The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-01
FIRE ON THE NETWORK
Spanish Cavalry Make a
Novel Attack.
THE OFFICERS AMUSED
NEW YORK PLACES FEW
SHOTS At THEM.
WHICH CAUSED THEM TO SCATTER
The Torpedo Boat Porter Fired on by the To-
imai Bnttery, but Escaped I'm
scratched--The OauntIeSs Gets
a Scare by The Fleet.
a Scare by The Fleet.

Copyrighted 1898 by the Associated
Press)
On hoard the Flagship New YORK,
April 29.-11 a. M, via Key west, fla.'
April 3o.-The blockade continues as be-
fore. The flagship lies to the westward
81 Havana.
The torpedo boat Porter while close III
TO shore last night reported having been
fred upon by the Coiimar Battery, which
is to the eastward of MORO Castle. Tho
plucky little Porter escaped pnscathed.
The coast of Cuba is being carefully
patrolled by the Spanish cavalry.
Captain TAYLOR. of the Indiana, came
ON board the flagship to-day and had q
long consultation with Rear Admiral
Sampson.
News Of the movements of the Uni
ted States army is eagerly awaited by
the fleet. and there is much speculation
as TO when the troops will be ready.
While the Dauntless the dispatch boat
of the Associated Press, was making
her way from Key West early this
morning she was sighted by the flagship.
The lookouts on the New York were
unable to make out her identity. OWING
10 the mist and the distance which sepa-
rated her from the flagship, and four
inch shell was fired in her direction. 1t
was not aimed at the Dauntless but was
only sent near enough to make her heave
to. The Dauntless, thinking she was
being fired ut by Spaniard, promptly
put about and steamed away. Then she
was recognized, and a few minutes later
the recognition became mutual and the
Dauntless ran alongside the New York
Later she proceeded to Matanzas.
Learning that mines and earthworkS
were being placed and built at Marel
in the province of Pinar del Rio not fan
from Havana. the flagship moved in thai
direction. accompanied by three torpedo
boats. but there was no sign of move
ment ut Mariel. and the flagship pro
ceeded to n point twenty-five miles west
OF Havana. and about ten miles beyonj
Mariel. There suspicious movements
were observed ashore, probably work or
Notifications. Consequently the flagship
fired three shots in that direction from
one of her big guns. The frng. how.
ever. brought no response and the flag
ship returned to her station.
strict watch against torpedo boat
attack is being kent on board the flag.
ship. All the available officers take deck
watches at night, including the Chap
lain. Paymaster's Clerk and the Assis-
tant Surgeon.
The small craft captured by the vii
mington yesterday was only taken TO
Key West because her crew were mem
bers Of the Second Spanish Naval Re
serves. 1t was thought also that they
might be members of the crew of one
of the torDedo gun boats for which yes
sci q very sharp lookout is being kent.
The full details of the Cabanas affair
are that the New York was lying quiet
~ outside the picturesque harbor of
1abanas. about two miles off shore. m
, inspecting trip of the coast having just
been completed. The flagship was ac.
companied by the torpedo boats Porter
and Ericsson. A return to the station Of
MORO Castle, Havana. was contem.
plated. the band was playing its usual
dinner music. when from a hill to the
eastward of Cabanas harbor. came the
sound of yolley firing. 1t was plainly a
small arms attack, though no smoke was
seen. The enemy was thought to be
hidden close to the beach. and in front
of ruined white building, which
sloped as if it had once been the hacien.
da of a tobacco plantation Now and
again individual firing was heard. and
well regulated yolleys continued at in
teryals. 1t was conjectured that one
troop of cavalry, dismounted. was doing
the firing. The officers of the flagship
stood on her deck trying to ascertain
definitely the exact location of the enemy
more amused than annoyed at this novel
method of attacking an armored cruiser
However. Rear Admiral Sampson AND
Captain Chadwick decided that the les
son taught at Matanzas must be taught
again at Cabanas.
Man the port battery" was the order
Al Il few minutes past 6 o'clock the
TOUR inch guns in the after port battery
sent II shot flying over the water into
Cuba soil, raising n little cloud Of dust
about one hundred yards Of tho
hacienda, and just above where
the Spanish Cavalry stood. BE
fore the hills. growing dim in the evening
mist, had ceased echoing and reverberat
ing the first report. the other four incl
gun III the after battery had landed ii
proJcctile. a few more shots from thi,
battery were fired, but the ground wa.
evidently damp. no dust arose, and i
was hard to tell where the shell fell
They were fired at 3,400 yards range
The Spaniards were not heard from
after the first shot.
The New York then turned her bow
eastward. The target practice was an
parently over for the evening. Her star
board batteries now bore on the coast.
\ moment or so later Captain Chad
wick saw the Spanish Cavalry, thel
mounted. ascending a hillside towar
the hacienda and he personally traine,
n four inch gun and planted two shots
the second one Pumping right amon
the Spaniards, who scattered in all di
rections.
The New York then steamed ahead to
ward MORO Castle, and the band of tn
flagship continued its musical pre-
gramlne.
Most Of the crew were on deck watch