Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-02
Sampson rioves Hurried=
~ Toward Wind
ward Passage.
l. attest Authentic News
From Our Attain
tic Fleets.
More Sensational RunOrs
From Hayti and
Martinique.

On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch boat Wanda, off Havana May
%. (Filed at Key West May 25)-
At day-break Monday morning the en-
tire squadron under Sampson was ly-
ing directly opposite the entrance of
Havana harbor, about ten miles off
shore, a formidable, mouse-colored
fiotilla of battleships, monitors, cruis-
ers, yachts, lighthouse tenders and
torpedo boats. The peaceful inactiv-
ity noticed the day before on board
the vessels of the fleet had given way
to scenes of great life and hustle. The
crowd of blue jackets and white jack
cts. Around the fagships were a
score Of launches and gigs from sur
rounding warships. They had brought
aboard the flagship the commanding
officers of their respective vessels,
where they had apparently been sum-
mOned for orders. Half an hour later
the gigs and launches left the flagship
and returned with their officers aboard
their own vessels. Almost Immediate
ly thick columns of black smoke began
to pour from the smoke-stacks of the
assembled fleet and slowly the flagship
began to move eastward. A number
of vessels were left on blockade. Two
hours later a large double-masted,
double funneled cruiser came
steaming under full head
way from the westward. When
within hailing distance and without
slackening speed she exchanged sig
nails with the acting flagship off Ha-
vanA- A string of colored bunting
was hoisted aloft on the fiagship's
halyards and the cruiser pushed on
east at full speed. Afterwards the
squadron was in Nicholas channel off
Cardenas heading for the old Ba-
hama channel. The squadron was
proceeding with care for Carvera had
not yet been officially bottled up and
care must be taken lest he turn and
dash out Of Santiago and around east
ern Cuba and up through the Wind
ward passage and north to attack the
Atlantic coast cities. In all likeli-
hood Schley will be able to spring the
trap and then Sampson may hasten to
Santiago. A great game is being
played and the situation is one of ex-
treme suspense. After Cervera is
sealed up in Santiago harbor the prob
lem will be whether to shoot or starve
him. In any event Cervera, it is be-
lieved, cannot reach Havana. Two
powerful fleets, each having fast YES
sells, as we'll as heavy ones, and each
able to destroy him, are closing in
upon him. The naval officers here be-
lieve that the battleship Oregon will
DE ordered to join SIMPSONS fleet.
Spanish Warships Near Martinique.
st. Pierre, Martinique, May 90
The Spanish torpedo boat destroyer
Terror finished coaling from the Ali
cante early Wednesday morning and
left Fort de France, taking a north
westerly course. 1t Is reported that
she goes to join the Spanish fleet.
Three men-of-war, according to an &C
count of some fishermen who arrived
here Wednesday afternoon, were seen
Wednesday morning at daybreak off
the northwest point Of the island
The fishermen assert that they were
Spanish warships.
Austrian Warships Coming.
London, May ga special from
Gibraltar says that two Austrian war
ships will sail tomorrow for Cuban
waters.
Preparing to Attack Cervera.
Madrid, May Pa Havana dis
patch says that the Americans are
concentrating before Guantanamo as
well as at Santiago. This indicates
that the squadrons are preparing to
attack Cervera.
Another Haytien Rumor.
Cape Haytien, Hayti, May ga
rumor which cannot be confirmed Is
circulated here to the effect that the
Cape Verde squadron, generally under
stood to be at Santiago de Cuba, is
now at Cienfuegos.