The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-01
CRUISING OFF G|JBA
No Break in the Blockade
Along the Coast.
CANNONADE AT CABANAS.
Capt. Chadwick Trains a Gun on a
Company of CiVaIy,
DISPATCH BOAT IN DANGER.
DauntIeSS Mistakes New York for
Spaniard and Is Fired On.

Copyright 1898, by the Associated Press.
On Board the Flagship New York, April
20, II p. M, via Key West Fla, April 3d.
The blockade continues as before.
The flagship lies to the westward of Ha-
vana.
The torpedo boat Porter. while close in
fired upon by the Cojimar battery, which
is to the eastward of Moro Castle. The
plucky little Porter escaped unscathed.
The coast Of Cuba is being carefully pa
trolled by the Spanish cavalry.
Capt. Taylor of the Indiana came on
board the flagship to-day and had a long
consultation with Rear Admiral Sampson.
News of the movement of the United
States army is eagerly awaited by the fleet,
and there is much speculation as to when
the troops will be ready.
While the Dauntless, the dispatch boat
of the Associated Press was making her
way from Key West early this morning
she was sighted by the flagship. The look
outs on the New York were unable 10
maize out her identity, owing to the mist
and the distance which separated her from
the flagship, and a 4-inch shell was fired
in her direction. 1t was not aimed at the
Dauntless, but was only sent near enough
to make herr heave to. The Dauntless,
thinking she was being fired at by Span
lard, promptly put about and steamed
W. chn nj
few minutes later the recognition became
mutual, and the Dauntless ran alongside
the New York. Later she proceeded to
Matanzas.
Learning that mines and earthworks
were being placed and built at Mariel in
the province of Pinar del Rio, not far
from Havana, the flagship moved in that
direction, accompanied by three torpedo
boats, but there was no sign Of movement
at Mariel and the flagship proceeded to a
point twenty-five miles west of Havana,
and about ten miles beyond Mariel. There
suspicious movements were observed
ashore, probably work on forti1cations.
Consequently the flagship fired three shota
in that direction from one of her big guns.
The firing, however, brought no response,
and the flagship returned to her station.
A strict watch against possible torpedo
attack is being kept on board the flagship.
All the available officers take deck
watches at night. including the chaplain,
paymaster's clerk and the assistant sur.
geon.
The small craft captured by the VII
mington yesterday was only taken to Key
West because her crew were members of
the second Spanish naval reserve. 1t was
thought also that they might be members
of the crew of one Of the torpedo gun
boats for which vessels very sharp look
out is being kept.
The full details Of the Cabanas affair
are that the New York was lying quietly
outside the picturesque harbor of Cabanas,
about two miles off shore, an inspection
trip Of the coast having just been complet-
ed. The flagship was accompanied by the
torpedo boats Porter and Ericsson. A re-
turn to the station off Moro Castle, Ha-
vana, was contemplated, the band was
playing It's usual dinner music, when from
a hill to the eastward of Cabanas harbor
plainly a small arms attack, though no
smoke was seen. The enemy was thought
to be hidden close to the beach and In
front of a ruined white building, which
sloped as IL il had once been the hacienda
sof a tobacco plantat ation. Now ard again
individual firing was heard and well reg
ulated volleys continued at intervals. 1t
was conjectured that one troop of cav
airy, dismounted. was doing the firing.
The officers of the flagship stood on her
deck trying to ascertain definitely the ex-
act location of the enemy, more amused
than annoyed at this novel method of
attacking an arsaored cruiser.
However, Read Admiral Sampson and
Capt. Chadwick decided that the lesson
taught at Matanzas must be taught again
at Cabanas.
MAN the port battery" was the order.
At a few minutes past 8 o'clock the 4
inch guns In the after-port battery sent a
shot flying over the water into Cuba's
soil, raising a little cloud of dust about
one hundred yards IN front of the hacien-
da and just above where the Spanish
cavalry stood. Before the hills, growing
dim in the evening mist, had ceased
echoing and reverberatlng the first re-
ports, the other 4-inch gun in the after
battery had landed its projectile.
A few more shots from this battery
we're fred but the ground was evidently
damp, no dust arising. and It was hard to
tell where the shell fell. They were fired