New-York tribune., 1899-07-14
A NOVEL PRIZE CLAIM.
MEN OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC STATION
TO SUE FOR MONEY ACCRUING FROM
CAPTURE OF CERvERAs SHIPS

Washington July l3 (specaD.-Secretary Long
has directed the Naval Board OF Inspection TO ap-
praise the cruiser Reina Mercedes now al Norfolk
well the Infanta Maria Teresa wrecked on
Cat Island and all the salvage from the Spanish
wrecks at Santiago it being the purpose of the Of
hcers and men who served the North Atlantic
Station last summer to in the Court OF Claims
for prize money accrung from the capture Of these
vessels and material
The Secretary's action. which does not in any
way bind the Navy Department to a decision the
merits Of the claim. was taken in accordance with
a request which recently forwarded by Ad
miral Sampson in the form OF letter from Cap
tain French E. Chadwick. commanding the New
York. who suggests the appraisal In behalf OF all
the officers and men who took part in the blockade
OF Santiago and the battle Of July 3.
II is the understanding that this claim for prize
money is supplemental and altogether distinct from
the applications for bounty on account OF partci-
patton in the destruction OF Cerveras feet. the
claims for bounty having already been referred oy
the Navy Department 70 the Court OF Claims for
adjudication.
The Board Of Inspection will not be compelled 70
leave Washington 10 carry out Secretary Longs
directions. all the papers necessary 10 make
the appraisal file except that perhaps II will
be advisable 10 have the expert testimony OF the
wreckers the value OF the Infanta Maria Teresa.
In determining the prize value OF the Reina Mer-
cedes and OF the salvage from the other wrecks.
the Inspection Board. under its instruction Will
deduct the amounts spent by the Government in
rescuing that vessel and the material from the
other ships
The point raised by Captain Chadwick for the
officers and men who served of Santiago Harbor
is regarded ingenious by maritime law
yers VINO puzzled what sort of
the attorneys for the claimants will be able 10
present The statutes provide for the payment OF
"bountes for hostile vessels sunk destroyed the
amount OF bounty depending the number of
men aboard the enemy's ship and her strength
compared with that Of her American opponent.
Bountes paid for such affairs the destruc
ton OF most Of MontojO's fleet by Dewey May
or Of Cervera's July 3. Prize money" is paid
only for actual captures. and is generally derived
from the proceeds Of the sale of the prize vessels
Bounty unquestionably accrued from the Infanta
Maria Teresa being driven ashore II did in the
similar cases OF the Oquendo. the Vizcaya and the
Colon. But until now II has seemed that by no in
terpretaton OF the statutes could any prize money
be involved Up 10 the present time the Reina Mer-
cedes has not been regarded as subject 10 either
bounty or prize money claims. as she was delb.
erately sunk by the Spaniards about midnight OF
July T. with the intention OF blocking the entrance
OF the haroor 20 prevent the Americans from COM
ing in mita tiOn OF the Merrmac episode She
was sunk exactly at the spot intended by the Span
ards. although. as In the Of the Merrimac her
stern did not swing across the channel