The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-21
THE VOYAGE HOME.
Vessels Show the Scars of Battle
Indiana Broke Down.

- indiana Broke Down.
New York. Aug 2O.-Since leaving
Guantanamo on Sunday morning no in
ci6ents of an unusual nature, except
| a temporary breakdown on the part of
| the Indiana, have marred the home
/ ward progress of Simpsons fleet. Few
! ships were passed. Smooth seas and
fair winds made the passage pleasant.
! There was occasional change of forma-
! ton. Heading out from Cuba, the ar
mor-clad ships came in single column,
J the New York leading, the Iowa next,
/ then the Indiana, Brooklyn, MasSa-
chusetts and Oregon.
! AT night the fleet was lighted up by
electric lights from within, which
blaZed out on the waters as the ships
passed through the Windward Passage.
ton has been seen in Cuban waters,
where warships, blockade runners,
transports and all sorts and condition
of craft have been threading their way
with all lights screened, great shadows
that passed silently.
Last night there was a change to the
! original column and trailing behind the
gallant New York the ships that have
stood the brunt of the war passed
Sandy Hook this morning 1t did not
require the strains of the flagship band
to make all hands glad, for before its
jubilant airs were heard eager eyes
had seen that low gray stretch of land
which they knew was home.
The accident to the Indiana was a
breakdown of her condensers. Twice
on the trip from Guantanamo she has
Jagged behind to make repairs, and
the other ships had reduced their speed
so that the Indiana could catch up with
them.
AS the air got cooler the spirits of
the 3G00 men and officers on board the
six ships rose correspondingly. The re-
lief from the perpetual heat Of Cuba
was indeed appreciated
Admiral Sampson, looking far better
than when war commenced, is very
glad to get home. Speaking of his
crews, and especially the crews of the
Indiana, Iowa and New York, who
have had no shore liberty for seven
months, he said: They have borne
their privations in a manner beyond all
praise.
And summing UP what had been one
of the most successful naval campaigns
in the history of the world, Admiral
Sampson said: THE navy has been
very fortunate. We have, think, made
no mistakes"
How much Sampson contributed to
the success of the war, the efficacy of
his advice and the splendid manner in
which he directed the largest fleet ever
under the command of one man in the
history of the United States, probably
will not be known or fully appreciated
until the history of this war is written.
The health of the fleet is excellent.
The ships need docking sadly, the In
diana and Iowa especially. The first
named will probably require thorough
overhauling Of her machinery.
SCARS OF BATTLE.
In no way did the big ships show the
hard usage to which they had been
subjected. The Brooklyn's q holes,
with the exception of those through the
smokestack, had been patched up, and
the big ship reprinted and polished un-
til she shone. On the starboard side
could be seen a great steel patch over
the hole where one Of the FiZcaya' S
shots went through, and on the quar-
terdeck a wooden patch, where the deck
had been torn up. The armor belt still
holds the print of a large shell, and
critical eye can see the dents made by
several more, even through the glaze of
new gray paint The Iowa has a patch
over her bow, where she was hit by
shell. and the Indiana had
patched up the hole in her deck. All
the ships have been painted, and their
peace trappings arranged, so that as
reminders OF the greatest naval battle
ever fought they are rather disap-
pointing.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PEACE.
The ore word. peace" written in
letters of diamonds and rubies at the
masthead of the Oregon in Guanfansmo
bay, was the signal for wild applause
from the ships on Friday night, Aug.
II, and the applause became more en-
thusjastic when the announcement was