The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-02
A VOICE FROM
THE CASTINE.
Gunner Fred. MOIIoy, of Richmond,
Writes From the War.
NARROW ESCAPE OF MINNEAPOLIS
The Brave Captain Prepares 10 Fight
a Big Cruiser, Which at the Last
Moment Turns Out to Be an
American Warship.
NARROW ESCAPE OF MINNEAPOLIS

Schleys feet
He keeps his people here at h ONE post
ed concerning himself and the progress
of the American ships, and in the foi-
lowing letters gives some thangs that
have not heretofore been madt' pubic
The letters are addressed TO his mother'
Young Molloy's full name is IN 'ederick
Joseph. he has been in the navy apoul
nineteen months. and has not beeil nome
since year last Christmas.
MADE 1T HOT.
Of the City of Cienfuego :,
Coste Cuba, May 3, SyS
Dear Mother:-We left Key West las'
Thursday Q9th) with the U. 5. b Nj srri-
mack. loaded with coal for the FDihs
Squadron, lying in Cienfuegos Bay 'tnu
1 tell you | have seen hot times ever
since we left. We encountered sps
ish ship which tried to take the coal sap
from us, but 1 am glad to say that the
Castine made II so hot for her that sih'
had 20 get out OF the way.
A STRONG FLEET.
The Flying Squadron is very srohs
one. There are three battleshlps' w"
cruisers, one torpedo boat. ana Two 'or-
nedo boat destroyers. The battleships are
the Texas. Massachusetts,, Iowa ana the
cruisers Brooklyn. Marblehead and Mn
neapolis' topedo boat, Dupont ana DC
stroyers Wasp and Hornet. Brooklyn Is
flagship OF the feet. Commodore Schley
is the commanding officer
Cienfuegos is the place that the Nash
ville's captain was shot IN the breast and
four men on the Marblehead were killed,
while cutting the cable that runs from
here 10 Kingston, Jamaica.
COULD LICK THREE.
May "a. 1898.
FLYING Squadron left here last night
for Santiago de Cuba at $50 TO inster-
cept the Spanish feet reported TO BE IN
that harbor.
We are left here by ourselves, with
three Spanish gunboats in the harbor,
with orders not to let them get out
our orders are to wait for the torpedo
boat destroyer Scorpion for thiry-sM
hours. and If she does not come in that
time to go to the meeting place and wait
twelve hours. IL she does not come In
that time, we are TO go TO Key West.
The Scorpion IS a scout boat She has
been out three days; We have not heard
from her. We expect something has hap
pened to her--sunk or captured. l do not
know where the meeting place Is. That
is kept secret by the captains, but l
think it is some place where they can
communicate with the rebels.
TWENTY MINUTES FIGHT.
Wednesday. May %. 1888.
This morning about $3.50 one OF the gun
boats came out OF the harbor to give
battle. which lasted about twenty min
utes. And / had my first shot since the
war started. Shot and shell screached
all ne
away. No one was killed or wounded on
our ship; not one of the shells hit us.
Poor shots. them Dagoes. l think we hit
them two or three times: do not know II
we killed any or not. / think we VIII
leave here in the morning at $3.50 for Tie
meeting place. Love 10 all FRED.
p. S.-"Schley" is pronounced as If you
said sly"
DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF HIlh.
The following letter was written by
Gunner Molloy last Sunday aftern Don
from Key West, and was received IN
Richmond yesterday morning:
Sunday Evening: 4:3O o'clock.
Key West. Fla, May %, 1885,
Dear Mother:-We arrived here Inst
night about 1880 after q very dangerc ais
tourney. and I thought at one time u lat
All was I'D with us. Commander Schl ey
left us by ourselves in ClentueB)s'
Here are his orders; l heard him give
them myself. and 1 will give you his very
words. as l heard him; here they are:
SCHLEY'S ORDERS.
"Castine, you will lay nine miles OF
shore for thirty-siX hours, for the SDr-
MON. and IL she does not come In that
time you will go to the meeting pnce ana
wait twelve hours. IL she comes, proceed
10 Key West with her. If the Spanish
feet comes, do the best you can. Destroy
all written orders. code and signals and
key to cypher. 1 am going to Santiago
de Cuba"
What do YOU think of that order TO
leave a little gunboat by hersaf with
three gunboats in the harbor. and the
Spanish feet liable to come at any time?
We did not mind the three boats in the
harbor. for we could have licked them,
but II the big ships came and caught US
all would have been up with US. Mar
row ESCAPED
BIG SHIP SIGHTED.
Early on the morning of the 18th. we
sighted a large man-of-war. In the mist
we could not make out her flag and we
were not looking for any Of our ships as
large as that. After a long time we got
close TO her. Captain said she was a
Spaniard and turning to the men. here
are his words:
Steward. bring me my sword and re-
volvers. Men. she is big. but l am going
70 do the best can. and l hope you all
will do the same. Fight for your lives"
Just as we were going to let broad
side into the stranger and believe the
Captain had the word Fire" In hts
mouth. we saw the Old Glory flying in the
air
1t was the Minneapolis. How is that
for a narrow escape?
Does that look like war? Must close:
am well. FRED.