Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-19
Flying Squadron,
u. S. Flagship Brooklyn,

follows:
Flying Squadron,
"U. S. Flagship Brooklyn,
off Santiago de Cuba, May, 80, '9S.
"Sir:-1.-I have the honor to report
that the squadron sailed from Key
West on the morning of the 18th inst.
for Cienfuegos, Cuba, in obedience to
orders from Rear Admiral Sampson.
In company with the flagship were the
Massachusetts, Texas and Scorpion.
En- route passed the Nashville, Marble
head and Wasp, communicating with
the last named vessel. Off Cape An
tonic l communicated with the Gin
cinnati and Vesuvius, scouting.
"2.-On the morning of the 22d inst,
the squadron stood in for the entrance
of CienfUegos harbor to reconnoiter,
and later in the day passed the en-
trance twice, close in. AS | had heard
the firing of guns On the previous
afternoon in the direction of the port,
and as there was considerable smoke
observed in the harbor, | was led to
believe that
THE SPANISH SQUADRON
might have arrived there. That day
the Dupont Joined me with dispatches
from Admiral Sampson, directing that
the blockade Of Cienfuegos be pre-
served and that the Scorpion be sent
to communicate with the Minneapolis
and Harvard, off Santiago. Also on
this day the Iowa joined the squadron.
GA line of blockade was estab
lished about four miles off shore and
at night an inshOre line was main
tanned, consisting variOusly of the
Scorpion, Dupont and Castine, the last
named vessel arriving on the 23d, con-
voying the Merrimac.
"4.-Also on the 23d inst, the Hawk
arrived with dispatches from Admiral
Sampson, directing me to move east
ward with the squadron to Santiago, if
satisfied that the enemy's vessels were
not in Cienfuegos. Not being satisfied
at this time that they were not there,
l held my position, being further
strengthened in my opinion by the
fact that l was informed by the cap
tan of the British steamer Adula that
when he left Kingston a cableglaml had
been received, on the Thursday pre- y
ing my arrival off Cienfuegos, stffing
that the Spanish squadron had
SAILED FROM SANTIAGO!
"5.-The Iowa, Castine and Dupont
took coal from the collier on that day,
the Iowa particularly needing coal, as
sns had sailed from Key West to join
this squadron before completely coal
ing, and was considerably short
Con the oath inst the Marblehead,
Vixen and Eagle joined the squadron,
and the Marblehead and Eagle were
Immediately sent to communicate with
the insurgents to the westward CT Glen
fuegos and to furnish them with am
munition, clothing and dynamite. Up
IN commander McCalla's return, in the
course of the afternoon, he reported to
me that he had obtained information
that the Spanish squadron was not in
Cienfuegos. Dispatches were at once
sent by the Dupont to Admiral Samp-
son, and to Commodore Remy for the
department indicating that this squad
ron would move toward Santiago Dc
Cuba.
''7-Great difficulty has been expert
enced in coaling the Texas, on account
of her projecting Sponsors, in any sea
way whatever, and only under the most
favorable conditions can she go along
side collier. In anything more I'M
favorable than absolutely smooth wa
ter there is great danger of injury,
collier. In this connection the advan-
tage of tumble home to the side is
very marked, insuring great
| FREEDOM FROM ACCIDENTS
due to the projections on the ships
side.
rS-After dark on the evening of the
24sh the squadron stood to sea to the
eastward, with the Brooklyn, Massa-
chussetts, Iowa and the Texas in col
umn natural order; the -Iarblehead
Vixen and Eagle on the outer flank,
and the collier inshore of the battle
ships The Castine was left at Glen
fuegos to notify the Scorpion on her
return, should she not be sighted by
us, to proceed to Key West in company.
''9-The run to Santiago was marked