ok the Spanish colours of the schooner, ran them up, and boldly
sailed in. There were six men on the two other boats, and they watched the
approach of their supposed compatriots with calmness that speedily changed
to consternation when Nevis and the other "jackie" suddenly whipped their
rifles to their shoulders, and demanded an immediate surrender.

The scared Spanish seamen lost no time in complying, and had the unique
experience of surrendering to their own flag. Then, scorning all aid,
Nevis took them out to his ship, and in the most matter-of-fact manner
reported the adventure to his astonished commander.

The capture was no mean one, for these six men gave important information
to the American ships.

_August 1._ The Norwegian steamer _Franklin_, of about five hundred tons,
bound from Vera Cruz with a cargo of food supplies, was captured by the
converted yacht _Siren_ off Francis Key, near Caibarien.

_August 6._ The Norwegian steamer _Aladdin_, sugar-laden, was captured by
the auxiliary gunboat _Hawk_ off Cadiz Light, Isle of Pines.

_August 7._ The auxiliary gunboat _Viking_ captured the Norwegian steamer
_Bergen_ off Francis Key.

_August 8._ General Shafter and the Spanish General Toral held a
consultation at the palace in Santiago, with regard to the embarkation of
the Spanish prisoners of war. As a result of the conference, one thousand
of the Spanish sick and wounded were taken on board the _Alicante_ next
morning, to be sent to Spain as soon as the vessel was properly loaded.

_August 10._ The President to-day promoted Sampson and Schley to be
rear-admirals, ranking in the order named.

A department of the army, to be known as the Department of Santiago, was
created, and Maj.-Gen. Henry W. Lawton assigned to its command.

The Norwegian steamers _Aladdin_ and _Bergen_ were released, by orders
from Washington.

_August 12._ The flag-ship _San Francisco_, the monitor _Miantonomah_, and
the auxiliary yacht _Sylvia_ were fired upon by the Havana batteries. One
10 or 12-inch shell struck the _San Francisco's_ stern as she turned to
get out of range, and tore a hole about a foot in diameter, completely
wrecking Commodore Howell's quarters, and smashing his book-case to
fragments. Nobody was injured, and, being under orders not to attack the
batteries, the ships retreated as fast as their engines could carry them.

_August 13._ General Shafter, at Santiago, learned that Manzanillo had
been bombarded for