The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-29

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became generally known that the commo-
uore was mistaken in thinking he had Ad-
miraI Cervera bottled up at Cienfuegos, but
this feeling of disappointment soon gave
way to renewed enthusiasm when news was
received from Santiago de Cuba. This really
Was Was more acceptable than the reports from
ceeded in effect!ng a landing at Cienfuegos
he would most likely have been able to
transport his alleged cargo of arms and am
munition to Havana, while from Santiago
de Cuba 1t will be almost impossible for him
to do so.
During the first few days out from Key
West there a heavy sea which made
life miserable for the torpedo boats Rogers
and Foote, and which made the monitors
roll very heavily. The SharpeSt kind or
lookout was kept, and more than once the
fleet went into battle formation owing to
overanxiety on the part of some men on the
lookout in the tops who thought they saw
the smoke of five Spanish war ships on the
horizon. Absolutely no lights were shown at
night. and signals were constantly ex-
The latter. generally, were the New Or
leans. Mayfiower and Machias. The latter,
which started miles ahead or were on the
TANKS of the stern of the fleet, were always
busy. Their location was learned every few
hours by the faint CLEAN of their private
display in case the Spanish fleet was sighted.
SPIRIT OF THE "JACKIES."
The eagerness with which the blue Jackets
in the tops looked and prayed for that par
ticular colored light was delightful exhi-
bition OF the spirit which prevails through
the fleet. There have been wild exhibit
tons of patriotism, but there has been
quiet, healthy evidence of real love of coun-
try and grim determination to annihilate the
enemy if possible. Officers and the men
alike seemed to fully realize that naval war
fare nowadays is almost entirely matter
of science and knowledge, in which enthu-
siasm has small part. The steady hand
and clear eye do the work at four thousand
yards, which in olden days was done with
es, pistols, axes and pixies in the hands of
almost frenzied men. So, when once or twice
during the past week it was thought that
the Spaniards were in sight, the crews of
the United States war ships were a pretty
cool lot, with telescope sights to ADJUST del
icate ammunition, hosting machinery to
watch, a score of levers to look after, and
everything depending upon the perfection OF
mechanical details. 1t has been observed
by those who have been in action this month
that the gunners mate and his crew have
no time to wave their hats and utter pa
triotic shouts.
On Thursday and Friday the squadron's
moon too lightened the work of peering
after the Spanards, and a chase, last night
was the only event worth recording. Inc
New York had left the fleet far behind and
was speeding toward Key West, with the
Vesuvius as escort. AS the sun was going
down a sail was sighted Incidentally, the
New York has habit of getting prize
the minute she leaves a fleet Consequently
the jackies became jubilant and the pro-
pellers churned the water as they had not
done since the tardy monitors made lag
gard out of the fleet New York which hc,!
bow the flagship steamed toward the
strange sail. then growing dim against the
fading background OF the dying sunset.
glorious, more beautiful than any remem-
bered even by those who have chiefly
cruised in the tropics For two nG9Fs fine 1ne
nels. The sea was perfectly calm, and the
flagship, was going as she went when she
captured the first prize, the Spanish steam
er Pedro on the first day of the war.
Gradually the strange sail doomed out
black against light cloud; There was no
need to fire gun, because the flagship was
going up alongside the stranger, though
down below stood the gun captain WIN
itching fingers. Suddenly the searchlight
was turned on the chase, and there, like a
living picture shed on a dark screen, was an
old-fashioned bark under full sail: The rays
of the searchlight just embraced her from
the water line to her royals. She lay there
like a second flying Dutchman. sudden APP
partition. The man at her wheel shaded MS
eyes from the searchlight's glare and her
crew gathered about the deckbouse. On her
poop stood plegmatic looking, red-bearded
man, wearing a blue shirt, open at the
neck Apparently he was the skipper OF the
What boat is that?" asked Lieutenant
Marble the officer of the deck, from the
bridge of the New York. In answer came
a torrent of words in an unknown tongue
from the red-bearded man on the poop or
the sailing vessel Again Lieutenant Mar
BILE shouted his question, when with Ger
man accent thick and remarkable, came the
reply: Bark Varonica, Arundel, Norway,
from Apalachicola to Queenstown with lum-
ber.''
By this time her name had been made out
on her stern and the lumber could be seen
on her decks. The Varonica was evidently
what she purported to be, so no boarding
party was required.
I'VE wish you good voyage" shouted
nj
En- asked the Varonicas skipper in
tones which embraced fear and mystitca-
ton.
In order to set at rest the disturbed mind
of the bark's commander the lieutenant
yelled his message of good will again.
"Ah!' was the exclamation of relief and
intense satisfaction which came from the
skipper of the Varonica in an accent so
thoroughly German that 1t caused roar OF
laughter to arise from the decks of the New
York running forward to where the men
were thickly clustered and extending aft to
the quarter deck, where the admiral was
sitting with his officers near by. Then the
searchlight was turned off and the Varonica
changed instantly from picturesque white
bark with meh and merriment on board of
her into a dark shadow that few seconds
later was lost sight of in the night.
The above is a characteristic incident OF
York first set sail from Key West for
Havana, though few of the chases have
brought out so wildly the picturesque ana
light side of war as did the Norwegian bark
Varonica.
There is never dispatch boat laid along
side the New York but what some crafty
seaman aboard of her, from the shelter of
a gun or awning forward, will signal to an
apurec!ative audience on the flagship all the
latest news of the scouting expeditions.
While the Dauntless was lying off the flag
ships quarter waiting for the Vesuvius to
get away two Seamen perched on top OF the
dynamite cruisers cabin were carrying on
an animated wigwag conversation with
a. crowd of seamen and marines
gathered on the great cavern OF the
New York'S midship gun port. One of the
men of the VeSuvius was doing the talking
with his hat and his remarks induced great
hilarity on board the New York. The OIL
Ger on the bridge of the dynamite cruiser
VesuviuS turned and watched the signals
for minute. From the lieutenants action
it was judged that Jack must have been
passing forecastle crlLlcismS on the fleet
officers or the fleets management, for the
officer watching him first frowned stepped
forward as though to hail the unconscious
signal man and then, still reading off the
signals broke into a smile, bit his lips
and turned his back where he could not
read the message, whatever 1t was, ana
therefore was not under any obligation to
stop it.
The Vesuvius is the swiftest of Admiral
SIMPSONS ocean scouts. She is rated at
twenty-one knots and can make eighteen
in service which is pretty good considering
how rating and service speed usually dis
agree She is the only one of our vessels
that has not taken on a dull lead color but
retains her invisible green. She can dash
I'll I'm ho a "a aft