Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-13

Key West, Aug. 1.-THE tug, Uncas
commanded by Lieutenant F. A. Brain.
ard returned here Wednesday after an.
other exciting fortnight OF blockade
duty on the north Cuban coast. The
Uncas, which has been jocularly dubbed
the flagship of the mosquito fleet"
holds the record of the three smaller
boats for continuous blockade service
and interesting experiences. She car
ried Cuban expeditions, and landed
them almost under the enemy's guns ;
chases anything from raft to a battle
ship, and occupies spare moments by
knocking over Spanish blockhouses and
capturing prizes. On her latest trip
the tug put ashore another expedition
for Gomez and had dangerous fire in
her hold, just above her magazines. In
spite of all this, she looked none the
worse when she steamed into Key West
harbor for more coal and provisions.
When the Uncas left here two weeks
ago she carried Captain Stable of Co
me2s staff. six other Cubans, 500 Rem
ington carbines and ammunition for tho
overturned cook stove in the forecaStle
started a fire. The Uncas was then only
two or three miles off Havana. and as
the flames ragged fiercely for few mo-
ments well directed shell from any
of the land batteries would have sent
her to the bottom. Those on board the
Uncas could see troops of Spania rdS
about the guns ashore, but no deadly
messengers came their way. After the
fire had been eXtinguished by chopping
away the woodwork, the tug proceeded
to Cay Conttes, near Caibarien, where
she put her little Cuban party ashore
without encountering Spaniard.
Then the vessel steamed towards Ma =
tanzus. Near Cardenas a torpedo boa t
was sighted, close to the shore, sending
up rockets. The natural supposition
was that she was a Spanish vessel at
tempting to communicate with the shore,
and the Uncas promptly headed in her
direction. AS she drew near the tor
redo boat turned and came out to meet
her. She was then recognized as the
Talbot
1t was while off Matanzas, a day or
two ago, that the Uncas WAS fired upon.
she was within two miles of shore when,
without warning. a sand battery of
six or S-inch guns began firing shells at
her Fully 20 of these missiles fell
around the tug within radius of 100
yards before she could get out of range.
AS she steamed away. the Uncas re-
turned the fire with her three forward
and after 6-pounders.
Then occurred a little incident illus
trating the superstitions of seamen The
last shell from the Uncas' stern gun had
just screamed it's way across the water
when gaudy-winged butterfly, which
had blown Off shore lowered over the
Htill-smofing gun and settled down on
its grim muzzle. A horny listed Irish
man who manned the gun saw it. threw
up his hands and shouted to Lieutenant
Branard: say, captain, that settles
it. That's the last shot we'll fire in
this war" There is not IA man on the
tug who is not thoroughly convinced
that the buttcrny's visit was SUN fore
runner of peace.
The Hornet arrived in the afternoon
with the 2-mastcd schooner, Salvc
Maria. capturd while running from
!'atabanO to the Isle of Pines for food.
The Salve Maria carried six mcn, but
no cargo.
Commodore Remey has received or
dcrs from Washington to release the
Tia basqueno, captured by the Hawk
while king for Sagua la Grande und cr
the French flag. Her case falls in the
same category as the Bergen, Aladdin
and Franklin. under the contention that
Sagua la Grande is not ~ blockadeu
port.
Washington, Aug. ia department
of the army to be known as the depart
ment of Santiago was created yester-
day. Major General Fl. w. La wton is
assigned to its command. BrigadicG
Mss@S->