The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-19

miles off shore. and at night ara iushoro
| line was maintsaned the Clsti.e ar
| rived OH the Esd conveying ahe Megramac.
Also the I'D instant phe Hawk ar
| rived with dispatches from Admiral Samp
| son directing me 10 move eastward whth
| the squadron 10 Santiago if satisfied that
| the enemyS vessels We're nSt IN Cen
! fuegos. Not being satisfied at this lime
I that they We're not there, | held my po-
| siton being further strengthened in my
| opinion by what i was informed by the
f! captain OF the steamer Adula that wnen
| he left Kingston eablesram had been
received on this Thursday preceding my
| arrival off Cicntuegos Stating that The
| Spanish squadron had sailed from Santiago
On the 2ish instant the Marbleheld,
| Vixen and Eagle Joined the squadron and
Sac Marblehtad and Bagle were imnedi-
ately sent TO communicate with the Insult
gsItS TO the westward CT CieGiueE0s aud
funiy.i them with ammunition. cloth ng
and dynamite. Upon Commando MeCaila's
return In the course OF the afternoon. he
TeporDgl 10 me that he had obtalnel in
formation that the Spanish squadron WAS
MT in Cieatuagos. Dispatches were Ut
once sent by the Dupont 10 Admiral samp-
sen and to Commodore Remy for tAe de-
ulr;inent indicating that Efle squadron
would move toward santt9osase t'aissi.
After dark on the oveding IN the 2ith,
the suua4Nn went 80 the eastward. The |
L
rouGh weather 10 such extent taat the |
+. gle was uuable 10 keep up heT speed and |
FELL behind so much us 10 seriously delay |
the squadron which, was forced 70 SLOW 10 |
speed Of frccn fou, TO five KNOTS fer her |
to Il gain and hold her position. As this |
rough head sea continued with no applr- !
eut prospect OF aibstamtpt and RS the Eagle |
coal supply was becoming dangerously low, |
she was sen, to Port Ala.ono Jamaica, far |
coal wtic directions 10 make the best OF |
her way back to Key West
on arriving of Santiago de Cuba he |
collier Merrimac WAS disabled by the |
breaking of her Immediate pressure valve |
stem and the craclting of the stutilng box.
This serWed rs a further embarrassment 10
the souidNan and a source of considerable |
anxiety. as we'll az the weather condition
that had prevailed since leaving Santiago
and III appeared absolutely necessary to |
abandon the position of Santiago and seek
a place WHARF, me vessels could be cu3led
end the Mefr'mac's machinery Repaired.
OF Santiago the st. Paul Yale and Min
ncapo5 were sighted and communicated
with. The Minneapolis reported that she
had only sufficient coal TO isaCh Key West
and That her machinery Was in bali condi-
tion. The cal supply OF the other Two
scouts was also much reduced. Arrange
ments were al once made whereby the Yale
was to tow N collier and as tine prospect
cid net seem favorable for ff,ojerishng the
neaeer ooll supply ~ the other vessels. the
squadron stood 10 the westward. towing the
collier. The operation OF taking the col
Her IN tow proved to be auite difficult ow-
ing to Vie rizs AMI weight OF Inc Two ships
and the rppcalad parting Of tho low lines.
Finally ihcwaver. aiter twenty four hours
eTertons the coll#r's cable
was gotten 10 the Yale and the squadron
Tho ST. Faul NAG ordered 10
of Slnt5tgo until her coal supply !
would no longer permit q further delay
After standing 10 the westward for about
three hours. or about twenty-five miles.
The conditions became less unlaYorlblo
and the squadron stopDed Tho Texas and
Marbeheal were sent alongside the col
lNr whose injury hal been tempo arily
repaired, and coated during the night. :
inasmuoh as i, was known that in CAGE |
be Spanish squadron had reachd Santiago. ]
Admiral Simpson Mas able 10 block any .
movement OF the enemy through the Ba- 9
rama channel my intention In standing 10 /
The westward WAS. should il b,comn nece5-
sary to bar any effort of the enemy 70 C
reach Havana by dash through ;ane Yuna-
IAN passage.
on the Gath we continued coaling The
Texas and Marblehead and later the Vixen
10 the afternoon, having managed 10 get
,utfIAent coal into the vessels 10 enable
hem TO remain wuh the squadron, w \
shaped course for Santiago of which port
se arrived about dusk. Establ i'hed an
Dner pickt line. consisting Of the vixen G
and Marblehead the roma ma OF Ine
,qradron ying to about four and 1--WE miles ,
Jut.
The NEXT morning. the 2sth inst, we
tanned In to examine the entrance TO TIE b
larbor and sighted the Ciis'phai Colon.
apparently moored at head and stern across
hs western end Of the Cayos smith, also
me OF the vessels OF the Nizeaya or M a
Teresa class moored In the eastern c5aane'. =
md two small torpedo boats. Later IN the
lay we made out the military top OF third 6
x ssel further up the narbor.
A close blockade Of the hsr6or has been Z
and no vessels have entered or I
eft since our arrival.
On the Both the New Orleans arrived,
conveying the collier Sterling. At present v
sc are coalinF on al favorable occasions,
n plain SIGHT OF the eDemy's fleet. Very
". $. schley,
Flying Squadron.