The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-18

Cotton Of the auxiliary cruiser, Harvard.
dated at Fort de France, Martinique, say.
ing that the Cape Verde squadron, "hulls
down." was off that place. "Huls down"
meant that the enemy's ships we're so far
out at sea, proceeding westward, that their
hulls were below the line OF vision. This
intelligence created the liveliest concern in
official quarters at Washington. 1t was
clear that the dispatches from Martinique
had been delayed by collision, IL was sus-
pected, Of the French cable officials in Mar
Unique. Captain Cotton's despatch was
twenty-four hours behind time in arriving,
and no tidings at all came from the United
States consul at st. Pierre, near Fort de
France, the port on the west coast of Mar
Unique at which the Spanish squadron ar
rived and from which it departed. The
consul undoubtedly knew Of the presence
Of the Spanish ships near him, and 1t was
his duty to notify his government by cable.
1t is assumed that he did, but that the
French officials showed their we'll known
sympathy for Spain by holding back the
despatch. Thus the Spanish squadron was
given two days start OF the American
squadron under Sampson off Porto Rico,
and the squadron at Hampton Roads, I'M
der Schley. No time was lost in getting in
telligence OF the movements OF the Spanish
squadron to Admiral Sampson. Surmise
as to the maneuvers of the hostile squad
rons has been rife, and expectation OF a
hostile encounter on tiptoe.
An exploit Of unrivalled GOODNESS and
heroism was the cutting OF the cables con-
Meeting Cuba with European points, at
Cienfuegos on Wednesday, May IL. At a
few hours before the time the Winslow was
struggling in the trap in Cardenas hsrbor
four boat crews of sailors were undergoing
a similar experience on the south side of
the island. The cruiser Marblehead, gun.
boat Nashville and revenue cutter Window
lay off Cenfeugos, the westerly landing
point Of the three cables in question. Vol
unteers were called for the hazardous task
OF cutting the cables. III want you to I'M
derstand," said the officer to whom this
service was assigned, "that you are not Or
dered to do this work, and do not have to
unless you want to-" Notwithstanding
frequent warnings that the service was es-
pecially dangerous, practically the entire
crew eagerly volunteered and Lieutenant
Anderson had the pick of the men OF the
two ships. Boats equipped with instru-
ments for graphing and cutting the cables,
and manned for this work and for defence,
sailed inshore on their hazardous mission,
while the ships took position to cover the
expedition. The first cable was picked up
about ninety feet off shore and cut; the Sec
ond was then found and the men with the
cutters went to work upon it. Several
men were kept at the oars to hold the cut
ters in position. The first man wounded
was one OF these. He made no sign till he
tainted from loss Of blood. His heroic ex.
ample was followed by the others, and not
groan or complaint came from the men
whom the fast coming bullets began to bite
This cable was finally severed and the third
was tackled. The work had been carried
on under murderous fire from the shore,
which the marines in the boats returned
and shot hard enough both for themselves
snd the men whose hands were busy with
the cables and who were denied the salts
faction OF hitting back. Like silent ma
chimes they worked for half an hour on the
third cable. They had been two hours and
half under An appalling fire from the in
fantry and Maxim guns, and Lieutenant
Anderson gave the signal to drop the cable
and seek the shelter of the ships. The
third cable is an inshore line, touching at
several places to the east and connecting at
Manzanillo with land wire to Santiago de
Cuba. This is now the only line connect
ing Havana with Europe. One man was
killed, two fatally wounded, and six who
will recover.
The whereabouts of the hostile feet are
not at this time known to the public. Con.
gress is practicing a strict censorship of
the press respecting the movement of the
American squadrons. The Spanish squad
ron has been reported at various points in
the Caribbean Sea. The first accurate
public knowledge Of the exact locality OF
the ships may be the report OF battle.
Preparations for sending reinforcements
to Admiral Dewey, with Gen. Merritt in
command Of the military forces are being
pushed on the Pacific coast.
Dispatches received late last evening
from Washington state that the President
will not issue an immediate call for volun.
teers.
A cable was received last evening from
Wildman at Hong Kong, stating that the
insurgents are making plans to storm
Manila.
The Minneapolis was sighted late yester.
day afternoon near San Domingo.