The herald., 1898-04-25

fectly certain the Spaniards could do nj
damage at five miles, which was then thu
approximate distance of the flagship from
Morro Castle.
| Another officer said: "The Spaniard
probably became nervous, and decided the,
could not sleep without some fireworks
They can't hit anything, anyway"
| There was no excitement on board thu
flagship during the castles futile attemp
at gunnery. The discipline was reall,
| splendid.
The United States cruiser Cincinnati
Captain C. NJ Shester, reported to the
| flagship at midnight: Il have a prize.
The extent and value of the capture made
by the Cincinnati is not known at this
writing.
Moro Castle light. which was burning
brightly all the evening, was put out al
midnight. The Spaniards evidently re-
allied, though rather late, that the sole
use of Morro lights at that time had been
to serve as a guide for the fleet of the
United States.
The capture of the Spanish steamer Pc
dro and the incidents attending on the
souadron's appearance before Havana, al
ready reported briefly in these dispatches
from an intensely interesting initial chap
ter of the history of the war.
About 4:SO p. m. yesterday, when Havana
was fifteen miles distant, the squadron was
signaled into battle formation of double
column, the New York leading the cruis-
ships and the Cincinnati leading the cruis-
ers and gunboats. Just as the evolution
was completed, the following signal was
hoisted on the flagship:
Disregard movements of commander
in-chief."
simultaneously Capt. Chadwick sent
Chief Engineer Mcconnell this message:
"Get UP all the steam you can. A steamer
has been sighted and the admiral wishes
to capture her.
A few moments later smoke was pouring
from all three of the New York's tunnels.
,and she stood away to the southeast. The
SQUADRON, led by the Iowa, continued on its
course in a southwesterly direction.
The New York was soon tearing through
the water at a rapidly increasing speed and
was fast leaving the squadron in the rear.
Away in the distance, close under the
mist-covered hill of Cuba, midway between
Havana and Matanzas, could be seen the
outlines Of a large steamer headed to the
eastward. Then the old cry of "A chase! a
chaser echoed fore and aft, and the Off
GERS and crew of the New York gathered on
her decks, eagerly watching the flagship
churn through the blue water. foaming
white at her stern, until she was making
about IS knots. The admiral paced the for
ward bridge as calmly as if watching po-
tato race.
The New York gained rapidly on the
stranger, until, to the delight or all on
board the cruiser, it was evident that the
latter would cut off the steamer from es-
cape. The crew of the New York by this
time were at their stations and the guns
were loaded and trained. When the Span
ish flag was seen flying at the stranger $
stern, a cry of delight went up from the
blue Jackets on board the New York. 1t
was evident that the Spaniard was doing
her best to get away from the cruiser and
was holding in nearer and nearer to the
coast, hoping to find safety in shallow
water, where the warship would not dare
to follow.
When the Spaniard was about three miles
from shore and about mile from the New
York, an S-inch gun from the cruisers for
ward turret suddenly belched out stream
of fire, followed by a crashing report. 1t
was only meant as a warning shot, but the
steel projectile went richocheting over the
water in dangerous proximity to the fleeing
merchantmen.
The echo of the report had hardly died
away among Cubas hills when the Span
fo,, min 90 a al
New York was near her. In the distance a
few lonely looking houses could be seen
perched on wild-looking beach.
A prize crew, commanded by Lieut. E. E.
Capeheart, and composed of Assistant En-
gineer Neall four marines and boat S
crew, all we'll armed, was lowered over the
side of the cruisers, and amid exultant
cheers from their comrades on board the
New York they pulled over to the Spaniard,
which proved to be the Pedro, of Bilbao
an excellent prize.
Scarcely had the prize crew left the New
York for it's new command before blank
shot was fired from a forward 4-inch gun
of the New York. This was signal for
steamer to the westward to stop. Once
more the New York swiftly cut the dark
waters, and once more her four engines
throbbed as If impelled by the excitement
Of the chase. Then again the 4-inch gun
beloved out its note of warning, this time
hurting across the water steel injunction
as emphasis to the order to heave to. The
stranger soon came to a stop and was
boarded, but great was the disappointment
on board the New York when it was seen
that she was flying the German flag.
Ensign Brumby, who boarded the Ger
man craft, reported that she was tramp
steamer, the Remus, Capt. Schwarner, of
Hamburg, bound from Havana to Santiago
de Cuba, in ballast. The commander of the
Remus said he knew nothing of war hav-
ing been declared by the United States and
Spain, and Ensign Brumby made the usual
apologies. The Remus was then permitted
to proceed, after having had more narrow
escape than falls to the lot of merchantmen.
The sun was setting, casting red, angry
looking rays on the desolate appearing hills
of Cuba, when the New York returned to
the Pedro, took her in tow and proceeded
to rejoin the squadron.
The flagship and her prize were almost
off Moro castle at p. m. and six miles off
shore. The harbor lights of Havana coulS
be plainly seen from the decks of the flag
ship, which during the afternoon had been
stripped for action and showed no lights
at ALL
Ensign Brumby joined Lieutenant Cape
hart on board the Pedro and the prize
sailed for Key West without an escort ct
p. m.
The New York then steamed to the
northwest and eventually picked up the
squadron. In SO doing a serious collision