Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-07-07

fell in with stranger, spoke her ana
sent an officer and small boat crew
aboard her to examine her papers.
She was found To be a Norwegian
steamer laden with fruit from Vera
Cruz, Mexico, and was, of course, al
lowed TO go on her way. That night
another call To quarters tumbled all
hands out OF their hammocks and into
their places at the guns. About ii p.
IN. one of the out-laying picket boats OF
Simpsons fleet spoke Us about 40 miles
east of Santiago. Signals were eX-
changed, our private letter for That
night was made and we were allowed
TO proceed on our course. At II. M
June 10th we drew into the finest heet
| have ever seen alloat Again we saw
the Spanish flag floating over the for
tiiications which are also called Moro.
At 10 o'clock that day we were ordered
to convoy the Panther TO Guantanamo
Bay and assist in landing her 900
marines. On our way and about ten
miles east OF Santiago running within
mile and half Of shore we dis
covered Spanish flag floating from
the crest Of one OF the foothills that
run along between the shore and the
mountains. Another call to quarters
came and about twenty shots were fired
at the works around that flag. The
fire was not returned and we have no
means of knowing whether any of the
shots took effect or not. That after
noon the marines were all landed and
pitched their camp where the day be-
fore had been a small blockhouse and a
garrison of Spanish soldiers. 1t was
also the terminus of cable connection
with Hayti which was destroyed. Some
Of our boys got ashore and picked up
some fine trophies including small
siX-pound cannon which the fleeing
soldiers had left behind. The next
day, Saturday, June IL, we returned to
Santiago and that night took position
in the blockading. The next morning
at daylight a beautiful plan of blockade
was seen. A bout two miles off the
entrance to the harbor lay semi-cir-
Gle of battleships SO close to one an
other that all through the darkness of
the night the great black forms OF the
ships nearest to you could be seen.
Inside this circle and seemingly down
within the very reach OF the Spanish
lay three torpedo boats while back OF
this line OF battleships lay the colliers,
transports, supply ships, etc. ALL
through the night searchlights were
pouring their blaze down into the
mouth of the harbor, which is only 500
feet wide, so that it would be impossi-
BILE for any boat large or small to
emerge unseen. Sunday morning
about 10 o'clock June l2) we put to
sea again as did also the Yankee,
named by the n Y. Naval Reserves.
Sunday night we arrived off the coast
of Jamaica where we have been steam
ing around ever since in search Of
Spanish steamer supposed to be loaded
with "a cargo of supplies. The Yankee
put off in another direction on the
same errand. We expect now to be in
the harbor OF Kingston, Jamaica, with
in a day or two when | will mail this
letter and il anything happens between
now and then | will add that also.
Goodness knows when we will get any
mail again but write me and | will do
the best | can. have been two days
writing this. | understand this morn
ing that there is not single one of
our men on the sick list. There are
two marines and one coal passer sick
but none of our boys.
Love to you all,