New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-30
THE TRIP TO CIENFUEGOS.
INCIDENTS ON THE FLYING sQUADRoN'S
VOYAGE.
ACCIDENT TO THE NAsHvIILE-SToRf OF IN
sJRGENT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE BRooKLYN's GUNS.
oconvrght: 1905: The Associated Press)


orr Cienfuegos Cuba, May 23.-The squadron as
s,gned n snecial duty and which takes its name
from its first nucleus the Flying Squadron. left
Key West on Thursday. May 10 1t consisted or the
arnnored cruiser Brooklyn. flying the commodoreS
flag Of Winfield Scott schey and under command
Of Captain Francis A. Cook; the batte-ship Massa-
chusetts. commanded by Francis j. Hgginson; the
battle-ship Texas. commanded by John w. Phiiip'
and the Scorpion converted yacht. commanded by
Lieutenant Commander Adolph Mark
Commodore Schey's orders were 10 proceed 70
Cienfuegos where he would be joined by the Iowa.
then taking coal at Key West; the Marblehead and
the Nashville and two torpedo-boats The Iowa.
frst-class battle-ship in command OF Captain Rod
lev n Evans; the Marblehead. third-rate cruiser,
in command Of Commander Bowman H. McCala,
and the Nashville, third-rate cruiser. IN command
OF Washburn Maynard. together with the promised
torpedo boats and perhaps some fast gunooats'
would It was believed, mako an invinciDle squad
Less than two hours out from Key West, and
while running TO the southwest the cruiser Marble
head was seen going the northeast She Sig
nailed that she returning 10 Key west ioi
coal A half-hour later tho converted yacht wasp
was sighted and the Scorpion. at COMMODORE
Schley's order, sent out 10 intercept ner anu
get news She reported that the blockade at Glen
fuegos had been practically abandoned by the snah
feet that had done such splendid work there. hav-
ing received the United States Governments notice
that the Spanish feet was supposed TO De neadins
IN that directon She also reported that the Nash
v,lls had blown out one OF her starooard high-
pressure cylinder-heads and was steaming SLOWLY
for repairs There had been no firing at Cienfuegos
since the cabe-cutting episode. The Wasp was
allowed 10 proceed.
Tho SQUADRON took an eleven knot gait, and after
the ships we're cleaned OF the dirt made by taking
on coal active preparations for battle were made.
the decks being stripped for action and tho main
batteries loaded.
At O'Clock the Nashville passed the squadron
within hailing distance. bound for Key West. She
sisnallcd her number and destination. and was not
stopped
on Friday morning. at 9 o'clock, when just m
sight Of the Cape San Antonio light. the smoke OF
two steamers made out on the horizon A can
10 tho guns and to prepare for action awakened
the greatest enthusiasm among officers ana men,
and much disappointment was manifest when the
strangers were made out 10 be the United States
cruiser Cincinnati and the dynamite cruiser 'esu-
vius Captain Chester OF tho Cincinnati came
aboard the Brooklyn and 20 Commodore echey
gave summary OF their patrol work ABOUT tho
coast. They had not seen tho spanish Meet OF any
Indications OF IL
To captain Cook tho captain OF the Cincinnati
said that he believed It to be OF no use to attempt
20 land munitions OF war on the coast unless We
also landed troops. for absolutely no oepehoehee
could be placed upon the insurgents for assistance
q believed that the arms ana hHiHuil'ou aheooJ
landed were IN the hands OF the Spanish. Maceo'
tho insurgent leader had not shown any interest
IN the matter but had pretended 10 be insulted
because communications sent him al great risK OF
u.e were not officially addressed.
The Cincinnati and the Vesuvius went on to Key
West TO get coal
on Saturday AZ O'Clock Cienfuegos was sighted.
on Sunday morning at 1880 o'clock while ali were
az breakfast q torpedo-boat seen near tho
entrance OF tho harbor. There was quick call TO
general quarters but the boat disappearing. break
fast was resumed. At o'clock tho smoke OF
steamer was to the southwest 1t proved TO
be tho torpedo-boat Dupont. with dispatches for
the fleet
A close inspection OF the harbor OF Cienfuegos
failed to reveal any indication OF the Spanish fleet.
although the shore batteries dchantly raised their
Spanish standards. A group OF cavalry was seen
on shore, but 10 attempt made 10 fire on
them
At noon the Iowa steamed within sight and
Joined the squadron Commodore schey allowed
the men % cheer Fighting Bob and his splendid
battle-ship. The Iowa announced that the Marble
head the Castine and the collier Merrmac would
be here In the morning.
At o'clock Commodore Schley took his squadron,
most formidable aggregation OF SHIPS. and
ran close into Cienfuegos Harbor, discovering that
schooners and a small gunboat. 1T is the Spanish
squadron I'm looking FOR" said the. Commodore.
"and not few almost ruined spanish subjects IN
Cuba" and not shot was fired
At 5 o'clock tho Scorpion was sent away 70 Santi-
purpose OF communicating with the Minneapolis or
The Harvard 50 that they could take dispatches
from tho fleet TO Hayti for direct cable to the
Navy Department. The Minneapolis which is still
attached TO tho Flying Squadron left Hampton
Roads one day later than the rest OF the squadron
and went to the east. completing. with the rest OF
the squadron. IA circuit of the island OF Cuba.
The men IN the port s-nch turret OF the Brook
Ign had signs painted TO put over their guns on
sunday. labelling them the Dewey and the Schley.
In the starboard turret were the Farragut and the
Gushing. and in the forward turret the Kid Mccoy
and the John l.. Sullivan. One OF the 5-inch guns
was named the Paul Jones. and in Lieutenant
Rushs after s-nch turret the two big guns
named the Lawrence and the Perry.
On Monday morning. May %. great excitement was
caused by that the Spanish feet at
Santiago de Cuba. The brought by tho
Hawk the converted yacht. which came from Key
West with the gunboat Castine and the collier
Merrimac. Her captain said that the Minneapolis
which had been sent scouting through tho Wind
ward Passage, had discovered the fleet on Thurs
day morning and had run TO Hayti and cabled the
information.
CAPTAIN PAGET AT KEY WEST.