FIRST GUNS AND FIRST PRIZES OF THE WAR.
Capture of the LaFayette—The Government Orders Her Release—
Towing Prizes Into Key West—The Spanish Set a Trap—The Vicksburg
and the Morrill Take the Bait—The Spanish Gunners Poor Marksmen—
Another Narrow Escape.
Shortly after the proclamation of the blockade of Cuban ports a
capture was made which threatened international complications. The
French mail steamer LaFayette was held up almost under the guns of
Morro Castle.
The Annapolis hailed her in the harbor offing and receiving no answer but a show of the French tricolor plumped a six-pounder across her bows and brought her up standing.
PRAYERS AND TEARS IN STATEROOMS.
Of the 161 cabin passengers on the steamer eighty were women and children. They locked themselves in the staterooms when the warning shot was fired and the Annapolis and Wilmington approached, and gave themselves up to prayers and tears.
Most of the passengers were Spaniards or Cubans, and there were a few Mexicans. Nearly all were bound for Havana.
The steamer was filled to the hatches with medicines, provisions, wines and cotton goods consigned to merchants in Havana and Vera Cruz, Mexico. It is estimated that the value of the ship's cargo was nearly $500,000. Her net tonnage is 4,000 tons. She hails from Santander, France, and cleared from Corunna, Spain, April 23, two days after the President issued the blockade proclamation, although Captain Lechapelane declared he was not notified.
As soon as official notice of her capture reached Washington telegrams were sent ordering immediate release.
The explanation for this action on the part of the administration is given in the statement which follows and which was issued from the White House: