The sun., 1903-11-13
CHEROKEE RAN THE BLOCKADE
DOUSED GLIMS AND ALL THE
TRIMMINGS OF NAUTICAL STORY
Terrific Dominican GunbOat, Belng Cir
cumvented at Both Ends OF Her Beat,
sought TO Buy Barrel OF Pork From
the Foe. but ould Raise Only 81 to Pay

After a neat game Of now-you-see-me-
snd-now-you-don't hide-and-seels, includ-
Ing doused lights and all the nautical noe
elnal strategy known to vessels in hostile
waters, Capt Archibald of the Clyde Line
steamer Cherokee. which arrived at her
dock at the foot OF Roosevelt street yes
tcrday afternoon, succeeded in eluding
the Government blockade Of three Domini-
can ports that were occupied by rebels,
and in landing the oargoes destined for
each OF them right In the face Of positive
order to the contrary issued by President
Wos Gi from his beleaguered capital of
santo Domingo oity. This was done, too,
under the nose Of the Dominican gunboat
Ell Presidente. which Capt. Archibald
adroitly kept running on nocturnal wild
goose chases, while the Cherokee, like the
stald merchant vessel that she Is, was
calmly delivering the goods at the ports
for which they were destined.
The Cherokee arrived at tho city Of Santo
Domingo on Monday, Nov. 2, and dis
charged the cargo for that port. She had
three other ports on the island to make
with merchandise, said to include firearms
and ammunition: Sarnana, Sanchez, Porto
Plata and Monte Christi. Samana and
Sanchez being close together in Samana
Bay. Just before the Cherokee sailed from
santo Domingo for these destinations, Of
which Samana was the first, Sanchet the
second, and then Porto Plata and Monte
Christi in the order named. the Dominican
custom house officer came ON board and
told Capt Archibald that he would not
be permitted to land at any OF these ports,
- H.. ..
hands OF the rebels under Jimenez and
we're under blockade. Capt. Archibald
protested and carried the matter to the
American Minister, Mr.. Powell, who joined
In protest that was laid before President
Wos Gil The President was obdurate.
A blockade was a blockade and must be
respected There was nothing for Capt.
Archibald to do save to yield. outwardly
at least, TO the voice OF authority.
So the Cherokee on Tuesday sailed away
and got as far as Macoris, where it was re-
ported that the United States warship
Baltimore had arrived at Santo Domingo.
Back to Santo Domingo the Cherokee went,
Capt. Archibald havingIdeterminedt to de-
mana a convoy to his ports of destination.
But the Baltimore had not arrived.
Capt. Archibald had another conference
with Minister Powell, the result of which
was that at II o'clock on Tuesday morning,
the day things broke loose in Panama, the
Cherokee again sailed from Santo Domingo
with Capt. Archibald determined to land
his cargoes blockade or no blockade.
On Tuesday evening the Cherokee arrived
at the mouth of SANTANA Bay. Here the
flssy and tremendously important looking
Dominican gunboat Ell Presdente came
bustling up and fired blank shot across
the Cherokee's bows as a signal to heave to-
n lyl
FL Presidente's side and a subordinate
officer OF that grim craft Of war came on
board.
aYou cannot land at either samana or
SANCHEZ" said this official They are
But the blockade there is Illegal pro-
tested Capt. Archibald. "There has not
been the requisite fifteen days notice"
"Come on board FL Presfdente, said the
Dominican officer, .and talk 1t over with
the captain. FL Capitano Lorenzo Paco."
Capt. Archibald went on board the Do
minican Navy. FL Capitanoo Lorenzo Paco
was gracious, polite, complimentary even,
but resolute, a veritable Gibraltar He
said:
You cannot discharge cargo at Samana.
Sanchez. Porto Plata or Monte Christi. l
shall have the honor Of blowing you out Of
the water if you attempt it. My orders on
that point are explicit
will you permit me to see your orders'
asked Capt. Archibald.
with the greatest pleasure said FL
Capitano Lorenzo Paco. Behold them, '
and he handed Capt. Archibald document
of forlndably official appearance.
The purport of the orders had not been
exaggerated. Fl Captano Lorenzo Paco
was distinctly directed to blow out Of the
water all and any craft that attempted
to land at the ports named.
1T is sad said Capt, Archibald, sad,
But unfortunately it is true. There is
nothing to do, | suppose, but to proceed
on nv voyage away from Santo Domingo"
Tho two captains exchanged assurances
of distinguished consideration and capt;
Archibald went over the side and on board
the Cherokee. In few moments that
vessel turned her nose seaward and began
melting away into the shadows OF the night
Tho dim outline of her hull vanished as
her lights disappeared one by one her
mas head light seemed to sink lower and
lower and finally to get under the horizon
Nov. Fl Capitano Lorenzo Pace. is a
saraciot,s man and takes a just pride in
the fact that he is not looking for noon at
fourteen o'clock-that he knows what's
'olr hours. His swift thoughts, being
trar arslated, ran in this wise
Those damn Yankees are slippery
lot. That crlss has sailed away on course
that will not take him to Porto Plata, but
as soon as he is out of sight ne WI wlli MAKE s
VI
dunn his cargo, Good. But, Sehor Damn
Yankee. FL Capitano Lorenzo, Paco Will
likewise make a sneak along the coast Tor
Porto Plata He will be there to wish you
the good morning when you arrive, | see
the Shor Damn Yankee already looking
down his long nose. 1t is to laugh :,
So III Presidente got under way ana
went snashng and spluttering of on the
coas'wise course for Porto Plata, CIR
crimstance which was observed with good
deal Of satisfaction by Capt. Archibald
from the pilot house of the Cherokee as
that vcsse lay comfortably of about two
miles from shore with every glimmer OF
light on board doused, and dead silence
reignng on her decks Capt Archibald IL
student of marine scenic effects: 10
give the true artistic touch to an imitation
o. brilliantly lighted passenger steamer
disappearing by night at sea, he knows
that you must put out the lowest lights
frst and then work gradually upward,
dousing all the glims as you &c. until the
light at the masthead alone remains. The
thing to do with that is to lower it very
gradually toward the water and finally
tnuf it out also, as though it had descended
below the dark rim Of the sea-
All this was done with much skill and
realistic effect until the Cherokee lay an
uuCiscernible mass on the water, but still
within easy sailing distance of the shore.