The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-19
REPORT FROM SCHLEY
ACCOUNT OF THE OPERATIONS OF
THE FLYING SQUADRON.
blockade of CienfuegOs and Santiago
Care to Enter the HarbOr.

|
for Cienfuegos up to but not including the
first bombardment. The report, which is
dated Flying Squadron. United States
Flagship Brooklyn, off Santiago de Cuba,
May 30" follows:
"Sr-I have the honor to report that the
squadron sailed from Key West on the
morning of the 18th inst. for Cienfuegos,
| Cuba, in obedience to orders from Rear Ad-
miral Sampson. In company with the flag
ship were the Massachusetts, Texas and
Scorpion. En- route passed the Marblehead,
| Nashville and Wasp, communicating with
the last named vessel. Oft Cape Antonio
communicating with the Cincinnati and We
| suv1us, scouting.
80. On the morning of the 22d inst. the
squadron stood in for the entrance of Glen
| fuegos harbor to reconnoiter, and later in
the day passed the entrance twice close in.
| AS | had heard the firing of guns on the
previous afternoon in the direction of the
| port and as there was considerable smoke
| observed in the harbor, | was led to believe
| that the Spanish squadron might have ar
rived there. That day the. Dupont Joined
me with dispatches from Admiral Sampson,
| directing that the blockade of Cienfuegos be
preserved and that the Scorpion be sent to
communicate with the Minneapolis and Har-
ward off Santiago. Also on this day the
Iowa Joined the squadron.
%. A line of blockade was established
about four miles off shore, and at night an
inshore line was maintained consisting var1-
ously of the Scorpion, Dupont and Castine,
the last named vessel arriving on the 23d,
conveying the Merrimac.
~. Also on the 23d inst. the Hawk ar
rived with dispatches from Admiral Samp-
son directing me to move eastward with the
squadron to Santiago, if satisfied that the
| enemyS vessels were not at ClenfuegoS.
Not being satisfied at this time that they
were not there. / held my position, being
further strengthened in my opinion by the
fact that i was informed by the captain of
the British steamer Adula, that when he left
Kingston a cablegram had been received,
on the Thursday preceding my arrival off
! CienfGegoS, stating that the Spanish squad
ron had sailed from Santiago.
80. The Iowa, Castine and Dupont took
coal from the collier on that day, the Iowa
particularly needing coal, as she had sailed
from Key West to join this squadron before
completing, and consequently was consider
| ably short.
GOT NEWS FROM INSURGENTS.
IS. On the oath inst the MarbIehead, Vix-
en- and Eagle joined the squadron, and the
Marbehead and Eagle were Immediately
sent to communicate with the insurgents to
the westward of Cienfuegos, and to furnish
them with ammunition, clothing and dyna-
mite. Upon Commander McCaas return,
in the course of the afternoon, he reported
to me that he had obtained information that
the Spanish squadron was not in Cienfuegos.
Dispatches were at once sent by the Dupont
to Admiral Sampson and to Commodore
Remey for the department, indicating that
this squadron would move towards Santiago
81. Great difficulty has been experienced
| IN coallng the Texas on account OF her
projecting sponsors In any seaway what
ever, and only under the most favorable
conditions can she go alongside a collier.
In anything more unfavorable than abso-
lutely smooth water there is great danger of
injury either to the Texas herself or to the
collier. In this connection the advantage
of a tumblehome to the side is very marked.
insuring great freedom from accidents due
| to projections on the ships side.
''S. After dark, on the evening of the oath,
the squadron stood to sea, TO the eastward,
with the Brooklyn Massachusetts, Iowa ana
the Texas in coiamn. natural order, the
Marblehead, Vixen and Eagle on the outer
flank and tho collier inshore of the battle
ships. The Castine was left at Cienfuegos
to notify the Scorpion on her return, should
she not be sighted by u.s. to proceed to Key
West in company.
80. The run to Santiago was marked by
rain and rough weather to such an extent
that the he Eagle was o unable to fo keep up
much as to seriously delay the squadron.
which was forced to slow to a speed of
and hold her position. As this rough head
sea continued, with no apparent prospect
Of abating, and as the Eagles coal sup
sent to Port Antonio, Jamaica. for coal.
with directions to make the best of her way
10 On arriving off Santiago de Cuba the
collier Merrimac was disabled by the break
ing of her intermediate pressure valve stem
ana the cracking of the stuffing box. This
| served as further embarrassment to the
squadron and source of considerable anxi-
| ETY., as. with the weather conditions which
had prevailed since leaving Cienfuegos 1t
appeared absolutely necessary TO abandon
|
where the vessels could be coaled and the
Golfers machinery repaired.
COAL SUPPLY RUN SHORT.
III. OFF Santiago the St. Paul. Yale and
Minneapolis were sighted and communicated
with. The Minneapolis reported that she
only had sufficient coal to reach Key West
and that her machinery was in bad cond
ton. The coal supply of the other two
scouts was also much reduced. Arrange
| 10 u,ba tho Vol
was to tow the collier and as the pros
pect did not seem favorable for replenish-
ing the meager coal supply of the other
vessels the squadron stood to the westward,
towing the collier. The operation of taking
the collier in tow proved to be quite diff
ficult, owing to the size and weight of the
two ships and the repeated parting of the
tow lines. Finally, however, after twenty
four hours unremitting eXertons, the col
liers chain cable was got to the Yale and
the squadron proceeded. The st. Paul was
ordered to remain off Santiago until her
coal supply would no longer permit of fur
Their delay.
~ After standing to the westward for
about three hours, or about twenty-five
miles, the conditions became less unfavor-
able and the squadron stopped. The Texas
and Marblehead were sent alongside the
repaired, and coaled during the night
10 Inasmuch as it was known that in
Santiago Admiral Sampson son was iaG able Gaeif TO
Diock any movement of the enemy through
the Banana enamel my intention in stand
ing to the westward was, should it become
necessary, to bar any effort of the enemy
to reach Havana by a dash through the
Yucatan passage.
IA On the oath inst. continued coalng
the Texas and Marblehead and later the
Vixen In the afternoon. having managed
TO get sufficient coal into these vessels to
enable them to remain with the squadron
shaped course for Santiago OFF which port
we arrived about dusk Established an inner
picket line consisting of the Vixen and
| MarbIehead, the remainder of the squadron
| lying to off the entrance of the port about
| four or five miles out.
| 10 The next morning, the 10Th inst.
| steamed in to examine the entrance to the
| harbor and sighted the Cristobal Colon an
! parently moored, head and stern, across the
western channel around Cayo Smith; also
one or the vessels of the Vizcaya or In
| fanta Maria, Teresa class moored in the
| eastern channel, and two small torpedo
| boats. Later in the day made out the mill
! tary tops of third vessel farther UP the
| harbor. ~
| 10 A close blockade of the harbor has
been maintained, and no vessels have en-
tered or left since our arrival. Yesterday
| morning II. NJ. S. interchangeable came up TO
| the line OF blockade and made signal Re
| quest permission to communicates with the
| commodore, which was, of course granted
| boarding officer came on board the flag
| ship with a letter from the commanding
officer. Capt l.. A. Primrose reouastinsy
permission for his vessel to pass the line Of
blockade in order to communicate with hor
| Majesty's consul at this port NV reDiv
| WAS that there would not be the slightest