The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-26
No Vessels Permitted to Enter Havana
HarbOr and None Allowed to
Leave without Examination.
FIRE OPENED At MATANZAS
THREE SHOTS FROM MASKED BAT
Terry AT TORPEDO BOAT FOOTE.
scenes and Incidents of the Blockade,
to the Island Probably Tapped.
Copyright. 1898. BY the Associated press..>

Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press)
ON BOARD THE FLAGSHIP NEW
YORK, off Havana, April 25, 10 a. m.-The
early morning hours to-day were taken up
by vigorous chasing of moving lights. The
only vessel spoken was the British schoon-
er Iolanthe, of Windsor, Nova Scotia She
was allowed to proceed. She was just out of
Matanzas. No shots have been fired since
yesterday morning on either side.
The Dolphin and the converted yacht
Eagle arrived from Key West this morning.
The Dolphin carried the officers and prize
crews who had been placed on the steamer
Pedro and the schooner Antonio. All were
glad to get back, although they said they
had had no trouble with their prizes.
The torpedo boat Porter made daring
trip into the shore under cover of dark
ness last night and Lieut.. Fremont, her
commander. landed with a small party and
obtained valuable information. The block
ade continues under beautiful weather con-
ditions.
The flagship returned to the blockade line
about $50 o'clock last evening after an
uneventful trip. Nothing of Importance ap-
parently had occurred during her absence.
When darkness came on last night Moro
flashed it nervously around the horizon.
Another searchlight also was seen. 1t
looked to be from the direction of the
Santa Clara batteries to the westward Of
Ell Moro. The searchlight itself could not
be distinguished, only it's rays being Wis
ible. This is due either to the extremely
low position OF the light or to it's distance
from the blockade line. The Morro light
is placed higher and is an excellent light.
Last night was the first time these search
lights have been used. What benefit they
will be to the Spaniards no one knows.
They may possibly induce the batteries to
expend some more ammunition in futile
shots at the squadron, but the blockade
continues as before, searchlights or no
searchlights, as, of course, they do not
reach far enough to show our ships.
If any ships run the blockade they will
have to run gauntlet of vigilance that
Has never UeRn surpassed. IH6 dl6rLneSS OF
the officers and men continues at the same
pitch as was exhibited the first night the
squadron arrived. Admiral Sampson is more
handicapped in his blockade than were the
naval commanders during the civil war. In
many cases they were able to anchor, while
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet is obliged to drift
around in two-knot current, with no sta
tionary shore lights for a guide. 1t is be-
lieved that every steamer which has at
tempted to enter Havana since the blockade
began has been captured
One of the sights of yesterday was the
handling of the torpedo boat Gushing by
Naval Cadet Boyd, the only survivor of the
Maine with the fleet Lieutenant Gleaves,
commander Of the Gushing, spent the better
part of the day out on the flagship. During
his absence Cadet Boyd handled the Cush-
ing with a dash and skill that was remark
able, considering the fact that he was as
signed to her only yesterday and had never
handled torpedo boat before, and all this
in sight of Moro Castle, in the shadow of
which lies what is left of Cadet Boyds
old ship, the Maine.