The record-union., 1898-08-21

ment was made by Commodore Wat
son that the fighters of the navy. the
big warships, had been ordered home,
and We're ordered to sail for New York
as soon as possible Admiral Sampson
on the New York was absent when the
news came, but the Brooklyn, which
for twenty four hours had been on a
mud bank. had been towed off by the
Oregon and prepared for home. Satur-
day morning Admiral Sampson return
ed, and after consultation with the
Navy Department by wire ordered that
the ships prepare to go to sea at 10
o'clock Sunday night. SO once more
Sunday became the navy day.
The Brooklyn was uninjured by her
mshap in the mud. The circumstances
under which she ran aground were very
excusable. The ST. Paul had anchored
almost across the entrance to the bay,
and the Brooklyn, while passing her
stern on Thursday night, had to sud
denly steer away to avoid ramming a
transport, which without warning had
backed away from alongside the big
scout. The channel buoy was not in
position, and the cruiser stuck her nose
lightly in the mud. The efforts of the
tug Wampatuck to take her off at
night failed, but on Friday she was
pulled off by the Oregon, after the
crews had removed some of her heavy
ammunition.
Promptly at 10 o'clock on Sunday
morning the New York signaled to get
under way and the Oregon nearest to
the entrance, moved out. The Brooklyn
followed, and as she passed the Badger
the Vixen, the Massachusetts and the
Oregon, the men of these ships lined up
on deck and cheered vociferously
When the New York passed the column
on her way out to take the lead her
band was playing '.Ain't l Glad to Get
Out of the Wilderness" and as the
ships caught the air there was great
applause. 1t was decided to run at
eight knots an hour, the Indiana being
incapable of sustaining greater speed
and with the New York leading, the
big ships headed eastward.
AT o'clock Cape Maysi, on the ex-
treme east of Cuba, was sighted, and
at o'clock the column of ships headed
to the north. AT 7:30 the land for
whose freedom American bravery had
been tested and American blood she'd
faded from view, and it was a singu-
larly significant fact that on the gun
deck of the Brooklyn, by the big en-
gines of destruction that a few weeks
ago had dealt death to an enemy. a
peaceful multitude raised it's voice in
the third verse of America"
SO the fleet that for nineteen long
weeks had aided and watched the prog
ress of freedom, took a last leave of
ha c1n do
the fleet in sight of some of the smaller
islands, but away from Cuba and in
the Windward Passage The Indiana
had developed nineknot speed, and
greater progress than expected had
been made.
Tuesday the fleet passed in view of
the island where Columbus made his
first landing. The Indiana early in the
day signaled that she had broken her
starboard condenser, and after she had
spent three hours fixing it she had to
go to work for a similar length of time
! on the port condenser. Despite the de-
lay, one-half of the distance had been
made by Wednesday noon, the rate of
200 miles a day having been accom-
plished. With the exception of the In
diana, the fleet could have made eleven
knots an hour, the maximum speed OF
the Iowa and the massachusetts,.
Wednesday afternoon the Indiana got
| a speed of nine knots, and from that
time until Sandy Hook was sighted the
men at her engines did splendid work
The trip was by no means a simple
excursion. Besides the daily routine.
there were fire and collision drills on
all ships, and active work done in
| painting and repairing The weather
was fine, and rounding Cape Hatteras,
| usually so stormy, there was calm, hot
day. Thursday and Friday were une-
ventful, but very pleasant days. Sat-
urday at { a. 1n., running by Scotland
| light, the navy yard tug brought an
order for the fleet to proceed UP the
North River to Grants tomb, fire a
salute and return to Tompknsvlle for
anchorage.