Evening journal., 1898-05-28
MAYHAP HE HAS SAILED
Everybody Guessing at the Fleets
Present Location.
WHEREVER IT is, SCHLEY is ALSO
Definite News From the Commodore Is
Hourly xpected-sampson Gave His
Subordinate Good Send OT-Ru-
mors About Naval Movements.

KEY WEST, May 2s-The Dolphin
ran alongside the flagship New York at
10 o'clock Thursday night. Her lights
showed that she bore dispatches for
Rear Admiral Sampson. The COM
mander of the Dolphin shouted through
the megaphone:
I have dispatches from Commodore
Schley to the commander in chief"
A cheer went up from tho crowded
decks Of the New York.
Commodore Schleys dispatches were
dated off Clenfuegos.
Absolutely nothing definite can be
said" was the reply which Captain
Chadwick OF the New York made TO a
question as 10 what had transpired.
Since he heard OF Admiral Cervera's
arrival at Curacao Rear Admiral Samp-
son has repeatedly said he believed the
Spaniards would gO- to CienfuegOs or
Santiago de Cuba.
To prove that the American admiral
was almost sure the Spaniards would
be caught the following may be divulg-
ed without a breach OF confidence:
When the ships OF Commodore Schley's
division were sailing out of Key West
under Rear Admiral SIMPSONS orders,
the admiral set this signal TO Captain
Philip Of the Texas:
you are going to nab the spanlards
and good luck TO you"
Since then the rear admiral has been
cruising around as purely precaution-
AIRY measure He thoroughly believed
Commodore Schley would bottle up the
Spaniards either In Cienfuegos or in
Santiago de Cuba. but he took all meas
ures TO guard against q possible evasion
OF Commodore schley by the enemy and
any attempt Of the Spanlards TO make
Havana through the eastern or west
ern passage though there is little doubt
that the commodore, had he met the
Spanish ships. would have defeated
them.
Intense enthusiasm reigns among the
officers and men over the news, even
though It Is not absolutely certain, OF
tho success of the work Of the last
month. The days have passed slowly
and wearily, and no persons have chat
ed more over the delay and Inactivity
than those who have been cruising IN
Cuban waters. since the war began.
But IL Commodore Schley has really
got the Spanish feet at Santiago de Gu
ba, II is almost as complete victory
as could have been expected from a
HANNA tNkdBtNntnls
The Spanlards' policy was to avoid an
encounter, and It would have been din-
cult for any division OF Rear Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet 20 have overhauled or
captured them. But now, II they are
bottled up In Santiago de Cuba and baf-
fled at their own game, the future seems
bright and all that is now waited for is
the order 20 prepare to protect the land
ing Of our military forces IN Cuba.
Since Rear Admiral SIMPSONS squad
ron left Key West an intensely close
watch has been kept for the Spanish
fleet, in spite Of the belief that II was
at the south of Cuba. Several false
alarms have been given. the men on
the lookout In the tops being so anxious
TO catch sight OF the Spanlards that
they would see five columns Of smoke
where only one was really discernlble.
and that the smoke OF one OF Rear Ad-
miral SIMPSONS own boats.
The tension was naturally great. This
was not caused by any feeling Of doubt
as to the result OF naval engagement.
for Rear Admiral SIMPSONS fleet has
been so active since 1t left Key West
that the Spaniards would have been
completely annihilated n they had
courted a fight