The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-02

How the Capture Of the Pannma by
the Mansrove Is viewed.

How he Capture Of the N By
h MangrOve Is viewed.
Stan Correspondence of the Associated Press.
KEY WEST, Fla, April 26.4-The capture
of the Spanish steamer Panama by the lit
tie gunboat Mangrove was an act OF sublime
impudence. 1t was like a schooIboy with
a potato gun demanding the surrender Of a
Sioux chief armed with a repeating Win
chester. The Panama is by all odds the
most valuable prize so far captured. She
is valued at something like 500. 600. and with
her extensive cargo of supplies would have
been of inestimable value to the Spanish
forces had she escaped the vigilance Of the
federal gunboats for one hours run or
more and reached Havana harbor. She is
a 6,00-ton craft and has two fourteen-pound
rapid-firing guns. She Is an auxiliary
cruiser Of the Spanish navy and ought to
be able to take care of herself with any
ordinary enemy, yet without the show of
resistance she meekly submitted to the
Mangrove, which is little more than a har-
Dor tug and has only two s~ix-pounder guns.
Until recently the Mangrove, was a light
house tender.
When the big Spanish steamer was
brought into Key West to-day by the little
boat it was a sight to provoke cheers Of
ANA LIN A0lAQLGuS IL americans
and Cubans who swarmed the waterfront.
The Spaniard lowered high above her little
captor, reminding one of a huge black
mastif side by side with a puny sky ter
rier. She had a crew OF about seventy
five and a number of passengers, but not a
Spanish face was to be seen on her decks
as she came into the harbor. A member
Of the Mangrove's crew who boarded her
after the capture stated to the correspond
ent that 1t was with considerable difficulty
they prevented several of the Spaniards
from jumping overheard after the marines
boarded her. This has been the case with
nearly all the Spanish vessels captured, and
especially with the smaller sailing craft.
When. the Spaniards find they are caught
they fall upon their knees and pray to have
their lives preserved. That is all they ask
for at the hands Of their captors-that their
lives will be spared. They seem to expect
that they, are to be butchered the moment
The Panama left New York April % with
q heavy cargo of supplies for the Spanish
Of the blockade until she sighted the
United States war ships yesterday. She
was captured at 6 o'clock in the afternoon
about ten miles out from Havana while at
tempting to steal into the harbor unno-
ticed. Her arrival had been expected for
several days, and she had been watched
for by the large cruisers, but the little
Mangrove was the first to sight her creep
ing along the coast. The little gunboat
was put AFTER ner post naSIo ana the Dig
steamer crowded her boilers and engines
to their utmost to get out of the way.
About six miles distant was the Indiana,
which, seeing the chase, steamed rapidly
to the assistance of the Mangrove, but did
not reach her in time to participate in the
actual capture. When the Mangrove came
within half a mile of the Panama she fired
a shot from her starboard gun, but the big
ship paid no attention to it. Then she fired
another from the same gun, and a few
moments later a shot from her port gun.
The last shot Kissed over the bow Of the
Panama and she at once hove to. BY this
time the Indiana had come up, and crews
from both the Mangrove and Indiana were
sent aboard the Spanish steamer. There
were several women among the passengers,
and they were greatly alarmed. They were
assured by the American officers that no
harm would come to them. The passengers
and crew are obliged to remain on board the
ship until the United States authorities de-
termine what to do with them.
In the case of capture the crews of each
of the Spanish vessels have been treated
with the utmost kindness and consideration.
They have not as yet been given their free
dom. They are obliged to remain on their
ships under guard Of naval officers, but none
of them has been imprisoned or subject to
hardships Of any kind. Several small pas
senger steamers have been captured near
Havana and allowed to go when it was
found that a large number of the passen-
gers were women and children and that
the cargoes were of no account.