The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-04-27
THE MANCROVES PRIZE.
The Little Lighthouse Tender Cap
lures a Big Ocean Steamer.
TIE BIGGEST PRIZE YET TAKEN.
The Captive Is the Panama, an Auxiliary
Cruiser Of the Spanish Navy, and Though
She Carries Big Guns, No Resistance
Was Made,

Key West. Fla, April 27.-The light
house tender Mangrove, the kaby of the
navy, puffed proudly into Key West
harbor yesterday with the richest prize
Of the war thus far, a vessel four times
her size trailing in her wake. The
captive was the Panama, Captain
Quevedo, big transatlantic liner, and
an auxiliary cruiser of the Spanish
navy, which has been plying of late
between New York and Havana. She
had 20 passengers, including three wo-
men, one Frenchmen and one Mexican,
and a crew Of 70. AS the Panama car
|, ried two 10 Founders, she could easily
have annihilated the little Mangrove,
and as the latter came into harbor with
her prize there was not craft but
saluted her with rousing cheers.
The Mangrove, under Lieutenant
Commander William H. Everett, was
cruising along the Cuban coast, navi-
gated by Ensign Palmer Monday even
Ing. about 20 miles north Of Havana. At
b:45 p. m. she sighted the Panama. The
only other ship Of the fleet in sight was
the battleship Indiana, three miles to
the rear. Lieutenant Commander
Everett scented prize and scudded
toward the stranger. When the latter
came within range a shot from the
Mangrove's IL FOUNDER was sent across
her bows but the spaniard ignored the
challenge and went on. Another shot
followed without result, but the Man.
grove was drawing nearer the stranger,
who calmly proceeded on her course,
apparently without any intention Of
running away
When the third shot was fired the
Mangrove was within hundred yards
Of the Panama, and Lieutenant Com
monder Everett shouted to the deck
officer that If she did not surrender he
would sink her. The Mangrove's Of
ficers admit that they expected the
enemy's u FOUNDER to open on them in
response to the threat, but the Span
lard promptly came to. Ensign Day
ton. the senior officer of the Mangrove,
boarded the prize. Rear Admiral samp-
son ordered Lieutenant Commander
Everett to convoy the prize to Key
West.
The Panama Is of about $500 tons
burden, and her passengers were main
ly Spanish refugees fleeing from New
York and other points in the United
States to Havana. Captain Quevedo
was grief stricken and greatly humili-
ated because Of the capture. The pas
sengers declare they knew nothing of
the blockade, and that when they saw
the searchlight Of the Mangrove they
thought 1t was the light of Spanish
man -of-war. The first shot changed
their joy to apprehension, the second
and third created panic. The women
ran screaming for shelter from the
enemy's guns, and the captain locked
himself sullenly in his cabin.
The Panama carries valuable cargo
Of general merchandise, including a
large quantity Of corn. Much Of it was
meant to provision the suffering Span
iards in Cuba, and the cargo, with the
ship itself, undoubtedly makes the
richest prize thus far taken. Under the
regulations, however, the battleship
Indiana will share in the prize money,
as she was In sight when the capture
was made.
This makes five steamers thus far
captured, In addition to a number of
schooners and small craft. The gum
boat Newport brought in two Spanish
coasting vessels yesterady-the sloop
Paquette and the schooner Piereneo.
The torpedo boat Porter has arrived |
from off the Cuban coast, and reports |
that the position Of the blockade con-
Linues unchanged. There has been no
firing on either side.
The United States cruiser Cincinnati
captured Lieutenant Pedro
of the Spanish army, who
was returning to his family on small
'loop Lieutenant Fernandez is detain-
ID on the flagship.
The news from Matanzas, Cardenas
md Mariel Is meager, but It indicates
hat the blockade has been firmly es-
ablished at those ports. The torpedo
,oat Foote is reported as having been
airly on the Matanzas batteries, but
hus far not a single casualty of any
lind in the fleet has been heard of on
he flagship.