Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-26
BLOCKADE WITHOUT INCIDENT.
No Signs of Activity Along the Gu
ban COast-Havana Lights Ex-
tfuRufahed AGAIN.

No Signs of Activity Along the Gu.
ban Coast-Havana Lights Ex-
tinguished Again.
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT WANDA, OFF HA-
VANA, May a. via KEY WEST. FLA.
May 25.-(Copyright, 1888, by the Associated
Press.) The situation on the blockade
from Cardenas, east of Matanzas, to Ma
riel, west of Havana, remains unchanged
The American squadron continues to main
tain strict blockade and for the last five
days there has been no fighting at any
point and no incident worth noting. except
that one Of the large cruisers fired three
shots at schooner or Havana on Sun
day morning and brought her to. She
proved to be an American vessel and after
she had displayed her colors she was per-
mitted to proceed without there being any,
body sent on board to examine her papers.
To an outsider the leisure and freedom
with which the American squadron cruises
within sight and range Of shore. batteries
suggests yachting trip rather than actual
warfare. The stern grimness Of the war
painted vessels. alone dispels the Illusion
of fleeting pleasure craft out for sum.
mer cruise.
Unchallenged and. undisturbed. the
movements of the American vessels in
front of Havana are kept up constantly
by day, as II to remind the Spaniards be-
hind the walls Of the fort of their forlorn
and hopeless condition. The vessels of
the feet are kept in total darkness.
F At daybreak, signs Of life manifest them
selves aboard the fleet and the smaller
boats creep in shore. cruising several miles
eastward and westward, patrolling the
Ny,
shore through telescopes and glasses.
On shore all along the line from Car
denas to Mariel no signs of life are visi-
hle. From Diana Key lighthouse, at the
mouth Of Cardenas harbor, to Moro castle.
at the entrance of the bar of Havana, the
coas: presents the appearance of desert
ed island. No building, not even a hut.
is in sight. Havana itself offers but few
more visible signs of life. Moro castle is
in complete darkness. The revolving light
on its lighthouse. which, in expectation of
the arrival of Admiral Cervera's squad
ron, has been kept burning for several
nights as beacon to welcome him to
shelter. was extinguished Sunday night,
and has not been lighted. The whole city
appears to- be in pitch darkness. 1t Is
only when the dispatch boat approaches
within q couple of miles of the shore that
one can make out a few stray fitful lights
along the water front from the Punta to
the Chorrera.
Beyond that there is no reflection of
lights in the heavens, no glamor from the
once brilliantly lighted streets, and parks
Of Havana. The landscape as seen OF Ha-
vana between sunset and dawn is one
weary. dreary.vast and all-absorbing night,
its blackness relieved only by the misty
crescent of watery new moon hardly
rOl, fn OF olA
the restless and ominous waters Of the
gulf. p. .,ss,.
At night the fleet moves further OF the
shore, two or three Of the larger ships
commanding the approaches to the harbor
and the smaller craft strung out in line
between them. Signaling by means Of red
and white lights is kept up constantly dur
ing the night between the vessels OF the
feet. and only IN the vent Of alarm is the
searchlight turned to scan the horizon.
During the last four nights only once has
the, searchlight been turned on any vessel
Of the blockading squadron. and then only
for very few minutes.