The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-03

On Board the Flagship New York,
off Havana, May l. (via Key West, Fla,
MAY 2-The hloCFade of Havana con-
tinues. The United states fleet at this
hour is concentrated, lying about ten
miles off Moro castle. The cruiser
Montgomery and the tug Osceola have
arrived from Key West The Iowa, In
diana, Detroit and Mayhower are lying
close to the flagship New York, but the
Mayfower is going back to Key West.
The weather is fine and a stiff breeze
is blowing.
Captains Evans and Taylor came ON
board the flagship during the day and
had q consultation with Rear Admiral
Sampson and Captain Chadwick.
The British steamship Strathdee Cap
tain Currie, from Progreso to Segua
Ia Grande, in ballast, was made to
heave to at 1.30 o'clock this morning,
after two shots had been fired from the
flagship. The Strathdce was boarded,
proved her identity and was allowed to
proceed, as Sagua Ia Grande is not
blockaded port. Captain Currie said he
had been stopped twice before during
the night. That is the only incident Of
interest which has occurred during the
last twentv-four hours.
MOVEMENT PLANNED.
On Board the Associated Press Des-
patch Boat Dauntless, (via Key West,
Fla, May ga demonstration by the
fleet off the coast of Cuba is hardly eX-
pected today; but, it is understood a
movement has been planned, A howl
ing gale is blowing and the sea is run
ming high.
A long conference was held on board
the flagship New York yesterday be-
tween Rear Admiral Sampson, Captain
Evans, of the Iowa, Captain Taylor,
of the Indiana and Captain Chadwick,
of the New York, the purpose of which
could not be ascertained. Early yes
terday the New York steamed to the
westward, past Havana, which was in
plain view from the vessel, and picked
up the Indiana and then the Iowa, TAX
ing the commanders of both ships
aboard. Tugs were then sent out, call
ing in all the other vessels of the fleet
in that vicinity, and at noon, the fol-
lowing ships were lying off the bat
teries west of Havana and within eight
miles of the shore: The flagship New
York, the battleships Iowa and In
diana, the cruisers Detroit and Marble
head, the gunboats Castine, Mayflow-
er, Hornet and Mangrove and the tugs
Osceola, Wampatock and Tecumseh.
There were also four newspaper de-
Spatch boats in proximity, all the Ves-
sells being within a radius of 1000
yards and visible plainly from the
shore. There was every indication that
q concerted movement of some kind
was in contemplation, and those on the
flagship who were ignorant of the OBJ
jeCt of the conference expected COntid-
emily that the recent bombardment of
the Spanish batteries at Matanzas and
the firing on a troop of Spanish cav
airy at Cabanas We're to be repeated
on the more formidable batteries near
Havana. The weather conditions,
however, were anything but favorable
for an attack, for a fOrty-knot gale
was blowing and the waves were tre-
mendous. Even the big battleships
were unsteady, the smaller vessels be-
ing tossed about with every wave like
shells.
After the ships had remained in posi-
tion for several hours, it became evil
dent that no immediate movement was
contemplated. The flagship finally
drew away from the others and
steamed slowly past MORO Castle
without incident The remainder of
the fleet then opened out and returned
te their various stations along the
coast.
There has been no special excitement
among the vessels for the past fortv-
eight hours. except a ripple caused by
the chase of the British tramp steam
ship Starthdee on Saturday night.
News OF the engagement between the
United States and Spanish fleets at
Manlla mas not yet reached the Cuban
biockadlng squadron, but they prob
ably will be advised of it this morn
ing by vessels which left here during
last night.