The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-25

under the lee OF the New York she re-
ceived the heartiest of cheers from the
blue Jackets. while the officers clapped
their hands. the megaphone roared
some encouraging words and Admiral
Sampson lifted his cap in answer to the
salute OF the correspondents.
The sea picture there presented was
worth remembering. The big hull of
the New York. like a steel gray granite
blum, but more deadly looking. the long
black hull Of the Porter. with her threat
ening looking torpedo tubes. over which
the spray dashed violently, the saucy
Dauntless. with forestry sail and main
sail set, her smokestack belching forth
thick smoke. the snaky hawser leading
to where the schooner. heavy laden,was
rolling with her scuppers under. her
crew busy getting up her foresail, main
sail and jib her Spanish crew working
away under the orders Of an American
officer, side by side with Uncle Sans
tars, all around rolling seas topped by
white horses and over all the freshen-
ing gale. This picture had for back
ground a pale haze beyond which were
the, mountains of Cuba. and In the mid
die distance saffron-like Havana, with
a speck of yellow striped with red. float
ing from Moro Castle. How long will
that standard stay there? This was the
thought which entered every mind as
1 the hawser frightened and the Mathilde.
following the Dauntless, was rushed
the water toward hey west.
The passage was a rough one, OF course
but il was no worse than usual, and
without any special event to chronicle.
To the flagship New York belongs the
honor of firing the first shot that an
nounced the intention of the United
States to establish the blockade OF the
port of Havana.
The scene of this opening event of
what may prove to be the prolonged
hostilities between the governments Of
the United States and Spain was just
off the coast of Cuba at a point about
10 miles east of MORO Castle. The
shot was fired across the bows of the
Spanish steamer Pedro of Bilboa. out
ward bound from Havana. She hove to
at once, and I'm the course of an hour
a prize crew from the flagship was In
charge of her and she was on her way
to Key West The capture of the Pc
dro occurred at o'clock on Friday
afternoon i'm view of the associated
press dispatch boat Dauntless. which
was the nearest vessel to the New York
at the time. An hour before, the fleet.
with the Mayhower and the torpedo
boats, was proceeding at a nine-knot
speed from Key West to the Cuban
coast. The vessels were then about 20
miles north of Havana. A haze hung
over the southern horizon and the
faintest outline of the shore could be
seen at intervals.
Suddenly the New York auickened
her speed and went alongside of the
Mayfiower and the leading torpedo
boat. She halted "A moment and sig
nailed some instructions to the remain
der of the fleet, and then drew away
from the others and started i'm "A south
westerly direction. Faster and faster
she went. and longer grew the distance
between her and the other ships. Black
| smake,. poured from her tunnels and
she appeared 10 be trying to equal her
22-knot record made on the trial trip.
At first IL was supposed she was max
ing for the entrance of Havana harbor
with the intention of lying outside and
sending boats ashore with some formal
communication to the authorities, pos
sibly giving them "a hours notice of a
bombardment.
The Dauntless also crowded on steam
and she sped after the New York at
once. After 90 minutes fast run the re-
mainder of the fleet was left far be-
hind. IL soon became apparent that
the New York was heading 10 the east
ward of MORO Castle and the real OBJ
ject OF her chase became discernible
against the dark background of the low
hills on the coast. The lookouts in the
tops of her military masts had sighted
the Spanish colors flying from Span
ish steamer which had just left Ha-
vana harbor. Those on board the
steamer must have seen the New York
overhauling them, but they made no
pretense of stopping.
The chase continued for nearly an
hour, and by that time the New York
had passed the steamer ana stopl ed
about half a mile off her port bow. In
another moment there was "A pun of
smoke from the side of the New York,
followed by sharp report of a O.
FOUNDER. The shot passed over the
bows of the steamer ana threw up a
great spray when IL struck the water.
There was no mistaking its meaning.
The steamer stopped It's engines at
once and swung in the heavy sea which
was running. The next move came
comply. \ large whaleboat was low
cred from the New York. filled with
sailors and marines. all fully armed
and i'm charge of an officer. The prize
proved to be the Pedro. of about 1000
tons. She was apparently in ballast or
had a light cargo
The sun was Just sinking below the
horizon when the prize crew from the
New York climbed over the side of
the Pedro. and a few minutes later the
Spanish ensign was hauled down.
While this was transpiring the out
lines of another steamer were seen sew
eral miles 20 the westward. Dusk was
gathering and IL was impossible at
that distance to discover her nation
ality: but the New York put out for
her as soon as she had cast loose from
the whaleboat containing the prize
crew for the Pedro.
The New York then fired another
blank shot of warning to "heave to- In
the direction of the second vessel sight
ed by the flagship, and. upon gaining
proper distance. the New York fired
second shot this time across the bows
of the second steamer and the latter
hove to at once. Upon investigation II
was learned that she was German
steamer that had just left Havana. ana
she was allowed to proceed.
The Pedro was taken to Key West
the New York returned to the remain
der Of the fleet. and all the vessels lay
to and drifted all night outside of Ha-
vana harbor. Torpedo boats and one
OF the cruisers did patrol duty in the
vicinity Of the fiotilla, but no vessel of