The evening times., 1898-06-04

New York, June 4-America's best prize
and the first Spanish captives to reach
this port since the beginning Of the war
arrived yesterday. The Panama was the
prize. She belonged, to the Compania
Trasatlantica Espanola, and was taken
by the lighthouse tender Mangrove about
twenty miles from Havana, on April ..
five days after she had left this port for
the Cuban capital She came up in charge
of Lieut. Craven, of the cruiser Cincin-
natl. who had under him a detachment
of marines from the same warship.
American colors were flying over her
taffrail, but on each quarter aft were the
words Panama of Barcelona" The
name also appeared on either side Of the
bow She came to anchor on Tompkins-
Vile, S. l., not far from the fleet scout
ing cruiser st. Paul.
This vessel was sent here from Key
West SO that she may realize better
price when she is put up for sale. 1t was
reported that the agents Of the line In
this city, ]. M. Ceballos Co., would
buy her, but nothing could be learned on
this subject upon inquiry at the offices.
No. q William Street.
Lieut.. Craven will formally transfer
her to the United States marshal today.
He will conduct the proceedings for her
sale The Panama's cargo, consisting OF
a great quantity of supplies for Havana.
has been released and was brought here
on the condemned vessel. 1t will be dis
tributed among the shippers. 1t is valued
at $4,000.
reporter went alongside the Panama
last evening. but Lieut.. Craven shouted
that he must refuse all information, un-
der orders.
Officers. passengers and most of the
crew of the Panama are detained at Key
West as prisoners of war.
The Panama is of iron and of 2.0S5 tons
gross. She is 331 feet long, with beam
of "a feet and a depth of "a feet. She was
built in Glasgow in 1875. Her value is es-
timated by her agents at 100000.
Lieut.. Commander Everett and the
twelve men under him on the Mangrove
will share in the prize money, as will the
crew of the battleship Indiana, which was
three niles away at the time of the cap
ture. ready to open on the Panama should
she succeed in eluding the Mangrove.
The Clyde line steamship Seminole
brought from Charleston. S. c., thirty
members of the crew and seven passen-
gers of The steamship Rita, which was
captured OF San Juan. Porto Rico. on
May S. by the auxiliary cruiser Yale.
Those people are here in charge of United
States Marshal Lawson d. Melton. of
Charleston County. South Carolina.
Among them was one woman. who was
| on her way with three children to join
| her husband, wealthy planter of Porto
Rico. when the steamship was caught.
She is Sonora Sara Fernandez. of Mendez.
Her three children are Antonio. Joaquin
| and Jesus. ten, seven and one year old,
respectively The other two passengers
were Master Legarza, fifteen years old
and Manuel Martis. seventeen years old
They were going to San Juan to find
work.
The officers Of the Rita brought here on
the Seminole. are Don Pedro Ceniga, cap
tain; Don Juan Domfngi. first officer; Don
Felix Pineda, second officer; Don Maria
no Santa Maria. chief engineer: Don Luis
San Martin, third engineer; Manuel Pc
rez, cadet; Roman Ansuiza boatswain;
Luis Bilboa. purser; Generoso Uriarte,
steward; Andres Euba, cook, and Mar
zelino lzpizua. carpenter.
Although grieving over the loss Of the
vessel and chatting at their restraint and
change of plans. officers, crew and pas
sengers all declared the treatment they
had received since their capture was all
that could be desired. They went from
the Seminole's pier at the foot Of Roose-
welt Street. East River. to boarding
house No. IA Greenwich Street last even
ing. They were formally turned over to
the care of the Austrian consulate. which
Is looking out for Spain's interests here.
Marshal Melton's jurisdiction over them
has ceased. Most of them will sail for
Europe next week.
Capt Ceniga felt the loss of his ship
keenly. He has commanded her for eight
years. He said his vessel left Corunna on
April 16. so that he had no knowledge of
state of war existing. He was hove to
by several shots from the Yale while try
ing to make the harbor of San Juan de
Porto Rico, and learned then that hos
tilities had actually begun.