The Trick Failed

Key West, Fia., May 17.- The United States cruiser Wilmington, Commander C. C. Todd, when about thirty miles east of Havana, nred four shells into a Spanish trap in the shape of a derelict, sinking it and thus doing away with another piece of Spanish trickery. The commander of the Wilmington had been warned by dispatch boats that some dangerous wreckage was drifting about the spot mentioned and the cruiser steamed in that direction to investigate the reports. An old Spanish schooner, with her deck lóaded to the rails with rusty iron, car wheels, etc., closely packed together, was found floating in the track of torpedo boats, and dispatch boats. The iron-laden schooner had evidently been sent out of Havana harbor in the hope that a torpedo boat or small craft of the blockading force would crash into it and be so damaged as to cause her to sink. As wires were noticed around the iron rails on the schooner, Commander Todd believed the Spanish trap might also contain explosives, and therefore, laying off a considerable distance from her. his guns promptly sent her to the bottom. Another commission from General Gomez, the insurgent commander-inchief, has arrived at Key West. Mr. John F. Jova, the former United States vice consul at Sagua la Grande, who was landed by an American gunboat on the coast of Cuba about ten days ago, was picked up after an exciting experience with a Spanish gunboat, whieh the American gunboat chased into her harbor. Mr. Jova succeeded in reaching the camp of General Gomez and has brought back dispatches from the letter to Commodore Watson. He reports that General Gomez and the several thousand troops with him are in the best of spirits and hopeful of a speedy ending of the present situation. Mr. Jova also reports that Spanish troops are moving westward, keeping in the cities. He made part of the journey along the coast in a small boat and was being chased by a Spanish gunboat when the American gunboat hove In sight. The Spaniard, though several miles off, fired a number of shots at the American vessel. The latter proceeded to piek up Mr. Jova and two companions of the former consul and then chased the Spanish gunboat, which promptly scudded for safety into port.