The record-union., 1898-04-25
HOW THE FLEET SAILED.
Left Key West and Took It's Station
Before Havana.


OFF HAVANA con board the L. s.
flagship New York;, April 22.-Copy-
righted, 1898, by the Associated Press
A few minutes after 4 o'clock this (Fri-
day) morning the signal was flashed
from the flagship to get under way AMI
at 4:20 the capstan was hauling up the
anchor.
Dawn was breaking as the great gray
Warships crept out from Key West har-
Dor and took their designated places III
line Rear Admiral Sampson, in COM
mand of the fleet, paced the quarter deck
briskly and on the New York's forward
bridge stoc1 Captain Chadwick, in COM
mand of as fine an armored cruiser as
ever led fleet. With him were Lieu
tenant Commander Potter, Lieutenant
Roller. the navigating officer and En-
sign Brumby. On the after bridge were
Assistant Chief of Staff Staunton, Flag
Lieutenant Bennett and Cadet Austin
Ensign Brumby and Cadet Austin were
the twO aides.
The capstan creaked and groaned as It
dragged the anchor from it's bed, where
it had been lying since the day after the
battleship Maine was blown up in Ha-
vana harbor. There was no confusion. no
shouting and no singing.
When at minutes past ) Captain
Chadwick gave the order to go ahead,
the clang of the engine bell could be
heard all over the ship.
At slow speed, the flagship leading,
the fighting squadron took a south
southwest course and Key West faded
out of sight.
About fifteen miles off Key West be-
tween Z and ) a. m. a tramp steamer
was sighted bearing down on the fleet
and off the cruiser Nashvilles quarter
The steamer hoisted a Spanish flag,
whereupon the Nashville promptly sig
nailed her to stop. The Spaniard paid 10
attention to the signal and continued
on her way at full speed. The Nash
vile then put a shot acros her bows.
This had no effect but in a minute a
puff of smoke curled out from the Nash
vile and the first shot of the war, fired
in earnest, sped close to the Spanish
steamer. A second later down came the
Spanish flag and the steamer hove to.
The steamer turned out to be the
Buenaventura of Bilboa. She was
boarded from the Nashville, the feet
stopped and after a hurried investiga-
ton the Nashville was ordered to take
her prize back to Key West It was
not a very important capture nor was
it an exciting engagement, but the in
cident added greatly to the enthusiasm
prevailing among the rank and file Of
the fleet.
At a. m. Admiral Sampson hoisted a
Rear Admirals flag and as the two
white stars on the blue ground appeared,
salutes were fired. Captain Evans
headed the battleship Iowa nearest The
flagship and his crew joined in giving
three rousing cheers for the Admiral.
The ships followed each other in a we'll
kept line through the dark blue waters
of the Gulf, the guns shining brightly
in the sunlight. The scene resembIed
more peaceful evolutions at Hampton
Roads than the menacing progress of a
death dealing force. 1t was almost i'm
possible to realize that this was war.
Orders were quickly given and were as
quickly carried out Neither the officers
nor men showed the slightest trace of
excitement. Rear Admiral Sampson
strolled leisurely up and down the star
board side Of the quarter deck, while
or the port side the officers off duty
smoked and chatted as unconcernedly as
if in the harbor.
The trip from Key West was male
over smooth seas. with a gentle breeze
blowing and the sun shining brightly.
The warships of the United States now
lie off Havana harbor in sight of Moro
Castle light. At this hour of writing. s
D. M, no shots have been fired from the
land.
The flagship New York captured the
Spanish tramp steamer Pedro of Bilboa
between Matanzas and Havana at 6
o clock this evening and put prize crew
upon her. The Pedro is now on her way
to Key West. Two shots We're fired at
her after an exciting chase
The German steamer Remus from Ha-
vana was also stopped and boarded,
and subsequently released. Intense en-
thusiasm has been aroused throughout
the fleet by the capture of the prizes.