Evening star., 1898-08-20

H.
was uninjured by her mishap in the mud
The circumstances under which she ran
aground were very eNcuSable. The St.
Paul had anchored almost across the en-
trance to the bay and the Brooklyn, while
passing her stern on Thursday night had to
suddenly steer away to avoid rammins a
transport which, without warning, had
backed away from along the big scout.
The channel buoy was not in position and
the cruiser stuck her nose lightly in the
mud. The efforts of the tug Wampatuck
to get her off at night failed, but on Fri
day she was pulled off by the Oregon after
the crew had owed some CT her heavy
ammunition.
Promptly at 10 o'clock on Sunday morn
ing the New York sigraled to go to sea,
and the Oregon, nearest the entrance.
moved out. The Brooklyn followed, and as
she passed the Badger, the Vixen, the
Massachusetts and the Dragon, the men of
these ships lined up on deck and cheered
vociferously.
When tie New York passed the column
ON her way out to take the lead her band
vas playing Amt 1 Glad to Get Out of
the Wilderness and the ships caught
the air there was applause. 1t was decided
to run at eight knots an hour, the Indiana
being incapable of sustaining a greater
sped, and with the New York leading, the
big ships headed westward.
At o'clock Cape Maisi on the extreme
left of Cuba, was sighted, and at o'clock
the column of ships headed to the north.
At 150 the land for whose freedom Ameri-
can bravery had been tested and American
blood shed slowly faded from view and 1t
was a singularly significant fact that the
gun deck of the Brooklyn, at the breech of
the big engines of destruction that few
short weeks ago had dealt death to an en-
emy, a peaceful multitude raised its voice
in the third verse of "America:'
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees,
Sweet freedoms song!
Let mortal tongues awake,
Let all that breathe partake,
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolongi"
The Last Look.
So the fleet that for nine long weeks had
aided and watched the progress of freedom
took last leave of Cuban shores. Monday
morning found the fleet in sight of some of
the smaller islands, but away from Cuba
and in the Windward Passage. The In
diana had developed nine-knot speed and
greater progress than expected had been
made.
Tuesday the fleet passed in view OF the
island where Colt mbus made his first lard.
ing. The Indiana early in the day Signaled
that she 1ad broken her starbOard con-
denser and after she lad spent three hours
fixing 1t she had to go to work for SIM
liar length of time OF the port condenser
Despite the delay, one-half of the distance
had been made at Wednesday noon, the
rate of 200 miles day having been ac-
COHlplSHtu. Win I0e exception OF the IN
diana, the fleet could have made eleven
kf OTIS an hour, the r-aximum speed of the
Iowa and Massachusetts. The Oregon,
New York and Brooklyn could have made
thirteen knots. but Admiral Sampson de-
cided to keep them all together.
Wednesday afternoon the Indiana got
speed of nine knots, and from that time
until Sandy Hook was reached the men in
her fire and engine rooms did splendid
vcrk. The trip was by no means simple
excursion home. Besides the daily routine.
there were fire and collision drills on all
ships and active work done in painting and
repairing.
The weather was fine, and rounding Cape
Eatteras usually stormy, there was 4
calm. hot day. Thursday and Friday were
uneyentful, but very pleasant days. Satur-
day at a. n, Running by Scotland Light.
the navy yard tug brought out an order
for the feet to proceed up the North river
to Grants tomb, fire a salue and return to
Tompkinsvil!e to anchorage.