The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-26
CHASED AN ITALIAN
SHIP OF WAR.

The Fleet Theught Ter . JIne. Thas
spanisA Warshie WeslA FAN
Into Thefr Hands.
Copyrighted. ISIS. by The Associated Press.
WITH THE FLEET, OFF HAVANA,
ON BOARD THE FLAGSHIP NEW
YORK. April b.. p. m.-FIled Key
West. Mfdnight. April 2al-The Puritan.
Nashville. Marblehead and Ericsson ar
rived from Key West this morning. The
Ericsson almost hnmediately returned 10
Key West with dispatches. Al 10 o'clock
this morning the monitor Puritan. the
cruiser Cincinnati. the gunboa,s Machias.
Nashville. castine and Newport and the
torpedo boats Foote and Winsiow left
the squadron to blockade Matanxas, Ma
rsel and cardenas. They formed sepA-
rate divisions, and after they had passed
out Of sight the remainder of the feet
took up regular formation. having
drifted some nfteen miles from MORO cas-
tie
The general advance was made at half
speed Capt. Evans. not quite certain OF
the position he was entitled TO take with
the Iowa. caught UP abreast Of the nag
ship and shouted through the megaphone:
How far may I gor''
Rear Admiral Sampson. who was
standing on the afterbridge. replied:
.'As near as you can without drawing
the fire Of the batteries"
"Al right" Capt. Evans shouted back.
In tones that expressed the keenest dis
appointment. The Iowa then went ahead.
About half an hour after the squadron
was well under way the cruiser Cincinnati
was seen on the eastern horizon, smoke
pouring frum her tunnels. She had been
headed for Matanszs, ard evidently had
turned back TO chase some vessel. The
object Of her pursuit was soon out. stand
ing well In toward the coast. The flag
ship, the cruiser Marbieheaa and the gun
boat Wilmington immediately turned out
or the course TO head the warship Oh. The
remainder Of the squadron proceeded TO
the westward. Smoke poured from our
ships The flagship was making eighteen
knots. the whole vessel throbblng with
the vibrations OF her twin screws. The
little Wilmington steamed up In splendid
style and the fast cruiser Marblehsad
KEEP. nearly abreast. The formidable trio
bore down upon the warsh!p. Then a shout
went up. she Is a Spaniard.''
For the next ten minutes the excitement
was terrific. The distance which sepa
rated the vessels rendered Ii impossible 10
make out the warship's identity. She was
thought TO be the yixcaya or the Oouendo,
| heading hard for Havana. The men at
| the guns shouted with glee. The ssokers
| OF duty also chesred vociferoasiy aud beg
| ged to be allowed TO go on deck TO help
| shoot at the first armed enemy met. The
| officers crowded on the quarter deck as
| eIated as the men. though under better
] control The bugler blew general quar-
teTs." and all hands few 10 their posts
| Down came the shronds with rattle.
| Life tines vanished from the deck. Rear
| Admiral Sampson. standing on the bridge.
| said deliberately to Capt. Chadwick: "Yes.
the oauendo or the Sizcaya." and then
| added. Il should like to bag then. bosh."
Then II was seen that the chase was fly
ing The Italian flag. Bur thIs was no
proof that behind her stili invisible CUES
| spanaris were not concealed ia shoot nn-
der advantage or suh;erfugs All the
guns on the New York's port side and in
the forward ard after turreis were train
cd on the stranger. A few minutes later,
| when abou, i.sae yards separated The New
York from her target. the American flag
was run up by the warship. and then IL
was known she was not Spaniard.
Pun Of smoke issued from her sides.
ard the boom OF q gun sounded across TIRE
water. 1t was only salute. bat at frs;
| many on board thought Rear Admiral
| Sampson had been deceived. Blu, she israd
| fifteen guns "a salute. which was ~
! turned hy this flagship. which aise flew
/ an Italian dag. The stranger was then
! szaade car 10 he the Giovanni isausan, n
| powerful cruiser. Without further for
| ma,lsies she pursued her course and err
| tered Havana harhor, Taus an exciting
| incident ended in disappointment. bat II
| served 20 show how anxious all hands are
/ Tor = real fga: and how splendid the dis
| cipi!Re = wasn a contingency seems i'm
| rainent
| The salute of the Italian had scarcely
| been returned before n schooner Was
seen ou che coast The torpedo boat ror-
| ter. which had been following close 10
/ the flagship, was dispatched 10 capture
| her. The Porter fairy siew through the
water, and after few shots nred from
sad quickly. ~hea he sewed the Mafhsife
| hove 70. CAPT F'rf Tnout ala his work well
snt quickly. When n towed the Mat. tide
| back - the flagship il Was faGnd she was
from Sierra Moreaa. east e Caraenas.
and hsart fer Havana. laden alsh SUGAR
/ ard manned by Spanish naval reserve
men. thus proving quite good prize.
RE captain % tse schooner was brough,
ora beard Ara the MayhTae was towea
hack "a Key IVES: by the Daantless.
TIE New York. later Ia tire afternoon.