The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01

than annoyed at this novel method or at
tacking an armored cruiser However,
Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain Chad
wick decided that the lesson taught at
Matanzas must be taught again at Cabanas.
MAN the port battery" was the order.
At few minutes past o'clock the four
inch guns in the after port battery sent a
shot flying over the water into Cuba's soil,
raising a little cloud of dust about 100 yards
in front of the hacienda and just above
where the Spanish cavalry stood. Before
the hills, growing dim in the evening mist,
had ceased echoing and reverberating the
first report, the other four-inch gun in the
after battery had landed it's projectile. A
few more shots from this battery were fired,
but the ground was evidently damp, as no
dust arose and it was hard to tell where
the shell fell. They were fired at 8, 400 yards
range. The Spaniards were not heard from
after the first shot.
The New York then turned her bow east
ward The target practice was apparently
over for the eventing. Her starboard bat
teries now bore on the coast. A moment or
so later Captain Chadwick saw the Spanish
cavalry, then mounted, ascending a hillside
towards the hacineda and he personally
trained a four-inch gun and planted two
shots. the second one Pumping right among
the Spaniards who scattered in all direc-
tions. TIE New York then steamed towards
Morro Castle and the band of the flagship
continued it's musical programme Most Of
the crew were on deck watching this little
lesson given to the Spanish, but there was
no excitement.
The trip, which ended in the target prac-
tice at Cabanas, commenced about noon,
when the flagship. with the Ericsson and
Porter, started westward. The admiral was
anxious to personally investigate the block
AIDED harbors. Upon this occasion the first
good view of the city Of Havana was OBJ
tained the New York steaming within
range of her batteries. The palace. the
cathedral and prado and the 'fortifca-
tions' were plainly visible in the bright
sunlight. Havana then looked anything but
the "city of the saffron dirt" as some peo-
pie thought she looked.
When out of range of the Santa Clara
batteries after passing the Iowa, Detroit,
Mangrove and Mayfiower, the flagship pro-
ceeded westward, steaming about two miles
distant from the shore. When Mariel,
twenty-five miles from Havana, was
reached, the flagship came to a standstill
and the gunboat Castine, which is guard
ing port, was hailed. Captain Berry there
upon went on board the flagship and had a
A careful inspection of Mariel harbor re-
vealed the presence of two small Spanish
gunboats and four schooners, well in be-
hind an old-fashioned tower on one side
and a fimsy little fort on the other. The
combined battery of the two Notifications
is one muzzle-loading cannon. The last
blockhouse of the westward trocha loomed
up on a sharp bluff shadowing the little
town.
After lying for forty minutes close into
this picturesque harbor with its low, red
rooted warehouses, royal palms and noun
famous setting the admiral proceeded to
Cabanas, saying jokingly to the corre-
spondent: "Mariel looks altogether too
peaceful to be disturbed" 1t is believed,
however, that III spite Of its peaceful ap-
pearance mines have been laid beneath
the smooth waters of Cabanas harbor.
The blockade continues as before. The
flagship lies to the westward of Havana.
The torpedo boat Porter while close in
shore last night, reports having been fired
on by the Cojimar Battery which is to
the eastward of MORO Castle. The Porter
escaped unscathed. The coast of Cuba is
being carefully patrolled by the Spanish
cavalry.
Captain Taylor, of the Indiana, came on
board the flagship to-day and had a long
consultation with Rear Admiral Sampson.
News of the movements Of the United States
army is eagerly awaited by the3fieet, and
there is much speculation as TO when the
troops will be ready. The weather, which is
cool and calm, could not be more suitable
for military operations.
While the Dauntless, the dispatch boat of
the Associated Press, was making her way
from Key West early this morning, she was
sighted by the flagship. The lookouts on
the New York were unable to make out her
identity, owing to the mist In the distance
which separated her from the flagship and
a four-inch she'll was fired in her direction
1t was aimed at the Dauntless, but was only
sent near enough to make her heave TO.
The Dauntless, thinking she was being fired
at by a Spaniard, promptly put about and
steamed away. Then she was recognized
became mutual and the Dauntless ran
alongside the New York. Later she pro-
ceeded to Matanzas.
A strict watch against a possible torpedo
attack is being kept on board the flagship.
All the available officers take deck watches
at night including the chaplain. paymas-
ters clerk and the assistant surgeon.
The small craft captured by the Whining
ton yesterday was only taken to Key West
because her crew were members Of the Sec
Ond Spanish Naval Reserves. II was
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