Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-05-07

CAPTURED AND RELEASED.
CONTINUED from page ID

| municate with the state department..
This was done and permission was
granted to the steamer to enter and
discharge her passengers and cargo,
with the understanding that she wouIl
| take on nothing there. Instructions
| for the fulfillment of this agreement
| were sent from Washington to Admi-
raj SIMPSONS squadron, and it was on
| ly learned, today, after the capture was
made, that they were never delivered
| This afternoon, United States Com
| missioner Otto, United States District
Attorney Stripping and number Of
| other federal officials, went out to the
Lafayette, examined her papers and
cabed the state department for in
struclions. These came without delay
in the form of an order to Commodore
| Watson.
| or the 16S passengers on board the
Lafayette, IS are for Havana nearly all
are going to Cuba to engage in mercan-
tile pursuits. When surprise was dis
played that such was their mission at
| It's time, they merely shrugged their
| shoulders and VouchsafeG no further
| explanation.
one Cuban was aboard who was re-
turning to join the insurgent army.
He was banished from the island seven
months ago. but came within the terms
| of Gen. Blancn's armisticc just before
the war began He was overjoyed
when told that he would he taken with
the regular United States troops when
they moved. The local Junta took him
in charge ana tie leaves for Tampa to-
night
The United States authorities who
examined the Lafayette, today say
that. 50 far as the ships manifest
shows, sho carries no contraband of
war but with such an immense cargo Il
was impossible to make thorough IN
spection. They saw nothing IN the n4-
ture Of arms or ammunition on board
Hen release constitutes the frs; on
cial act of Commodore Watson in his
new command Of this division Of Al
mral SampSons fleet He arrived oa
tn olIivetto. today. ana immedatel.
went on board the cruiser Cincinnati.
whore he hpisted his flag This after
noon, the ships in the harbor doomed
q commodore's salute Of IL guns.
This customary al; Of courtesy to j +.
new commanding officer had distress
ingcffect on ,he Lafayettc's passengers /
The federal officers were dining vita
Capt Chap!ela al the time and sudden
ly found themselves in the midst of 4
panic. The Spaniards yelled that tha /
enemy had opened fire and they scam
pered about the decks to find places of /
shelter. Some Of them burst fIanti- /
cally into the captains cabin, where
was at dinner with his visitors and |
begged the Americans to save their
lives.
one Mexican woman, wife Of a Span /
lard, who was seized with apasms I
when the Annapolis held up the Lafay- !
cite, yesterday. duplicated the per
formance when the salute was fired /
and for some time it was feared her life |
was in danger
Commodore Remey arrived on the .
Mascotte, this afternoon. While moth I
ing official can he learned as to whether /
he will take command of the second |
division of the fleet. it is said on good |
authority that his assignment is to as
sumo control of the naval station her" /
Companies a and G Of the 25th In \
fantry (colorcd) did not go to the Tor I
tugas, last evening. as was expected /
but viii leave. tonight. to join the other |
troops at Tampa.
Reports from the blockade line to-
day. are that the situation is unchang- /
ed. The smaller cruisers are stil lined I
up, with the gunboat Annapolis acting
as flagship.