Two Vessels Captured from Spain Nearing Washington
The Spanish gunboats Alvarado and Sandoval, captured in the capitulation of Santiago, and now flying the stars and stripes, are expected to arrive at the Washington navy yard some time this afternoon, one of them having passed Indian Head shortly after 2 o’clock. The steamers are coming here direct from, the Norfolk navy yard, where they arrived about ten days ago. They are In command of American naval officers who were prominent in the operations in the West Indies, one being Lieut. Blue of the navy, the first American officer to report upon the position of Cervera’s fleet in the then blockaded harbor of Santiago. The boats were in the harbor when the city surrendered last July, and a controversy arose between the army and naval authorities as to which had the right to the prizes.
The Sandoval and Alvarado are small gunboats and are in fairly good condition, it is said. They will be repaired, perhaps at the navy yard here, or may be ordered later to to the Portsmouth or Brooklyn yards. Just what the intention of the Navy Department is in regard to this matter is not fully known. The gunboats are built for use in the shallow waters of the West Indies, and will be of great service to the navy for patrol duty about the islands, and in the small harbors of Cuba and Porto Rico. Drawing bit five feet four inches of water, the little boats can run in almost any place without fear of grounding. They are of steel construction and were launched in 18955 at Clydebank. They have triple expansion engines and one screw propeller each; have one funnel or smokestack and two pole masts. The other dimensions are: Length, 110 feet; beam, 15 feet 6 inches; displacement, 100 tons. Their coal capacity is 10-17 tons; speed. 10 knots; armament, one six-pounder and one one-pounder.
Evening Star, Washington, DC, January 3, 1899