Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18
JOURNALISTIC CURIOSITIES,
The Newspapers of Havana Show
Some Ludicrous Items.


Some LudicrOus Items.
From the New York Herald
There IS not a little rare and curious
reading to be found in the occasional cop
les OF the Havana newspapers that now
and then dribble through the blockade
Copies of La Lucha recently received, but
already many days old, are particularly
rich in oddities OF Havana journalism.
One is Immediately struck by the marvel
Gus meagerness of the news relating to the
war. but for this the censor is doubtless
largely responsible The only reference to
the blockade in one number is a three-line
official notice that only two America n
ships are in sight off the port of Havana.
To make up for his, however leading
article headed Piracy of the Worst Kind"
Is devoted to the particulars of the capture
of the steamer Argonauta, with Spanish
officers and soldiers on board, who by the
way, simply described as passengers I"
After roundly denouncing the American
officers and sailors no better than nj
rates in their treatment of the passengers
and crews of all captured vessels of whom
they are said to have spared neither men
nor women, the article continues: Let US
tell what happened to the passengers on the
Argonauta. On Selling the ship the enemy
swarmcd over the side, poniards in hand
like fierce buccaneers, and before taking
charge OF their prize, or even approaching
the captain, FASTENED to loot the baggage
of the passengers, plundering all alike Of
whatever money they had, either in their
Valises or on their persons. From a Portu-
guese lady they tore the rings from her
fingers and robbed her of So 600 in gold and
Spanish bank notes which she had in Il
satchel which she attempted to conceal un-
der her skirt.
Having finished the work of pillage the
pirates cast loose one of the ships boats
into which they hustled all their prisoners
all the while heaping on them the grossest
abuse and indignities. Before casting off
the boat. not content with the infamies al
ready committed they turned the steam
hose on their victims. How worthy these
wretches of being officers in the navy Of
the country of Lincolnr'
The article closes with the comforting re-
Election that the nations of Europe will
know of these "acts worthy Of pirates. but
unworthy OF sailors who pretend to repre-
sent the honor Of their nation"
dispatch dated Matanzas and adorned
with rude cut of rifle shell, tells with
whimsical particularly how the projectile
fired from the American fleet was unea rth-
ed by committee of distinguished citizens
narrative. which takes the form of a reg
ular process verbal, describes infinitely how
the committee proceeded to the extrac-
tion OF the projectile." which fell, "in con-
80 Gale de San Fernando The "extrac-
tion,' which, 1t is declared, was only ac-
complished with much labor. took place in
the presence of sundry military dignitaries
whose names are given.
Dewey's victory at Manila is disposed ~
In four-line dispatch dated Madrid and
headed: THE First Battle-American Fleet
Routed. The Cavite fleet has heroically
tought the American feet. which retired
badly damaged" By way Of preparing the
public for the truth paragraph in another
column states that there is Some anxistv,
IN Madrid over the result of the battle.