People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1895 — FIRED ON OUR FLAG. [ARTICLE]

FIRED ON OUR FLAG.

AMERICAN SCHOONER STOPPED BY A SPANISH GUNBOAT. Capt Quick, Commander of the Carrie E. Lane, Make* the ' Complaint — Washington Officials Slow to Blame the Spaniards. Breakwater, Del., July 25. —Captain Quick, of the American schooner Carrie E. Lane, upon his arrival here last night had a tale to tell about a thrilling encounter in Cuban waters with a Spanish gunboat. Two shots were fired at the Lane by the man-of-war, and one of the schooner's crew narrowly escaped being killed by one of them. The vessel was made to heave to and give an account of herself before being allowed to proceed. The schooner was off Cape Antonio and making good time before a stiff breeze, when on the 14th inst., she sighted a steamer flying the Spanish flag following her. While he was making up his mind what course to pursue a puff of smoke curled up over the steamer's port bow and a round shot whistled uncomfortably close to the schooner’s mainmast ar.d plunged into the water on the lee quarter. Captain Quick gave the order to haul in sail and bring the vessel to. While this was being done one of the crew ran out on the bowsprit. As he stood there the gun on the Spanish war ship boomed again and another shot sped on its way toward the American craft, this time coming so close to her that the sailor on the bowsprit swears he distinctly felt the wind caused by its rapid flight. The Lane soon came to a dead stop, and the gunboat drew up under her quarter. A boat was lowered and four Spanish marines, under the command of a lieutenant in the Spanish navy, came aboard. They were fully armed and their leader very civilly lifted his hat and demanded to know from what port the Lane had sailed, and whither she was bound. Captain Quick gave the required information. No further search was made and the vessel was permitted to continue on her course without further molestation. Captain Quick says that he could not get the name of the gunboat. He adds that after the first shot was fired at the Lane he caused the stars and stripes to be hoisted at the peak, but the only response the Spaniards made was a sec- , ond shot. The gunboat did not hoist her colors until after the first shot was fired. Captain Quick wired his agents in Philadelphia, and will await advices from them before determining upon a course of action regarding what he considers a Spanish outrage.

-41 AV HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED. Government Officials at Washington Jilawe the Lane's Captain. Washington, July 25.—The government officials here have received no information in regard to the firing on the schooner Carrie E. Lane by a Spanish war vessel off Cape Antonio. The general of naval officers who read the report of the affair as described by Captain Quick is that the Spaniard did not exceed his authority in overhauling the schooner, if the latter was in the territory of Cuba. The Spanish government, it is held, is menaced by the danger of the landing of filibustering expeditions on the Cuban coast, and in exerting itself to prevent such landing has a right to overhaul and learn the character of any vessel within the three-mile limit that might be suspected of having on board those entertaining designs against the government or a cargo intended for the insurgents. Captain Quick's story shows he paid no attention to the man-of-war for an hour or more. This, it is said, probably caused the captain of the latter to believe that the schooner was engaged in filibustering methods, and prompted him to take decisive action in preventing her escape. One naval officer was emphatic in his declaration that the captain of the man-of-war was perfectly justified in what be had done. Assuming, of course, that the schooner was within the territorial limits of Cuba, it was the business of the Spanish government to intercept any vessel that might be used by the insurgents. If any report of the affair be made to the State Department some steps will likely be taken by this government, should the circumstances seem to warrant it. If the statement of Captain Quick that a solid shot was first fired directly at his vessel is sustained, it may make his case a more serious one.