Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-05-26
DECISIVE ENGAGEMENT.
Ncwey's Brilliant Victory In the Orient to
be Duplicated at Santiago
de Cuba.

KEY WEST, Fla, May 2l.-The pro-
iogue has been spoken and the curtain
is about to rise Ola the first act of the
drama. This is the unwavering opin-
ion of naval men here. Dewey's brill
liant achievement at Manila is re-
garded as IL separate episode. San
Juan is already a memory; and the
sporadic encounters along the Cuban
coast are accepted as merely pre-
liminary skirmishes, tentative rather
than decisive. The meeting of the
two great hostile fleets is the
pivot upon which the situation
turns, and that a few days, perhaps
hours, will bring them together is the
universal view here at the base of
operations. This view is confirmed by
the news that Admiral Cervera's squad
ron has reached Santiago de Cuba.
The intelligence came yesterday, and
if it did not affect the situa-
ton, it was singular coincidence
that activity among our ships was
perceptibly heightened and the work
of coaling and provisioning those in
the harbor was rushed with more than
usual haste. The ships were surrepti-
tiously creeping toward the open sea
as the day dawned and the ranks DINA.
val men ashore were constantly thin
ming until at dusk there was scarcely
one to be seen. The newspaper dis
patch boats have nearly all departed
with particular care not to lose sight
of the United States war ships.
The center of interest again shifts
away from Key West, but whittier, is
the question none can answer. Other.
wise the day has been dull and empty
of action. Some little stir was created
by the discovery of secret chamber
in the hold of the Spanish prize steamer
Argonauta, containing Is cases of am
munition, over 400 Mauser rifles and
other war stores. The find was made
by the United States marshals officers,
and dissipates all doubt as to the Ar
gonauta's status as prize of war.
The Argonauta was taken three
weeks ago by the United States gun.
boat Nashville, off Cienfuegos. On
board were Col. Vicente Cortijo, saio
to be a brother-in-law to Lieut.-Gen.
Valeriano Weyler, and % other Span
ish soldiers now in Fort Mcpherson, as
well as mail matter and dispatches for
Gen. Blanco and other Spanish Off
Gals in Cuba.
The reports that several new Span
ish prizes were brought in yesterday
were unfounded. The only new ar
rival of this character was the barken-
tine Carlos T. Rosas, the story of
whose capture last Tuesday has al
ready been told. She was brought in
here by prize crew and anchored
along with the other prizes.
A Tardy but Valuable Find" on Board tho
ArGonauta.
KEY WEST, Fla, May Glover forty
cases of ammunition were found yes
terday on the Spanish steamer Argo-
nauta, captured during the early days
of the war. 1t was on board this
steamer that Lieut.. Col. Cortiio, Wey-
ler's brother-in-law, was captured,
with other Spanish soldiers.
The discovery of the war supplies on
board the Argonauta will not change
the status of her case before the prize
court; it had already been decided yes
terday, before learning of the find.
that the steamer was legitimately
prize of war, no claims having been
fled by the owners of the ship or
cargo.
A like decision was rendered in the
case of the steamer Ambrosio Bolivar
and the schooners Candidate, Mathilda
and Sophia. The only formality re-
naming to make these vessels the alb
solute property of the United States
is the confirmation by the federal court
authorities of the findings of the prize
commission.