The herald., 1898-04-25

The sun was just sinking below the horl-
zon when the prize crew from the New
York climbed over the side Of the Pedro,
and a few minutes later the Spanish en-
sign was hauled down.
While this was transpiring the outlines
of another steamer were seen several miles
to the westward, and the New York put
out for her as soon as she had cast loose
the whale boat containing the prize crew
for the Pedro.
Upon investigation 1t was found that she
was a German steamer that had just left
Havana, and she was allowed to proceed
The Pedro was taken to Key West, the
New York returned to the remainder of
the fleet, and all the vessels lay to and
drifted all night outside of Havana har-
bor Torpedo boats and cruisers did patrol
duty in the vicinity of the flotilla, but no
vessel of any kind approached the men-of-
war.
This was the second seizure of the day,
the first being the seizure of the Spanish
steamer Buena Ventura, which the fleet
had met early in the morning, soon after
they had left their anchorage at Key West
The steamer was some distance outside OF
Havana harbor at the time she was
SlOppcu, uLu <AOliiii df ouAhpSoAA Si6hdA "
the Nashville, which brought her to, to
escort her to port, which was DONE
A third seizure occurred this morning a
few miles west of the entrance to Havana
harbor 1t was a small schooner, appar-
emily fishing craft, and she was cap
tured by the Cincinnati. The cruiser towed
her to the flagship, and her captain made
satisfactory explanation to Admiral
Sampson, who released the vessel.
The New York, with the torpedo boat
Porter in close attendance, was lying eight
or ten miles off Havana, when the smoke
Of a steamer was seen few miles to the
eastward. The flagship and the Porter
started for her Immediately, but when they
drew near they found that she was the
Italian man-of-war Giovanni Basan, bound
for Havana. The Italian ran up the Amer
lean colors to his masthead and fired rear
admirars salute of 15 guns, it being the
first salute Rear Admiral Sampson had re-
ceived from a foreign warship since his
appointment to his present rank.
The New York returned the salute. and,
as the firing occurred only few miles off
shore, the incident probably created con-
sternation in Havana. Just as this cere-
mony was completed two schooners were
sighted in shore from where the New York
and the Italian lay, and the flagship sig
nailed the Porter to go after them. The
torpedo boat glided over the water at a
very rapid pace and passed almost under
the bows of the Basan on her capture Of the
Mathilde. AS she ran the Porter fired
shots from her six-pounders across the
bows of both schooners. One of them came
about Immediately, but she proved to be
la fishing boat and was released. The Ma
thilde was more obstinate and probably
did not appreciate being stopped by what
looked like toy boat, or else she failed to
understand what the Porter wanted of her.
But when two more shots were fired from
the torpedo boat the Mathilde came about
and the Porter ran alongside, Informed her
she was seized by the United States, and
peremptorily took her prize in tow and
started off to the flagship with her. The
Mathilde was loaded with barrels Of rum,
was sunk almost to her rails, and the
Porter had much difficulty in dragging the
heavy schooner through the water, but
finally brought her prize alongside the
flagship, and by this time she had hoisted