Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-22
THE VOYAGE vENTFUL

! Copyright, 1S9S by the Associated Press)
ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
| DISPATCH-BOAT DANDY, OFF SAN
| TIAGO DE CUBA, Monday, June 20, l
| z. NJ, via the MOLE ST NICOLAS,
| HAITI, Tuesday. June q, A. M.-The
| United States army for the invasion of
| Cuba, 1900 strong, commanded by General
| Shafter, arrived off Santiago de Cuba at
noon to-day. The time of its disem-
barkation has not yet been determined
upon, but it will probably be within the
next three days.
When the fleet of thirty-seven trans
| ports. with its freight of fighting men,
swept up the southern coast to-day and
slowed up within sight of the doomed
city of Santiago de Cuba, the anxiously-
awaited soldiers were greeted with ring
ing cheers, which, family echoed to the
transports from the decks of the block
aiding warships, far in-shore, were an
swered by the troops most heartily and
in kind.
The weeks Of anxious waiting on one
side and Of impatient ehahng on the other
were over, and the army and the navy
had at last joined forces, and all felt that
the final blow at Santiago was at hand.
BLOCKADERS GLADDENED.
1t was 10 o'clock this morning when the
lookout on board the armored cruiser
Brooklyn reported seeing the smoke Of
several steamers away 20 the southeast
and a moment or so later he announced
that a dozen transports were in sight.
Soon signals were exchanged from ship
TO ship, gladdening the hearts of the
weary blockaders Then the United
States auxiliary cruiser Gloucester, tor
merly j, Pierpont Morgan's yacht Cor
sair, dashed away to meet and welcome
the troops. About half an hour later a
grim forest of masts had sprung up, ap-
parenuy from the sea, and most i'm
armada swept gracefully up from the
horizon towards the shores where the
great struggle is to take place.
The transports were ranged In three
shifting lines, with the battleship In
diana on the extreme right, and the
other men-oiWar on the outskirts OF the
IIdnSDOItS
their escorts steamed slowly toward the
nils where the MorFo's red wells gieam-
ed in the sunlight. The dispatch-b Of
the Associated Press, as she steamed
among the transports, was eagerly be-
sieged on ali sides for news of Admiral
SIMPSONS operations, officers and men
ciamorins for a word from the block |
aders. Much satisfaction was expressed |
among the troops when became known |
that the actual capture of Santiago is |
TO be LETT 70 the army. |
The American feet off Santiago has |
been materially strengthened by the ad- |
dItion of the warships which escorted the |
transports here.
VOYAGE OF THE TRANSPORTS.
Copyright. 1898, by the Associated Press.)
WITH THE UNITED STATES TRANS |
PORT SHIPS, OFF SANTIAGO DE |
CUBA, Monday, June %. Noon, via the |
MOLE ST. NICOLAS, HAITI, Tuesday, |
June Ill A. M.--1he fleet of United
States transports, having on board 10, V0O
men under the command OF General
ohafter. arrived of Santiago dc Cuba at
noon to-day, being exactly six days out
from Port Tampa. The army OF invasion
left Egmont Key at noon on Tuesday,
June 18th, conveyed by the United States
Indiana, Castine, Helena, An
napolis, Bancroft. Morrill,, and Hornet.
The passage was necessarily slow, as
two big water barges ana the schooner
stevens, also used for water. had to be
lowed.
At Rebecca Shoals Lighthouse, the
ieet was Joined by the United States
sarships Detroit. Manning, Osceola,
Wasp, and Ericsson.
When the transport fleet left Port
Tampa il was the intention of those in
.rfs 20 faE ha aaf. |
around Cape Antonio, but later 1t was
lecided TO 80 via the Florida Straits. that
,eing the shorter distance After the
ieet got into the rough waters OF the
straits, the transports were formed into
hree lines. about 1000 yards apart, while
% yards separated the ships. The easily
transports presented a very
spectacle, stretching for miles
,ver the blue waters. 1t was one OF the
argest fleets ever gathered together, the
men-of-war lowering like
on the outskirts OF the hui
ships.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST ATTACK.
At night every precaution was taken
o guard against any possible attack
10 lights were allowed on the transports.
nd the gunboats In the direction OF the
hore were doubled in number. while at
intervals shifting searchights
wept the waters In the direction OF Cuba,
\ search OF hostile vessels Throughout
he voyage not one Spanish gunboat or
ign of an enemy was seen
on Friday the conveying feet of war
hips was reinforced by the Montgomery
nd Porter off Puerto Principe. The
oyagc throughout was tedious and unin-
erestipg. Torthe weary soldiers. life on |