The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-25
HONOR WORTH CovETING.

HONOR WORTH COVETING.
To the flagship New York belongs
the honor of firing the first shot that
announced the intention of the United
States to establish the blockade of the
port of Havana The scene of this
opening event of what may prove to
be the prolonged hostilities between
the governments of the United States
and Spain, was just off the coast of
Cuba, at a point about ten miles east
of MORO Castle. The shot was fired
across the bows of the Spanish steamer
Bilboa, outward bound from Havana.
She hove TO Immediately, and in the
course of an hour q. prize crew from
the flagship was in charge of her and
she was on her way to Key West. The
capture of the Pedro occurred at 5
o'clock on Friday afternoon, in view
of the Associated Press dispatch boat
Dauntless, which was the nearest YES
sci to the New York at the time. An
hour before the fleet, with the May
flower and the torpedo boats, was pro-
ceeding alta nine-knot speed from Key
West to the Cuban coast. The vessels
were then about 20 miles north of Ha-
vana. A haze hung over the southern
horizon, and the faintest outline of the
shore could be seen at intervals.
STARTED ALONE.
Suddenly the New York quickened
her speed and went alongside the May
flower and the leading torpedo boat.
She halted a, moment and signaled some
instructions to the remainder of the
fleet, and then drew away from the
others and started alone in a south
westerly direction. Faster and faster
she went, and longer grew the distance
between her and the other ships Black
haY. nd
she appeared to be trying to equal her
22-knot record, made on D1e trial trip.
AT first it was supposed she was MAX
ing for the entrance of Havana harbor,
with the intention of laying outside and
sending boats ashore with some formal
communication to the authorities. pos
sibly giving them "a hours notice of
bombardment
The Dauntless also crowded on steam
and she sped after the New York at
once. After 20 minutes hard run the
remainder of the fleet was left far be-
hind.
OBJECT OF CHASE.
It soon became apparent that the
New York was heading to the eastward
of MORO Castle, and the real object of
her chase became observable against
the dark background of the low hills
on the coast. The lookout in the tops
of her military masts had sighted the
Spanish colors flying from a Spanish
steamer, which had Just left Havana
harbor. Those on board the steamer
must have seen the New York over
hauling them, but they made no pre-
tense of stopping. The continued
for nearly an hour, and by that time
the New York had passed the steamer
and stopped about half a mile off her
port bow. In another moment there
was a puff of smoke from the side of
the New York followed by a short re-
port of six-pounder. The shot passed
over the bows of the steamer and threw
up a great spray when it struck the
water
There was no mistaking its meaning.
The steamer stopped its engines i'm.
mediately and swung around in the
heavy sea which was running The
next move came promptly. A large
whale boat was lowered from the New
York, filed with sailors and marines.
all fully armed and in charge of an
officer. The prize proved to be the
Pedro, of about 1900 TONS She was ap-
parently in ballast or had a light cargo.
The SUI was just sinking below the
horizon when the prize crew from the
New York climbed over the side of the
Pedro, and a few minutes later the
Spanish ensign was hauled down.
CHASING A GERMAN.
While this was Transporting, the out
lines Of another steamer were seen
several miles to the westward. Dusk
was gathering and it was impossible
at that distance to distinguish her ma
tionality; but the New York put out
for her as soon as she had cast loose
the whale boat containing the prize
crew of the Pedro.
The New York then fired another
blank shot of warning TO "heave to"
in the direction of the second vessel
sighted by the flagship, and upon
gaining proper distance, the New York
fired a second shot, this time across
the bows of the second steamer, and
the latter hove to at once.
Upon investigation it was learned
that she was a German steamer that
had just left Havana
NO PRIZE.
Ensign F. H. Brumby, who boarded
the German craft, reported that she
was a tramp steamer, the Remus, Cap
tain Schwarner of Hamburg. bound
from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, in
ballast The commander of the Re-
mus said he knew nothing Of war hav-
ing been declared by the United States
and Spain, and Ensign Brumby made
the usual apology.
The Remus was then permitted to
proceed, after hsYing had a more mar
(Continued on PAGE e.