The Portland daily press., 1898-04-27
PANAMA CARRIED GUNS.
But She Made No Resistance to Little
HIangrove.

Key West, April 26.-1.30 p. m.-The
lighthouse tender Mangrove, the baby of
the navy pulled proudly into Key West
harbor this morning, with the richest
prize of the war thus far, a vessel four
times her size. trailing in her wake. The
captive was the Panama, Capt. Quevodo,
a big transatlantic liner and an auxili-
airy cruiser of the Spanish navy, which
has been plying of late between New
York and Havana. She had twenty-nine
passengers, including three women one
Frenchman and one Mexican and a crew
of Seyenty-twO.
AS the Pana ma carried two twelve
Founders she could easily have annihi-
lated the little Mangrove; and as the lat
ter came into the harbor with her prize
there was not craft but saluted her with
rousing cheers.
The Margrove under Lieut.. Commander
William H. Everett who came down from
the bydrogra phic office few weeks ago
TO take command of her was cruising
along tn g Cuban coast navigated by En-
sign Palmer shortly before six last even
ing about twenty miles north of Havana.
AT g. 40 p. NJ, she sighted the Panama.
The only other ship of the fleet in sight
was the battleship Indiana thres miles to
the rear. Lieut.. Commander Everett
scented prize and scudded toward the
stranger. When the latter came within
range shot from the Mangrovs's twelve
FOUNDER was sent across her bows but the
Spaniard ignored the challenge and went
on. Another shot followed without result;
and the Mangrove was drawing near the
stranger, who calmly proceeded on her
course, apparently without any intention
of running away. 'e b
When the third shot was fired the Man
grove was within a hundred yards of the
Panama and Lieut., Commander Everett
shouted to the deck officer that ii she did
not surrender he would sink her.
The Mangrove's officers admit that they
expected the enemy's twelve Founders to
open on them in response 70 the threat,
but the Spaniard promptly came to. En-
sign Dayton, the senior officer of the
fMangrove, boarded the prize.
The battleship Indiana had seen tine
capture and meanwhile drew up to the
Mangrove, giving her u lusty cheer
Lieut.. Commander Everett reported to
Captain Taylor of the battl,ship. and the
latter put prize crew on board the
captive, consisting of Cadet Falconer and
fifteen marines.
They then proceeded to the flagship
where a formal report was made and
Rear Admiral Sampson ordered Lieuten-
Commander Everett to convey the
prize into Key West.
I
and her passengers were mainly Spanish
refugees fleeing from New York and 9th
81 points in the United States to Havana
Captain Quevodo was grief stricken and
greatly Inundated because of the capture
The passengers declare that ehey knew
nothing of the blockade and that when
they saw the searchlight of the Mangrove
they thought it was the light Of Span
ish man-oflwar. The first shot changed
theirljoy to apprehension, ithe second and
third created a panic. The women ran
screaming for shelter from the enemy d
guns and the captain locked himself sui
Ienly in his cabin. The Panama carries
valuable cargo of general merchandise,
including large quantity of cora.
Much of it was meant to provision the
suffering Spaniards in Cuba; and the
cargo, with the ship itself undoubtedly
makes the richest trophy thus far taken.
Under the regulations, however, the
battleship Indiana will share in the prize
money, as she was in sight when the
capture was made.
This makes five steamers thus fa1
captured, in addition to nusaber Of
schooners and smaller craft. The entire
feet have been on the lockout FOR the
Panama for several days. as she Is due
at Havana Yesterday or today.