The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-06-16
FROM A KENOSHA BOY
DAVID THELEEN WRITES HOME
FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS.
OPERATIONS OFF SANTIAGO
How the First Attack Was Made and the
Part Played BY the Kenosna Sail
ors The Other Movements
of the Fleet.

Very likely by this time you have re-
ceIyed m5 a sent while We
were off Cienfuegoo. dou'J know
when or how this will reach you but [
will begin it so that if the opportunity
to send it should come | will have 1t
ready.
We are now off Santiago as you see
and it is very likely that we will re-
main here for several days. When we
left Cienfuegos our fleet consisted of
the Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Iowa,
Texas, Marblehead, Eagle, Viven, (the
last two are yachts converted), and
the collier Merrimac. AS the fleet
neared this region We came across the
large cruisers Minneapolis, st. Paul,
Yale and Harvard, (for the use of the
last three the government IS paying
$2500 apiece and of course we had
general quarters SO as to be all ready
for them in case they we're the enemy.
Since then we have been lying off here
about twenty miles from shore and
making preparations one day to go to
Haiti and the next to Key West. Sew
eral of the ships are now out scouting
in hopes of learning something of the
whereabouts of the Spanish feet.
Last night the Texas and Marble
head coaled and tomorrow | think it
very likely we will take aboard hun
dred tons or 80, despite the fact it is
Sunday. We hardly know what to
think of the policy Of the strategy
board at Washington, but l hope it
will soon meet this bothersome little
fleet and get them out of the way.
The weather though warm has been
quite pleasant especially at night but
our rooms and quarters are something
almost unbearable. 1t is very hard TO
sleep in our room for at night all ports
and matches must be closed to exclude
light and to have everything ready Tor
general quarters. But | think that
I'm standing it very we'll for they tell
me that I'm getting fat and 7 think it
is very true too.
Sunday, May 30.
Last night | had to stop to 60 on
watch and now | will try to add few
words this afternoon. We are coaling
and the fleet is lying about six or eight
miles from the shore. Last night we
could see the Notifications at the en-
trance of the harbor but could see
nothing else of imper ance ashore.
About seven O'Clock a torpedo boat
was sighted south steaming quickly to
the westward, but she soon disap
peared and nothing more has been
card of her. About eleven the search
lights of the st. Paul, which was out
on scouting duty, were seen several
times; and this morning she was with
the fleet. We have kept the brightest
of lOokouts at night and the guns
crews of all the secondary battery sleep
at their guns.
Well, this morning as the feet
steamed close by the entrance, what
should we see but two large Spanish
cruisers, very much like the Vizcaya
and Christobol Colon, and several tor
pedo boats. They seemed to be at
anchor in the entrance, but did not
seem anxious for an engagement. The
fort, which is quite massive and on the
high rock at the entrance, defiantly
showed the red and yellow flag of
theirs. We are waiting here now, but
perhaps tonight we will be in the thick
of lively mix up. About 10 this
morning while was on watch the sig
nal came from the flagship to send mail
on board. | intended to send this to
you, but could not get the opportunity
Soon the st. Paul shot off to the east
ward, very likely fOr Key West, with
the news that we have at last found the
enemy. Perhaps when this reaches
YOU the battle will have been fought
and won and you would have done
novhing but worry had ! SEM my letter
this morning.
The mountain scenery here is grand.
Some of tho p0aka tower mp about $500
feet. Santiago has q fine and long
harbor, over two miles long, very IT.
regular. bounded by high hils and pro
tected at the entrance by high islands
So it is not at all unlikely that the
whole noet is 1sGdyn N -hor@ 9nc wha'
we have most to fear IS ? torpedo at
tack at night. Their fort, Moro Cas-
tie, is Quite formidable looking anc
there are several batteries on che right
and on the left OF tne narrow enJrance
We could see the Dagos watching rs
this morning. but I think it very an
H.sv that tAa will 'are r. ea
three battlesa'ps and several vel
areno6 10 be seornad together w
u ans ge Will ao~ .e ONE r}mo
Before we lesG C.8afuegoa no Scor
pion was one ordered to go to tht
east Ga soOutng duty
and since then nothing has been seer
CLo bn 30 oil