The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-03

| solid shot was fired across her ho~rs.
About 8 o'clock l went out with a
| prize crew and took possession without
protest. The captain talked frankly.
saying that he was bound for SANTA
go. though he had sailed from Car
din on April 2ist for San Juan This
was before the declaration OF war was
received. At San Juan. he was ordered
To proceed To Curacao and from the
latter place to Santiago de Cuba.
There never was any possibility OF
her escaping from the st. Paul. as her
best speed was only eight knots. She
was leaking badly and her boilers
were out OF order. In fact. according
10 her captains account, She had been
leaking for twenty days because OF a
sprung plate and the leakage was in
| creasing.
The capture was made less than four
miles from Moro castle. but the fnrts
were silent and perhaps asleep. like
the San Juan Qualifications when Ad-
miral sampson began his attack. The
only exciting part of the adventure
came after we left Santiago FOR Key
West. The leak grew worse constant
~ and all hands manned the three
| pumps night and day, crew. marines
and officers. | have not taken of my
shoes or been in bed since We started.
nNe lays ago. AT times We were about
to give Up hope OF keeping the Res
tormel atioat and thought OF saving
| OURSELVES II Slt went We were
all very glad when Key West was
sighted. The story that three Spanish
officers were board the ship Is false.
but there is no resisting the conclusion
that the Restormel's coal was intended
for the Spanish fleet, for the captain
told a perfectly straightforward story
about his voyage"
When the Restormel arrived here il
was believed it would be necessary t.
beach her, to take out her coal on
lighters. then repair the leak and raise
her, but later ii was practically de-
cided to tow her To the government
dock and unload the cargo there.
Interesting light is thrown on Ad-
miral Cervera's plans by the log OF the
RestOrmel. She sailed for san Juan
de Porto Rico. where the Spaniards
expected to coal. San Juan being
deemed unsafe. Curacao was selected.
but the collier failed to connect with
the fleet there and was ordered 10
Santiago. Owing TO her leak she did
not reach Santiago. the SpaniardS re-
manned in port short OF coal and 50
were Caugh
Madrid. May 3O.-1l p. m.-An official
dispatch from Havana says that two
American correspondents from Key
West, named Widan and Robinson
probably Mr.. Phil. ROBINSON have
been arrested near Matanzas.
S~PANIARDS BUYING CORN NEAL.
Kingston, Jamaica. May 80 p. IN.
The Cuban coasting steamer Purisi-
ma Conception has arrived here from
ManZanillo, with n Spanish commits
sairiat officer in disguise. seeking sup
l plies. One hundred tons OF
were bought today and the American
squadron and the colonial authorities
have been warned.
Key West. May 3l.-2:05 "A. M
Messrs. Phil. Robinson and II. j.
| TN III
known newspaper correspondents. left
Key West Thursday last on a steamer
bound for the Cuban shore. on Sat
friday. when some miles OF shore. at
a convenient spot, they were lowered
overheard in a small boat. rowing
themselves ashore. With the aid of a
glass is was seen from the steamer
that they made a safe landing. Their
intention was to get TO Havana.
Mr.. Robinson Is an experienced
English war correspondent and Mr..
Whigham is the well known amateu
golf player.
Probably Messrs. Robinson and
Whigham are referred to In the dis
patch from Madrid TO the Associated
Press, dated May Both, announcing
that an official dispatch had been re-
ceived there from Havana saying that
two American correspondents named
Robinson and Widan had been arrest
ed G MatanZas.
WATCHING FOR THE SPANIARDS.
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Dandy, of Santiago de
Cuba, May 28th, via Kingston, Jamai-
ca, May 30th.-Commodore Schley's
squadron il doggedly patrolling the
waters in this vicinity. waiting 70
strike the Spanish feet. which Ameri-
cans confidently believe Is lying under
the protection OF the harbor batteries.
The American squadron now here con
sists OF the Brooklyn. Massachusetts.
Texas, Iowa, Minneapolis. Marblehead.
auxiliary cruisers st. Paul. Harvard
Yale. the gunboat Vixen and one col
lier
Cape Haytien. May 30.-9:35 p. M
No news from Cuba or the feet has
been received here today. The report
that a battle had taken place on San
tiago is denied by way OF Paris.
THE RESTORMEL LIBELED.
Key West. May 30.-s:l5 p. m.-The
prize commissioners have been busy
all day taking testimony in the Res
tormel case. and as a result Of the
hearing the ship and cargo have been
libeled and will go before the court In
the same form as the other prize case.