The herald., 1898-04-23
SAILED FROM KEY WEST
TO BEGIN THE BLOCKADE OF
HAVANA
SCORE OF ARMORED VESSELS
The Flying Squadron Lying Off Fort
Monroe Ready to Start at an
Hours Notice
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
KEY WEST, Fla, 22.-The North At
lantic squadron, except the monitors Ter
ror and Puritan and the smaller cruisers,
sailed from Key West at 5:45 this morn
ing headed for the Florida straits The
skies were growing gray with the coming
dawn when the formidable family of de-
stroyers quietly and unostentatiopsiy
steamed away, presumably for the shores
of Cuba Besides the two monitors the
ships left behind are the gunboat Helena,
cruiser Marblehead and the dispatch
boat Dolphin. Throughout the long
night unusual activity on the YES
sells of the fleet told weary watchers on
shore that the long awaited advance on
Havana was near at hand, yet there was
nothing official on which to found that
belief.
Washington advices Of yesterday indi-
Gated the probability of a movement during
the night or today, but the naval men
ashore disclaimed any knowledge of or
ders. They still averred that their con-
dition of uncertainty was still unchanged.
Early in the evening, however, came the
first realization of the fact that the tedious
period of inaction was nearing its close.
When signals were hoisted recalling all
the men to the ships without delay many
interpreted this as q precautionary meas
ure, especially in view Of the fact that a
number of officers, including several from
the flagship, remained ashore and had
leave for the night. About II o'clock there
occurred a decided change in the situation
when a special boat hurried from the flag
% oil OF a m.
mediately return to the ships.
Midnight found the city empty of gold
braid and blue Jackets with which 1t had
grown so familiar. Save one or two recall
citrant jackies, whose convivial patriotism
had run away with their sense Of duty,
there was not a naval man to be found in
town. The theater of action was trans
ferred to the harbor, where glittering
panorama was enacted until daybreak ap-
peared slowly over the waters of the gulf.
For many days past the flagship majes-
tically swung at anchor about seven miles
out, fianked by her gorgeous sisters, the
Iowa and the Indiana. To the eyes of Key
West the great smokestacks were barely
visible, while the hulls lay like indefinable
shadows in the distant waters. The inner
harbor, however, offered a striking pic
ture, crowded with monitors, cruisers,
gunboats and little but sinister torpedo
boats, fitting noiselessly in and out Of the
maze Of greater vessels lying at anchor.
When twilight fell last night this scene
was unchanged. The signaling between
the distant trio of ships and those closer in
shore had been the custom ever since the
assemblage of the fleet here, but last night
vari-colored lights glimmered their mes
sages across skies almost without cessa-
ton.
The first streaks Of the morning light
were crossing from the east and two bells
just sounded from the ships when tiny
to unfamiliar eyes, an almost impercepti-
BILE, line of fire appeared on the sky above
where lay the flagship. A moment or two
after and the signal staff of the Cincinnati,
lying off Fort Taylor in the inner harbor,
flashed into colored light, acknowledging
the call.
The Puritan and Helena Joined in the in
candescent signals, and soon the skies
were Kaleidoscope, as ship after ship an
swered and new lights licked messages
fraught with the gravest Importance and
creative of history. What words, Of course,
no one ashore knew, but the few who
watched with straining eyes from sea and
docks needed no interpreter to tell that it
meant hostile action.
The message was not long in delivery,
but sunrise had fully come as the last let
ter flickered and went out. Then the wit
nesses saw that the movement had actually
begun under cover of the night. The big
ships could still be discerned in the dis
tance, but the others had moved toward
them, the flag ship drawing other ships OF
the squadron to her.
The Wilmington and Amphitrite had
slipped from their anchors and advanced
within hailing distance Of the flagship. 1t
was just 5:42 when the New York, without
unnecessary display, moved pompously
and slowly toward the outer waters OF the
gulf. The red light flashed the signal to
eager eyes on the following fleet and told
them to get in motion at last
To those ashore it looked as If the New
York was somewhat in advance Of the
line with the Iowa and Indiana following
on either side, but separated from her by
good stretch of water. AS the line ad-
vanced toward the horizon the ships
spread out until perhaps there was dis
tance of three miles between the tips of
the crescent. The ships of the inner har-
bor had stepped out one by one and
stopped by various stations until the en-
tire formation was ready to move. The
exact order of the ships could not be as
certained from the shore. From the high
est point in Key West the line was semi
circular. The ships that followed the
three leaders were the cruisers Cincin-
natl, Detroit, Nashville, the gunboats
Mo-
monitors Amphitrite, the Mangrove and
the Mayfiower and the torpedo boats Du-
pont, Porter, Winslow. Ericsson and Cush-
ing. Why the monitors Puritan and
Terror did not accompany the fleet could
not be officially learned. but it is said
they may follow shortly. The Marble
head is taking on water and will doubtless
ioin the squadron in n day or two. The
Fern went to Tampa for ammunition for
the fleet and will carry 1t to Havana If
that is the destination.
At present the fleet Is moving we'll out
to sea and may await further orders ii
those so far received are not final. Tor
pedo boats held here can quickly carry
such dispatch to the ship. The terrible
tension of waiting days Is past and all
ears are now strained for the thunder of
guns which will tell that the long waited
crisis is at hand at last.
The Dauntless, dispatch boat of the As
ISOLATED Press, left here with the fleet.
The departure of the fleet was not so i'm
posing as had been anticipated. On the
contrary, there was something of scram-
BILE to get away. When all was ready the
flagship swung round and came well into
the harbor. signaling to the ships to sail.