The herald., 1898-04-25

During the cOHciuuinS AcdtuHcS Va She
boarding of the Pedro and the Remus the
rest of the United States squadron had dis
appeared from view and there was no one
to dispute the honors with the New York
of the first capture In Cuban waters. A
newspaper boat followed her, but was left
far behind in the race. The Dauntless, the
dispatch boat of the Associated Press, was
the first to arrive on the scene Of action.
She came up just as the prize crew Of the
Pedro were embarking on board the
steamer.
The entire plan of action here is fraugnt
with danger, not SO much from the Span
ish guns as from the difficulties Of maneu-
vering large squadron at night without
showing any lights to the enemy on shore.
| Speculation is rife as to what the Span
iards are doing and as to what they In
tend to do. 1t is not believed Admiral
Sampson will confine himself entirely to
a blockade of the island, although he in
formed the correspondent that he did not
expect any action to occur in the immedi-
| ate future. 1t is certain, however, that
some movement will be made on Matan-
zas, probably tomorrow. Whether this will
| be simply in the nature of blockade or
| for the purpose of securing a base of sup
plies cannot be ascertained with any de-
gree of assurance.
| Before the firing began a newspaper dis
patch boat, which had lost its bearings In
| the cloudy night got within three miles of
Morro Castle, and before she knew her
whereabouts she found Morro Castle firing
upon her. She was saved by the unskilled
craftsmanship of the Havana gunners,
getting away unframed, and eventually
bringing up with the fleet.
Havana had not been bombarded up to
the time the Ericsson left The squadron
lay spread out in a line about eight miles
long, maintaining the blockade.
According to the proclamation, the ships
of neutral powers are allowed to pass in
and out.
A third capture was made this morning
at dawn, however, when the Ericsson
caught little Spanish two-masted fishing
schooner carrying a crew of five men. The
torpedo boat had no prize crew to put
aboard, so she chased her to the fleet and
tied her up alongside the Cincinnati.
Captain Luzarraga, of the Buena Ven
tura, declares his vessel is not subject to
capture by the United States, holding that
she is owned by an English firm, was
bound for neutral ports. and that war had
not been declared when she sailed. Her
crew is still on board the Dolphin, but
those of the Pedro remained with the lat
ter. The captains and the crews of both
vessels, g. in all, await the disposition of
the prize court of inquiry, which was ap-
pointed today by wire by United States
Judge Locke at Jacksonville.
G. B. Patterson and two other attorneys
at Key West constitute the court.
Captain Lyon of the Dolphin asked
Mayor Maloney if sufficient protection
could be guaranteed the Spanish sailors if
they went ashore. The mayor consulted
with the leading Cubans, and was assured
that they would not be molested, but they
remain aboard.
The Mangrove has gone out, equipped
with corps Of expert electricians. 1t is
reported she is assigned to cut the cable
between Jamaica and Cuba, so that all
dispatches to or from the Spanish govern
ment must go through Key West.
The torpedo boat destroyer Eagle of the
Mosquito fleet arrived here from New
York this afternoon.
Madrid Notified
MADRID, April PA cable dispatch has
been received from Captain General Blan-
co saying the United States squadron ap-
preached on Friday night within five miles
of the port and then disappeared in a
northerly- direction.
Attention is called to the fact that the
cables south of the island, which the
United States forces are credited with in
tending to cut belong to the British COM
pany.