The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-06-17
ENSIGN BARNES

with the blocksding feet in Cuban
waters, writes the following gossipy
letter to his mother, Mrs. Governor
Barnes, concerning the movements Of
the fleet
NnAR NICHOLAS CHANNEL,
MAY 26, 1898.
NY DEAR MoTHER-Just as we left
Havana the other day for this cruise in
quest OF the Cape Verde squadron the
tug Tecumseh followed us some little
distance with our mail Now we want
ed our mail badly we had to ask the
aagship's permission to stop and take
it, and IL was refused. We spent three
DAYS in Nicholas channel waiting for
the Spanish squadron with ileet that
could have signally defeated them in
ten minutes lighting. Here was our
formation and strength New York
(Admiral Sampson), armored cruiser
Indiana, first-class battleship; torpedo
boat Ericsson torpedo boat Rodgers
Puritan, monitor; Miantonomah, mon.
itor Wilmington, gunboat; Machias,
gunboat; Vicksburg, gunboat; New
port, gunboat-all these TO the left
TO the right Montgomery, flagship,
with Commander Watson; New Orleans
formerly Amazonas), Detroit, Cincin-
natl, Mayflower converted yacht, and
Wasp.
We hoped the Spanish fleet would
come right down between these lines,
aud we had little song after the tune
OF "Mr. Johnson Turn Me Loose, "
that runs thus
Mr. Spaniard, won't you please
Come right down between all these2'
They would not last a minute The
gunboats at the end Of the column
were to keep the Spaniards from rum
ming after they had passed the heavy
armored ships-a diflcult and dan
gerous feat-when the heavy ships
would turn and come after them.
The Vesuvius found us yesterday
morning, but left last night. II is just
reported that she is in sight, flying the
dispatch flag. We think now that we
are on our way back TO Havana or Key
West We hope Commodore Schley
has the Cape Verde squadron bottled
up at Santiago de Cuba, as the entrance
to that port is q emely narrow, and
we can keep s.em rrU. they starve or
run out OF cohI or -Jine out and fight
a superior 5orce, 1t is my opinion that
should we destroy or capture these
four vessels, the flower of the Spanish
navy, the war would soon end,
We have only rs tons OF coal now. SO
hope TO get into Key West in about ten
days. We may have TO coal from one
OF our colliers out at sea. We are all
nearly worn out with the past three
weeks hard watches. We received
some ice yesterday, which seemed sim
ply delicious.
May 27.-We received a signal from
the New York last night that the Cape
Verde squadron was still in Santiago,
and that Commodore Schley had not
yet arrived there; also that the Oregon
had arrived at Key West. She is the
sister ship OF the Indiana and Massa-
chusetts. The weather is fearfully
warm and am considerably under the
weather. This is our twenty
day out Of port, and life on shipboard
is getting very monotonous, lard s
ship, the Machias, is just 400 yards
from us, and | see him through the
glass occasionally. When l have the
bridge and am in charge OF the ship
speed her up TO the Machias aud hold
a conversation with him in our wigwag
code Of signals, Dear old Walter lizard
Is my special tie TO the service now.
mn hOOh 10 NiAt otNEi1 AAANNAn VI NnN
blow OF Bagley's death wear off / will
write Mrs. Bagley, and must have
late photograph OF him. | have re
ceived the Raleigh papers giving an
account OF his funeral, and save it that
you may see how beloved he was by
every one.
! suppose we will have TO wait about
here till we are sure Schley has the
haftlnA In, l.
comes up here. | favor going closer
TO IL.
May 30.-Or last mail came last
Saturday; brought me eleven letters.
which / enjoyed fully This is our
twenty-seyenth day from p rt, and life
on board has become exceedingly
areary, monotouous and hot SO much
so that we are getting Indifferent as to
how long IL will last. We have only
go tons Of coal, which will permit OF
our remaining only about week with
the squadron at our rate Of eNpend-
iture, unless the commodore has us
coal from a collier at sea, which seems
quite feasible, as there sis no wind
from nowhere" and the sea is as
smooth as my lady'A check"
The Oregon Joined our squadron yes
sign allied TO Commodore Watson asking
permission 10 cheer her as she passed
along the columns, but our fighting
commodore is a strict observer OF Sun
day and refused Early this morning
the New YCriS returned 10 the squad.
ron and soon after took the Indiana
and Dragon with her, heading east
ward. We have no information as to
where they have gone. We started ont
at the same time westward. Our latest
adviees say that Schley has the Cape
Verde heet bottled up in Santiago aud
has telegraphed for two tugs 10 sink
the entrance. BY so doing one or two
ships can guard that port where other.
wise whole fleet would be necessary.
Yesterday we received ice and fresh
meats from the supply ship, so we are
correspondingly happy today. NV eyes
are better have been treated with a
wash labelled Saturated Solution OF
Boric Acid" which has been extreme
ly soothing and pleasant.
Have to send my letter without
stamps until we reach Havana
June I've have filled our bunkers
with coal from a collier at sea. This is
our 32nd day at sea and unless some.
thing unforeseen happens can stay 40
days more. Excuse pencil il is too
hot TO use ink / have an abseess in
jaw bone, which Is very painful, SO
will have plenty of company during
my nigRt watches for a while. We
expect $1,000 troops TO be landed at
Santiago, among which are Teddy's
Rough Riders, 10 make a combined at
tack with glipe We ara uouV llo,l.