The Portland daily press., 1898-04-25

blank shot was fired from a forward
four inch gun of the New York This was
signal for steamer to the westward to
stop. The latter was scurrying away ms
fast as wind and water would let her.
Once more the New York swiftly cut the
dark waters, churning into foam at her
stern, and once more her four engines
throbbed as if impellsd by the excitement
of the chase.
Then again the four inch gun beloved
out its note of warning, this time hurting
across the water steel injunction as en-
phasis to the order to heave to. The
second strange steamer soon came to a
rstandstill and was boarded, but great as
was the disappointment on board the
New Yol k, when she saw that she was
flying the German flag.
4 Ensign +. Brumby, who boarded the
German ship, reported that she was a
tramp steamer, the Remus, Captain
Schwarner of Hamburg. bound from
Havana to Santiago de Cuba, in ballast
The commander of the Remus said he
knew nothing of war having been begun
between the United States and Spain,
and Ensign Brumby made the usual
apologies. The Remus was then allowed
to proceed after having had a more mar
row escape than usually falls to the lot OF
a merchantmen. AS the sun was setting
casting red, angry looking rays on the
desolate hills OF Cuba, the New York re-
turned to the Pedro, took her in tow and
proceeded to rejoin the squadron The
flagship and her prize were almost off
six miles Oft shore. The harbor lights of
Havana could be seen plainly from the
bridge of the flagship, which during the
afternoon, had been stripped for action
and showed no lights at all. Ensign
Brumby joined the crew on board the
Pedro and the prize sailed for Key West
without an escort at 8 q. m.
The New York then steamed to the
northwest and eventually picked up the
squadron. In SO doing collision was
narrowly averted. A newspaper dispatch
boat, the Anita, unable to distinguish
the flagship in the darkness, attempted to
cross ner bows. The New York was then
under good Roadway, and to the CORE
spondent of the Associated Press, who
was on the bridge, it seemed :, impossible
to. stop the New York, in time. With
great presence of mind Ensign Eide, the
officer of the watch, signalled to reverse
the engines and had the helm put hard to
port, at the same time blowing the signal
to close the water tight bulkheads The
Anita, however, slipped past the New
York's ram, with about twenty yards to
spare, thanks to the cool Judgment and
prompt action of Ensign Edie. By nine
wick had turned in for much needed
rest. They slept in the chart room, in
stead Of in their comfortable cabins.
The Admiral said to the correspondent,
previously: II shall not report the
blockade to the Secretary of the Navy un-
til it is thoroughly established. This, it
is likely. will be tomorrow
= The Admiral's piucky dash with the
New York almost on to the Cuban beach
and it's satisfactory termination, have
gained new laurels for him, with his al
ready enthusiastic devoted command,
During the concluding features of the
boarding OF the Peoro and the Remus,
the rest of the United States squadron
had disappeared from view, and there
was no one to dispute the honor, with the
New York, of the first capture III Cuban
waters. A newspaper boat followed her,
but was left far behind in the race. The
Dauntless, dispatch boat of the Associated
Press was the first to arrive on the scene
Of action. She came up just as the prize
crew of the Pedro was embarking on
board that steamer.
The entire plan of action here, is
fraught with danger, not so much from
the Spanish guns as from the difficulties
Of manoeuvering large squadron at
night without showing any lights to the
enemy on shore.
Speculation is rife as to what the
Spaniards are doing. and as to what they
intend to do. 1t is not believed Admiral
Sampson will contne himself entirely to
Q blockade of the island, although he in
formed the correspondent that.s::he did
not expect any action to occur in the i'm
mediate future.
1t is certain, however, that some move
ment will be made on Matanzas probably
tomorrow. Whether this will be simply
in the nature of a blockade or for the pur-
pose of securing base of supplies cannot
yet be ascertained with any degree of as.
surance.