The herald., 1898-06-05
JUST BEFORE A BATTLE
REPORTERS WERE ORDERED TO
RETIRE
SECOND SHOT AT SANTIAGO
Was Plunked Fairly Into the Bow Of
the Spanish Cruiser La
Reina Mercedes
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT WANDA OFF SAN
Jamaica, June Am hour before sunset
tonight as darkened clouds, lying low over
the coast line, foreboded the usual trop-
ical storm and the united fleet of America
lay off the mouth of the harbor of San
tiago de Cuba, hanked by little flotilla
of dispatch boats, Rear-Admiral Sampson
signaled the torpedo boat Porter to run
alongside the flagship. The nature of the
AdmiraPs orders was soon known, for the
Porter rushed alongside the newspaper
dispatch boats in turn and megaphoned
"the admiral directs you TO move ten miles
south and to take a station for the night"
This meant business of serious import
for the fleet before morning, whether a
dash into the harbor or otherwise will
probably be known on the arrival of the
second Associated Press dispatch boat at
the nearest cable station tomorrow.
All indications show that Southeastern
Cuba will be the scene of active military
and naval operations for some time. Here
are assembled the squadrons Of great fight
ing ships, and looking down upon them
from the adjacent hills are the watchful
bands of insurgents forming the outposts
of General Garcia's army which is strong
enough unaided to strike the Spanish forces
a hard blow, and if reinforced by the
American army of invasion to seize and
hold the entire Eastern half of the island
Talk with Garcia's scouts show that they
confidently expect American troops soon.
They say this is the best part of the is
land for the landing and the acclimating
of our soldiers. Well-drained and healthy
camps can be established on the high
the slope of the mountains to any desired
latitude. Pure water is found in the
springs and mountain streams, while the
fertile surrounding country includes
abundant fruits and vegetables, and every
thing is favorable to the good sanitary
condition of a well-disciplined army.
The rainy season, the insurgents say, is
not a serious drawback where camps can
be quickly formed on drained elevations.
The island already shows the effect of the
beginning of this season. Showers occur
daily and soft, white rain mists are seen
on the slopes every morning. The smoke
and fires of the burning plantations are
being eXtinguished and luXuriant nature is
rapidly healing many of the ravages of the
war. These tropical storms at night are
wonderful exhibitions of electric pyrotech-
mics. At times the lightning flashes on the
horizon line look like the regular firing
guns from distant fort. Again the entire
heavens seem ahame in vivid glare and
forked tongues of fire appear UP and down
the mountain slopes. A drenching rain
falls for an hour or two and then the skies
clear and all is calm and serene, full moon
and brilliant consultations of the tropics
appear in all their glory as the black clouds
roll away on the horizon
Such storms are confined almost wholly
to the coast, only going out to sea occasion
ally off a cape or headland to kick up a
squall. Ships sailing along the coast in
calm seas and clear skies are witnesses to
the beauty and grandeur of the land storm
without feeling the slightest effect of these
disturbances of nature a few miles dis
tant.
The First Attack
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 8, per
the Associated Press dispatch boat Wanda
via Kingston, Jamaica, June 4-The her.
metically sealed fleet of Spain in the harbor
American gunpowder on Tuesday after
noon, and it was evidently not greatly tc
the liking of the Spanards for with the
big American warships firing only two
rounds from their largest guns one Span.
ish warship was hit and parts of the forti-
fcations were destroyed. One 12-inch shell
from the Massachusetts plunged in the
deck of the Reina Mercedes, the partly dis
I icb cd ioti
Spaniards, besides woundng many more
After the discovery of the fleet Sunday
Schley waited forty-eight hours to see Il
they would venture out. No movement
was made, however, and on Tuesday morn
ing the Commodore decided he would fine
out just how far In the mouth of the harbol
l the Spanish cruiser Cristobal Colon was