntless,
which was the nearest vessel to the New
York at the time. An hour before, the
fleet, with the Mayflower and the torpedo
boats, was proceeding at nine knot
speed from Key West to the Cuban coast.
The vessels were then about twenty miles
north Of Havana. A haze hung over the
southern horizon and the faintest outline
Of the shore could be seen at intervals.
Suddenly the New York quickened her
speed and went alongside the Mayflowsr
and the leading torpedo boat She halted a
moment and slgnaled some instructions to
the remainder of the fleet and then drew
away from the others and started alone in
a southwesterly direction.
The Dauntless also crowded on steam
and she sped after the New York at once.
After twenty minutes fast run the re-
mainder of the fleet was left far behind.
1t soon became apparent that the New
York was heading to the eastward of
Moro castle and the real object of her
chase became discernible against the dark
background Of the low hills on the coast.
The lookout in the tops of her military
masts had sighted the Spanish colors fly
ing from a Spanish steamer which had
just left Havana harbor. Those on board
the steamer must have seen the New York
overhauling them, but they made no pre-
tense of stopping.
The chase continued for nearly an hour
and by that time the New York had passed
the steamer and stopped about half mile
off her port bow. In another moment there
was puff of smoke from the side of the
New York, followed by short report of
six-pounder. The shot passed over the
bows of the steamer and threw up great
spray when it struck the waetr.
There was no mistaking it's meaning. The
steamer stopped Its engines Immediately
and swung around in the heavy sea which
was running. The next move came prompt
ly. A large whale boat was lowered from
the New York, filled with sailors and ma
rines, all fully armed and in charge of an
officer. The prize proved TO be the Pedro
Of about 1000 tons. She was apparently in
ballast or had light Cargo.