The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-30
Scholarships
THE COMMODORE IN COMMAND OF A
POWERFUL SQUADRON.
Incidents of His Trip from Key West
TO Southern Cuban Waters and
Stay at Cienfuegos.
EFFORTS TO LOCATE CERVERA
INFORMATION SECURED CONCERN
ING THE MINES IN THE HARBOR.
One of the Guns on the Flag Ship
Christened .'Ixid Mccoy" by the
Fighters in Charge of 1t.
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS VIGIL
LONG, MONOTONOUS WATCH FOR
SIGNS OF THE SPANIARDS.
HarbOr of Cardenas Now Obstructed
People of Porto Rico in Fear
of Another BOmbardment.
One of the Guns on the Flag Shin
Christened ..ISid Mccoy" by the
Fighters in Charge of 1t.
ADMIRAL SIMPSONS VIGIL
LONG, MONOTONOUS WATCH FOR
SIGNS OF THE SPANIARDS.
HarbOr of Cardenas Now INSTRUCTED
People of Porto Rico in Fear
of Another BOmbardment.


Correspondence Of the Associated Press
OFF CIENFUEGOS, Cuba, May 29-The
squadron assigned to special duty, and
which found it's name from its first nucleus
as the flying squadron" left Key West
Thursday, May 10. 1t consisted of the
mcred cruiser Brooklyn, flying the com
modore's flag of Winfield Scott Schley, and
under the command of Captain Francis A.
Cook; the battle ship Massachusetts, COM
manded by Francis j. Hgginson; the bat
tie ship Texas, commanded by John w.
Philip, and the Scorpion, converted yacht,
commanded by Lieutenant Commander
Adolph Mark.
Commodore Schley's orders were to pro-
coed to Cienfuegos, where he would be
Joined by the Iowa, then taking coal at
Key West, the Marbehead and Nashville
and two torpedo boats. The Iowa, first
class battle ship, in command of Capt. Rob-
ley d. Evans. the Marbehead third-rate
cruiser. in command of Commander Bow
man H. McCalIa, and the Nashville, third
rate cruiser. in command of Washburn
Maynard. together with the torpedo boats
and perhaps some fast gunboats, it was be-
lieved, would make an invincible squadron.
Less than two hours out from Key West,
Marblehead was seen going to the north
east She signaled that she was running
into Key West for coal. A half hour later
the converted yacht Wasp was sighted, and
the Scorpion, at Commodore Schleys order,
was sent out to intercept her and get news.
She reported the blockade at Cienfuegos as
having been practically abandoned, the
small fleet that had done such splendid
work there having received the United
States governments notice that the Spanish
fleet was supposed to be heading in that
direction. She also reported that the Nash
Vile had blown, out one of her Starboard
high-pressure cylinder heads and was
steaming in slowly for repairs. There had
been no firing at Cienfuegos since the cable
cutting episode.
Tbs squadron took an eleven-knot speed,
ard after the ships were cleaned of the
dirt made by taking coal active prepara-
tons for battle We're begun, the decks be-
ing stripped for action and the main bat
teries loaded. At / o'clock the Nashville
passed the squadron within hailing distance,
bound for Key West. She Signaled her num-
Der and defamation and was not stopped.
On Friday morning. at o'clock, when gust
in sight Of Cape San Antonio light. the
smoke of two steamers was made out on
the horizon. call to the guns and to pre-
pare for action awakened the greatest en-
lHuSlaSIn among OI1lCerS ana men, ana mucn
disappointment was manifest when the
strangers were made out TO be the United
States cruiser Cincinnati and the dynamite
cruiser iNeSuVluS Captain Chester, of the
Cincinnati, came aboard the Brooklyn, and
to Commodore Schley gave a summary of
their patrol work about the coast They
had not seen the Spanish fleet nor any indi-
cations of 1t. To Captain Cook the captain
OF the Cincinnati said that he believed it
to be of no utility to attempt TO land NUM-
lions of war on the coast unless we landed
troops also, for absolutely no dependence
could be placed on the insurgents for as
ammunition already landed were in the
hands of the Spanish. Gomez, the insurgent
leader had not shown any interest in the
matter, but bad claimed 20 have been in
suited because communications sent him at
great risk of life were not officially ad
dressed. The Cincinnati and Vesuvius left
for Key West to get coal.
On Saturday at 5 o'clock Cienfuegos was
sighted. On Sunday at 1880, while at break
fast, a torpedo boat was seen near the
entrance of the harbor. There was a quick
call to general quarters, but, the boat dis
appearing, breakfast was resumed. At s
clock the smoke of a steamer was seen
| to the southwest 1t proved to be the tor
pedo boat Dupont. with dispatches for the
fleet.
A close inspection of the harbor of Glen
fuegos failed to reveal any indication of
the Spanish fleet, although the shore bat
terieS detiantly raised their Spanish stand
ards. A group of cavalry was seen on shore
at one point, but no attempt was made to
fire on them. At noon the Iowa steamed
within sight and joined the squadron. Com
modore Schley allowed the men to cheer,
and Fighting Bob, and his splendid bat
tie ship were cheered to the echo. The Iowa
announced that the Marblehead Castine and
collier Merrimac would be here in the morn
ing.
squadron, now a most formidable aggrega-
ton of ships. and ran close into Cienfuegos
harbor, discovering that there were war
a small gunboat. 1T is the Spanish squad
ron m looking for, said the fighting COM
modore, land not few almost ruined Span
ish subjects in Cuba and so not a shot
was fired.
At O'clock the Scorpion was sent away
to Santiago de Cuba, three hundred miles
distant, for the purpose of communicating
with the Minneapolis or the Harvard. either
of which was supposed to be there so they
for direct cable to the United States Navy
Department. The Minneapolis, which is still
ton Roads one day later than the rest of
the squadron and went to the east, complet-
ing. with the rest of the squadron. a circle
of the island.
Sunday evening on the flagship was
christening day: The men in the port eight
inch turret had signs painted to put over
their guns and labeled them the Dewey"
and the "Sehley" In the starboard turret
they named them the 'Farragut' and the
Kd and and IN 6e uTret the
of the five-inch guns was named the Paul
Jones' and in Lieutenant Rushs after
the Lawrence" and the Perry
On Monday morning. May 90 great ex-
element was caused by news that the Span
ish fleet was at Santiago de Cuba The
news was brought by the Hawk, the con-
verified yacht, which came from Key West
with the gunboat Castine and the collier
Merrimac. Her captain said that the
Minneapolis, which had been sent scouting
through the Windward passage. had dis
covered the fleet Thursday morning and
had run TO Haiti and cabled the inforrna-
tion. The Hawk came down with all speed
Much concern was felt for the safety of the
Scorpion. which left Sunday night bearing
dispatches from Commodore Schley and the
Associated Press correspondent.
The work of coaling all the vessels was
proceeded with Immediately and actively
continued all morning.
OFF CIENFUEGOS. May 24-The plan to
seek the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba,
where ii was believed to be- was changed
later. on May a. by the information brought