New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
THE FLEETS VOYAGE HOME.
PLEASANT. PEACEFUL JOURNEY
AFTER WARS STORM AND STRESS.
SLOW PROGRESS NECESSARY on ACCOUNT OF
SLIGHT ACCIDENTS TO THE 1NDIAHAs
MACHINERY-AIL WELL AND JOY
FIJI " LEAVING CUBA

The following is the story Of the voyage Of the
feet from Cuba. written by the correspondent Of
The Associated Press with the fleet:
"O, Board tho Ncw-York Aug 2p-Sincc leaving
Guantanamo on Sunday morning no incidents Of
an unusual naturc. except temporary break
down on the part " the Indiana marred the
homeward progrcs, Of SIMPSONS feet Few ships
were passed.
smooth seas and fair WINDS made tho passage
,.oasant. There was occasional change Of forma-
.ton Heading out from cuba the armor-cad ships
,r,o IN single column. the New-Y leading. the
low, next then the Indiana, the Brooklyn, 'he
Nessac husctts and the oregon. The oregon and the
Massachusetts, i'm tho rear looked from the head OF
,he column Ike black mtres moving over the
waters Tho Iowa and the Brooklyn, the former
more ike armored cruiser han the usually UNI
graceful hattlcship formed sharp contrast to their
darker fellows. At night the fleet snonc with
light Side lights running lights porthoes lit
10 hy electric lights from within hlazed out on
the waters the ships passed through the Wind
ward Passage. II was months since such an illu
uinator had been seen in Cuban waters. where
warships blockade runners. transports and all
sorts and conditions Of craft have been threading
their way with all lights screened-grcat shadows
that passed silently.
SAILED BACK IN DOUBLE COLUMN
"The second day out when passing Crooked ISL
and double column formation was ssnallod from
the flagship The Brooklyn took her position on the
port hand Of the New-York. AT four hundred yards
distance followed 10y the oregon and the Massa-
chuseus The Indiana and the Iowa remained where
they were In this formation. the battle-ships led
by the TWO armored cruisers. the feet made its
way homeward about the speed of nine knots.
On Tuesday the single column formation was re-
suned hut later double column was again adopted.
the Brooklyn going on the starhoard hand OF
Simpsons flagship. Last night there was another
change 10 the original column and trailing be-
.ho ,4 hat ba,a
stood the hrunt OF the passed Sandy Hook
this morning 1t did not require the strains ~
the flagship band 10 make all hands glad. for be
fore its jubilant airs We're heard eager eyes had
seen that low gray stretch Of land which they
knew home.
AT o'clock this morning a Navy Yard tug
with the dispatches came alongside the NewYork.
Newspaper boats gathered around. men on fishing
schooners piot-boats and other craft waved their
hats and cheered as the conquerors of Cervera and
ever-watchful blockaders OF Cuba steamed into
the Bay
PLEASANT RELIEF FROM THE HEAT
The accident to the Indiana break
down OF her condensers Twice on the trip from
Guantanamo she Jagged behind 10 make re-
pairs. and the other ships reduced their speed 50
that the Indiana could catch up with them. on
Tuesday night the Harvard sighted. bound
South BY means Of colored light signals her
identity was made out, and the New-York asked
her where she was bound: but the Harvard failed
10 get the signal and proceeded on her course.
AS the air got cooler the spirits Of three thousand
men and officers on board the six ships CORE
spondingy.
The relief from the perpetual heat of cuba
was indeed appreciated. From Admiral Sampson
down. everybody talked and thought Of home. and
all hearts beat quicker with delight when New
Jerseys coast seen-the coast that many
thought the chances of would never permit
them 10 see again
"Rear-Admiral Sampson. looking far better than
when war began. is very glad to get home. Speak
ing OF his crews. and especially the crews Of the
Indiana. the Iowa and the New-York. who have
had no shore liberty for seven months. he said:
They have borne their prvations IN manner be
yond all praise And. summing up what has
been one Of the most successful and important
naval campaigns in the history OF the world. Adj
miral Sampson added: The Navy has been very
fortunate We have. l think. made mistakes
How much Sampson contributed TO the success
OF the war the efficacy Of his advice and the
splendid manner I'm which he directed the largest
feet ever under the command Of man in the
history Of the United States will not probably be
known fully appreciated until the history OF
this war is written.
BATTLE SCARS WELL HIDDEN.
The health Of the fleet is excellent, but the
ships need docking sadly. the Indiana. the Iowa
and the New-York especially. The first named
will probably require thorough overhauling Of
her machinery.
In way did the big ships As they swung 10
anchor show the hand usage to which they had
been subjected The Brooklyns twenty-seven holes
with the exception Of those through the smoke
stack had been patched and the hig ship repainted
and polished till she shone. On the starboard side
could hardly be seen a great steel patch over the
hole where OF the Nizcaya's shots went
through. and on the quarterback a wooden patch
where the deck had been torn up. The armor belt
stlll holds the print OF large shell, bat only
critical eye could the dents made by severa
more through the gauze OF new gray paint. The
Iowa had patched her bow where she was hit by
6-!nch shell. and the Indiana had patched up the
hole In her decks. All the ships have been painted
and their peace trappings arranged. that
mincers Of one OF the greatest naval battles ever
fought they rather disappointing.
PEACE JOYFULLY WELCOMED.
Tho one word Peace" written in letters Of da-
monds and rubies the masthead OF the oregon
in Guantanamo Bay. the signal for wild APP
plause from the ships Friday night August r.
but the applause became yociferous when the an
nouncement was made by Commodore Watson that
the fighters Of the Nayy-the big warshps-had
been ordered home and were to SAL for New-York
Admiral Sampson. on the New-York. was absent
when the news came. but the Brooklyn, which for
twenty-fOur hours had been a mudbank. mad
been towed off by the Oregon and prepared for
ON Saturday morning Admiral Sampson returned
and after consulting the Navy Department 10y wire
ordered that the ships prepare 10 80 TO sea at 10
O'Clock on Sunday morning. SO once more Sunday
became the American Navy Day. The Brook yn. il
was found uninjurcd by her mshap in he
mud, beyond the aggrayaton OF officers and crew.
The circumstances under which she ran aground
were cxcusabc. The St Paul had anchored almost
across the entrance to the bay. and the BROOKLYN,
while passing her stern on Thursday night sud
denly had sheer away TO avoid ramming
transport which without warning. had backed
away alongside the big scout. The channel buoy
WAS not in position and the cruiser stuck he
lightly I'm the mud The efforts Of the tug Wampa-
tuck TO get her off at night failed but on Friday
she was pulled off by the oregon after The crew
had removed some OF her heavy ammunition.
LAST SIGHT or CUBA.
Promptly at 10 O'Clock Sunday morning the