The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-01
FIRST PRIZE FROM SPAIN.
the TRANSPORT PANAMA'S INGLo-
RIOUS CAPTURE.

2tnS since Proved n Worthy Servant
of Uncle sam-she Has "A Particu-
InrIy Good Record in Handling
ConVaIescent Soldiers for which
credit Is Due to Her Officers.
Panama Has the Five New Gums
en- Board which She Had When
captured by the Little MangrOve
with Her Six-POunders.
The transport Panama, which is lying
al the Central press wharf, is of consider
able interest on account of her having been
the first prize taken by the navy in the re-
cent war. The Panama has since proved a
very desirable acquisition Though not
one of the largest transports, she has
proved herself one of the handiest vessels
in the government service for almost any
sort of work she may be called upon 10
perform.
The Panama left New York on April 20,
three days before the beginning of hostin-
Ties. She was loaded to her limit with
supplies of every kind for the Spanish
government, and had, besides, between 200
and 500 Spanish passengers of the first
class, who were leaving the United States
in order to reach the dominions' of Spain
before the war commenced. The Panama
is a staunch vessel, and was equipped with
two 5-inch guns and a rapid-fre gun aft
She was almost in sight of the Cuban
coast when the little light house tender
Mangrove, armed with two 6-pounders,
came across her and promptly sent one of
her small shot across her bows. The Pan
ana promptly hove to and surrendered
without firing a shot. The 300 panic-strick-
en- Spaniards, who had been so bOmbastic
in their utterances on their departure from
New York, surrendered 10 nine American
sailors aboard the Mangrove The tender
could not even spare a prize crew, SO she
took her prize in tow until she came up
with the Indiana, from whom she secured
a prize crew and then proceeded with the
prize to Key West There was not only
Il number of prominent Spaniard. on board,
but the cargo was a very valuable one.
Much capital was made by the newspa-
pers of the country of this capture of a
large well armed and crowded steamship
by a little lighthouse tender. Capt. Ste
phen ]. Hanlon, who is here in charge
of the Panama, now transport, does not
take much stock in This sort of talk.
The Panama could not afford to put up
fight" he said, because she was in
range of the guns of the Nashville and
the Indiana. Had she made use of her
guns, she could have knocked the Man
grove out of the water in few seconds.
Then again, she was crowded with pass
engers, many women being among them,
whose lives would have been endangered
by a fight Under the circumstances the
wisest thing she could do was to surren-
der"
Capt Hanlon, of course, was not with
the Panama when she was captured He
* 0i buf be.I NJ
like TO see his ship misrepresented, even
if she was in the hands Of the enemy at
the time.
When the Panama was sold through the
prize court, the government bought her
in for $4,000, and great bargain it was,
TOO. She has done splendid work since
in carrying troops and supplies and bring
ing back convalescents from Cuba and
Porto Rico. Her passenger accommoda-
tons are limited, as she can carry only
about 60 first-class passengers and be-.
tween 200 and 800 steerage, but her freight
capacity is large.
The Panama is not one of the transports
which has sent thrills of horror through
the American people. On a recent trip
from Porto Rico she landed about 200 con-
Valescents at Newport News. Before leav-
ing the ship the conValescent soldiers
adopted a set of resolutions setting forth
appreciation for the many comforts which
they had enjoyed and the courtesy and
kindness they had received from all on
board. The quartermaster, Capt. Jesse NJ.
Baker, the two physicians aboard and
Capt. Hanlon were especially mentioned
by name in the resolutions. 1t is to be
doubted if there is another transport in
the service which has anything of this
kind to show to its credit.
&c 10 hpG
was ever on" said Capt Hanlon to
Morning News reporter who was aboard
her boilers and engines are in fine condi-
ton, and she makes splendid time. Ev-
erything about her is in splendid condition
except the main deck, which was badly
abused by the Spaniards by their slovenly
way of shoveling coal on board. The deck
Is The only thing that detracts from the
appearance of the boat"
The Panama carried down several tugs
from New York 10 Havana and Nuevitas
on her last trip, coming to Savannah di-
rectly from Nuevitas. There were no or
ders for her here on her arrival, and none
sary and quartermaster's departments
here do not know what will be done with
the Panama as yet, but orders will proba-
bly, be received to-day.
The Panama has aboard the two 5-inch
guns and the rapid-fire gun which she had
when captured by the Mangrove. The
guns are of Spanish make. They are in
good condition and apparently capable of
good service when needed
MRS nXCEx