The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-04-27
Lively incidents Ct Cuban B.o:k2ds
TORPEDO Boat Fuote Fired on in
Matepzas HabOr.

Daring Enterprise OF Porter-Landed
Party at Night, Which Obtained
Valuable Iuformation-Press Boat
Chased by Virgilant Watchers.
Columbia Stae April 2G.
On Board the Assotiated Pre-
Dispatch Boat Dauntless, Matauzas,
Island of Cuba, via Key West. Fla g.,
April 25, 7:42 a. m.-The United
States torpedo boat Foote, Lieut.. ".
L. Rodgers commanding, has the
honor of having been the target for
the first shots 6rcd by the Spauiard'
at the American flag during the war
just begun. The firing occurred be-
tween and 6 o'clock on Saturday
afternoon, while the torpedo boat
was taking souudings in the han Dor
of Matanzas. She was within 200
or 800 yards of the shore. Suddenly
a Spanish masked battery on the
east side Of the balbor and not very
far distant from the Foote, fired
three shots at the torpedo boat
They all went wide of the mark and
the Foote returned leisurely to the
: Cincinnati, where she reported the
result of her soundings and then
announced that she had been fred
upon. Tie Cincinnati was anxious
to steam in instantly and reduce
the Spanish batteries, but she was
not permitted to do so.
No captures are reported by tie
feet off Matanzas. 1t is alleged that
two Spanish gunboats were seen in
shore, but the report could not lie
verified.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock last
night the Dauntless was steaming
quietly towards Matanzas, whose
lights were reflected on the sky few
miles southeastward. A large fire
on shore was exciting comment on
board the dispatch boat, and wonder
was rife as to where the United
States blockading fleet was to he
found, suddenly lookout on boar d
the dispatch boat reported: "Torpeco
boat asterp; coming up fast"
A moment or so later, by her
lights, two red and one green, and
by rocket which she sent up, the
torpedo boat Dupont was made out.
The rocket was answered by the
glare from the searchlights on board
the cruiser Cincinnati, the beams
being thrown full on the Dauntless
and on the Dupont. The dispatch
boat of The Associated Press had
come, unawares, within three miles
of the Cuban shore and far inside
the prescribed limits.
The dauntless made known hel
idenity and soon a boat from the
Cincinnati, in charge Of Ensigl
Mcintyre, pulled toward her. The
papers and log of the Dauntles:
were examined and found to be
satisfactory.
We exchanged news and the Cin
cinnati having ordered the Dlunt
less to lay to, permission was request
ed to return to Key West. Eusigl
Mcintyre said he would transmit thE
request to the Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati was also INFORMED
that the Dluntless would cEeelfull.
take back any mail. 10 ten minute
a boat arrived with the message
"Capt. Chester's compliments and b
will be obliged to you if you viii
take in this mil. You can 60
Advise that you steam due west 81!
miles when your make youy fir.
course, or you may get into NOR
trouble"
The instructions were obeyed liter
ally and the Dauntless set off on be
return. Before she had gone 81:
miles, we saw a torpedo boat astern
evidently keeping an eye on us
Then We saw the Cincinnati's searcl
light sweep the horizon and soo1
afterwards we heard four shots il
succession. CAS- they were not fol
lowed by any others, we presume
that some other boat had been over
hauled. Certainly there was n
bombardment of Matanzas commen
ced at night. The Dauntless mad
good run, the north gale havini
abated and the water being smootl
in the straits she arrived off Sane
Key light at 5 o'clock this morning.
On board the Flag ship New York
off Habana, April 25, 10 a. m --Th
early morning hours today wer
| tol,on IN NV a yiporOuS chaSinp n