Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-30

ship Adula, stopped outside Of the Glen
fuegos blockade by order of Commodore
Schley. Lieutenant Edward Simpson, OF
the flagship Brooklyn. was sent to board
her and received valuable Information.
Captain Walker said he was bound Tor
Cienfuegos with an order Of Consul Dent
at Kingston, Jamaica. to bring OF Seaman
Hoffem, of the United States ship Niagara,
lying in the hospital there with broken
leg, and such neutrals and other Ameri-
cans as he could find there He had Wis
tied this same port some ten days ago and
had taken 327 passenger, OF whom only
four were citizens of the United States.
He was in Santiago de Cuba on May II
last, on his way to Jamaica, and while
in port there the batteries opened fire on
two American warships lying OF the har-
bor. The firing began at II o'clock and
lasted until 1:3O p. m. The ships probably
were the Harvard and the cruiser Mime
apolis, though not certain. At midnight
the next day. he saw the lights Of seven
ships about seventy miles out, one-half
west of Santiago de Cuba, and believes
they were the Spanish fleet, for the next
day, when he arrived at Kingston, there
was cablegram announcing the arrival
of the fleet there. He saw nothing OF the
American ships. He had been told later
that the Spanish ships only stayed there
for day and then left. Perhaps the most
important information by him was that
given by pilots at Cieufuegos and Santiago
which, OF course, may not be entirely re-
liable. He said that twenty-seven electric
mines had been laid in Cienfuegos harbor,
but that they did not work well. and that
the electric connections were broken and
the mines were fixed so as to explode by
contact. He did not know the position Of
the mines.
When he was in the harbor a week ago
there was one torpedo boat which had
been somewhat damaged in an encounter
with the Eagle. one Of the United States
auxiliary gunboats, and two gunboats
about the size Of large tug.
The harbor of Santiago had about twen-
tyrone electric mines In 1t, and the places
from which they were worked was a low
thatched hut on the west side Of the en-
trance, 300 yards inside. There were no
contact mines there that he knew of.
The Adula was allowed to go inside and
running up to the entrance to Cienfuegos,
signaled for guide. One Of the little
gunboats ran out, taking care to keep in
the lee OF the neutral vessels, and in a
few minutes, after a parley, guided 1t in.
The statements of those on the British
ferent view of the matter and, instead of
running right on to Santiago, he concluded
| 20 remain at Cienfuegos and Investigate
the harbor, believing that. II not already
hidden, they would come along the coast.
The harbor is very deep and runs In be-
hind the hills. It is reached by two sharp
turns. thence up narrow passage only
wide enough for q single ship to pass.
Commodore Schley expected every hour to
| hear from the Minneapolis OF the Harvard
and. in the meantime. thought It wise to
wait until the British steamer came out,
1 suspecting that, perhaps. they might not
let him, come out. which would indicate
the presence Of the enemy.
The Hawk was sent to Key West with
dispatches and mali.
On Tuesday, May "a, the officers and men
were routed out of their quarters in hur-
| ry.the officer on the deck having announced
mat smoke OF three steamers on the hori-
zon to the southwest was visible. The alac.
| r1ty and the enthusiasm with which the
| men got to their guns was remarkable
When the three ships hove '.hulls up on
the horizon, they proved to be the United
Estates cruiser Marblehead and the two
converted yachts Eagle and Vixen. The
Marblehead brought out mail and tele
grams. Commander McCalla told Commo
l
the feet saw Monday were from the in
surgents. who. had agreed with him before
he left the locality to, communicate.
At this writing. Commodore Schley be
lieves the Spanish feet to be in the vicin
ity of Cienfuegos and an attempt to fore,
an entrance into the harbor may be mad,
tonight. Commodore Schley's belief of tn,
locality Of the fleet is that, there being
railroad connection with Havana from
there and none from Santiago, the flee
came here as soon as they found that tn
blockade had been raised by the United
States fleet prior to the arrival of the fly
ing squadron.
The squadron is now heavy and for
midable one.
Three thousand rounds of ammunition
were transferred to the Marblehead thi
morning and there will be an attempt mad
| to land It,