The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-22
INCIDENTS of THE VOYAGE.
Close Watch Kept for Spanish Gun
boats-SicI Transferred at Sea.


boats-SicIS Transferred at Sea.
Copyright. 1898. by the Associated Press.)
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA with the
United States transport ships June 20,
room, via the Mole ST. Nicholas, Haiti. June
q, l a. m.-The feet of United States trans
ports having on board 1900 men, under the
command of General Shafser, arrived off
Santiago de Cuba at noon to-day being ex-
actly six days out from Port Tampa. The
army of invasion LETT Egnont key at noon
on Tuesday. June ID. conveyed by the
United States war ships Indiana, Castne,
Helena, Annapolis, Bancroft, Morrill, and
Hornet The passage was necessarily slow.
two big water barges and the schooner
Stevens, also used for water, had to be
towed. At Red Key shoals lighthouse the
feet was joined by the United States war
ships Detroit, Manning. Osceola, Wasp and
Ericsson.
When the transport fleet left Port Tampa
It was the intention of those in authority
to take the western course, around Cape
Antonio. but later ii was decided to go via
the Florida straits, that being shorter dis
lance After the fleet got into the rough
water of the straits the transports were
formed into three lines, about 1000 yards
apart while six hundred yards separated
the ships.
The easily advancing transports presented
a very impressive spectacle. stretching for
miles over the blue waters. 1t was one of
the lagest fleets ever gathered together the
grim-looking men-of-war lowering like
watch dogs on the outskirts of the human
freighted ships.
At night every precaution was taken to
guard against possible attack. No lights
were allowed on the transports and the gun
boats near the shore were double while at
frequent intervals searchlights swept the
shore in the neighborhood of Cuba in quest
OF hostile vessels. Throughout the voyage
not one Spanish gunboat nor sight of the
enemy was seen. On Friday the conveying
feet Of war ships was reinforced by the
Montgomery and Porter, off Puerto Prin-
cipe.
The voyage throughout was monotonous
and uninteresting. To the weary soldiers
life on board a troop ship is as uninteresting
as life on fruiter. The spectacle of trans
ferring the sick at sea was presented on
Saturday. For four hours the fleet lay to
while the ships boats carried fourteen pa
tients to the hospital ship OIivette. In the
rough waters of the Bahama channel this
work for the little boats was quite difficult,
and the hosting of the limp forms to the
rolling deck of the Olivette seemed danger
GUS. But it was accomplished in safety.
The weather throughout the voyage, was
excellent, and, consequently, there was little
suffering from sea sickness. But fourteen
cases of typhoid fever and some measles de-
veloped, the former being especially on the
boats which carried horses and mules Sur
gsons, however, say the health of the men
is Unexpectedly good
The first sight of land was obtained in the
vicinity of Santiago de Cuba, and when the
topmasts of the blockading ships were seen
they sent thrill of enthusiasm through
the soldiers. and they are now eagerly
awaiting the landing in Cuba. The men
seem confident of a swift and easy victory,
but they seemed rather to hope for hard
fighting.
The heat and long confinement in the
holds Of the transports have told severely
on the horses and mules. and many of them
died during the last days of the voyage.