The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-09
THE BLOCKADE INTACT.
Cincinnati Not Wrecked, and Havana
Still Tightly Locked Up.

KEY WEST, Fla. May S.-There is no
foundation for Captain General Blanco S
dispatch to Madrid as to the United States
cruiser Cincinnati being wrecked off Cuba
and the wreckage drifting ashore. She has
been lying here several days, and nothing
is wrong with her.
Cuba is still locked out by Uncle Sam s
steel fence. Two nations are still vis-a-vis,
cycling each other stealthily, waiting for the
unknown. On one side is an island full of
hot and chatting Spaniards, who occasion
ally eXpend their wrath in few futile
shots toward the enemy only to be beaten
back like fractions children; on the other
side a weary lot of naval men longing to
open their guns and show the bad children
what punishment awaits their incorrigi-
bility. These little angry outbursts, such
as occurred at Matanzas the other day and
at Havana yesterday, are all that offer d.
version to the blockaders, except the chase
of a few bold fishing schooners.
The Zest which accompanied the capture
Of the big steamers during the first days
of the war has vanished, now that the
blockade is an established fact. The only
ships worth taking are wise enough to keep
shy of the fleet Petty prizes are still taken,
however, and three came in to-day. They
surrendered too easily to make their cap
ture interesting. They were the brigan-
tine Lorenzo, taken by the Montgomery
near Havana on Friday while bound from
Rio de la Plata with cargo OF dried beef.
Ensign Osborne and a prize crew brought
her in. Curiously enough, an American was
among those made prisoners. Seaman Scott,
of the Baltimore, was "shanghaied" by the
Spaniards' crew at Buenos' Ayres, and he
was glad to get back into American hands,
even as prisoner. He was in the Confed-
crate army during the civil war.
The Espana, a little fishing sloop, was
taken by the Morrill, about three miles off
Mariel just after yesterdays sharp Havana
engagement.
The Newport was close at hand at the
time, and a prize crew made up from both
ships brought the capture in to-day.
The third vessel taken was the schooner
Padre de Dios, Master Mato Herrera, laden
with fish. She was taken by the Newport
off Mariel yesterday and was brought in by
a petty officer and a prize crew All three
accepted one blank shot apiece as sufflclent.
There has been a good deal of excitement
here to-day over the adventures OF the Nor
rill and the Vicksburg under fire at Havana
yesterday. The story was not generally
known until to-day but the luck Of the
American ships. the first actually hit by
the enemy's shot and shell, was source of
great congratulation, inasmuch as good
gunnery might have blown them off the
seas. The incident is taken as strong ar
gument in favor of bombarding Cuban bat
teries to destruction without further delay
and its consequent risk TO our fleet.
Considerable indignation Is expressed here
over the story lately sent North of yellow
fever on the Nashville contracted from the
Spanish prize Arganauta. The captain and
officers of the ship. as well as Commandant
Forsythe. OF the naval station; brand it in
unfaeasured terms as false and cruel
interesting details are being added TO the
story OF the entrance OF the French frigate
DuipSo.rsleu into Havana YESTERDAY II is
sald t'st after the feet released ner she
wa. was c sest transmitting Telegraph signals TO