The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-27
Lively Incident Of Cuban
Blockade.
Torpedo Boat Foote Fired on
in Matanzas Harbor.

90 Board the Associated Press Dis.
patch Boat Dauu.lesa, Matausas, Island
of Cuba, via KY West. Fla !.
April 25. 7.42 m-The Uei-
ted S:a.es torpedo boat Foote, Lieut..
W i. Rogers commanding, has the
bono. of haviog been the target for the
shots fred oy the SpaDiards at The
American Gag during the var just be-
guo. The 6riug occurred between 5
and 6 o'clock on Saturday afternoon,
while the torpedo boat vas taking
souodings ir the barbor of Matspzas.
She was witbio 200 or 800 yards of the
shore. Suddenly a Spanish masked
battery on the cas-: side of the barber
and oot very far distant from the Foote,
fred three shots at the topedo boat.
They all went vide of the mark aud
the Foote returned leisurely to the Cio-
cinnati, where she reported the reeult
of her soundings ADD then announced
that che had been fred upon The
Cincinnati vas anxious to steam in 10
stantly aud reduce the Spanish bate
r,es, but shc was not permitted to
do 80
No captures are reported BY the feet
of Ma,apzas 1t is alleged that two
Spanish gunboats we're seen iu shore,
but the report could not be verified
Between 9 and 10 o'clock last night
the Dauntless was s.eauiog qaiteIy to-
wards MataDzas. whose lights gere re-
ascted 90 the sky a few mills south
eastward. A large Ere on shore was
exciting connect on board the dispatch
boat. and wonder vas rife as to where
the Uoited States blockading feet
vas 10 be found Suddenly leok
ou: 90 board the dispatch boat report
Cd. Torpedo boat asteru; coming
up fast"
A moment or SO later. By her lights.
tao red and cce greco. and by recke,
which she sent up, the torpedo boat
Dupont vas made out. The rocket
was answered BY the glare from the
searchiigh,s 90 beard the cruiser Gin.
ciunati, the beams being throwa full o.
the Daun:less and on the Dupont.
The dispatch boat Of the Associated
Press bad cone, una~ares, withio
three miles OF the Cuban shore and far
inside the prescribed limits
The Dauntiess made known her iden-
t;ty aod 5000 a boat from the Cincio.
natl. ir charge of Eosign McIn.y.e.
pulled toward her The papers aud
log Of the DauatIess we're examined
aud found to be satisfactory.
We exchanged news and the Cincio-
aati having ordered the Dauntless to
lay to, permission was requested to re.
turn to Key West. Eosign Men yre
said he would trausmi. the request to
the Ciocinuati.
TIE Ciac;aoati was also Informed
that the Dauntless would cheerful!y
take back any mail In tee miou:es
beat arrived with the message: "Caps.
Ctesser's compliments aud he vii! be
Obliged to you if you will take 10 this
mail You can 60. Advise that you
steam due west six miles when you
make your first course. or ycu may get
ioto mere trouble"
The Instructions we're obeyed liter
ally and the Daun,less set off on her
return. Bsfor: she had gone six oilcs,
We saw torpedo ooa. as:ern, evidently
keeping an eye on Us Tnen ~e saw
the Csuciopa.i's search light sweep
the hor;z,o and soon afterwards we
heard four shots 10 sacoceeiou. Az
they we're pot followed by suy others,
We presumed that some other boa, had
been overhauled. Certainly there was
90 BON bardment OF Masanzas CON
menced a. nighs The Dauntless made
good ruo, the nor;b gale aaving abat-
ed ADD the water being smooth lis the
straits she arrived eff Sand Key light
at 5 o'clock this morning.
On Board the FIagehip New York,
off Habapa, April 25, 10 m--The
early morning hours to dsy were
taken up by vigorous chasing Of
moving lights The only vessels
spoken was the Briiisl, schooner
Iolanthe, of Windsor, N. 8. She
was just out of Matanzas. No shots.
have been fred since yesterday morn
ing on either side.
The torpedo boat Porter made a
daring trip into the shore under
cover of darkness last night, and
Lieut. Fremont. her commander,
landed with q small party and oh
tanned valuable information. The
blockade continues under beautiful
weather conditions
When darkness came on last night,
Moro Castle showed g powerful
searcnlight, and flashed it nervously