The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-05-03
HAS IT'S DRAWBACKS AS WE'LL
AS IT'S ATTRACTIONS.
HOW IT LOOKS ON THE DAUNTLESs
A Glimpse of Havana as Given in Recently
Struggled letter--The Associated
Press's Boat a Prize Spain
Would like to Capture.

between Havana and Key West, Fla,
April 2S.-NeWS gathering at sea has its
attraction, but it also has its drawbacks.
Incident after incident could be written
describing how out of the semi-darkneSS
rushed a long black torpedo boat. and the
hOarSe order to heavc to was followed
on the instant by the threat of Il shot.
Then there have been times when all
steam was called for because we were
in grave doubt whether an approaching
n was American or Spanish, and
in no doubt at all as to what our fate
would be should the unknown vessel
prove to be q Spanish gun boat, for the
Spaniards would rather gather III the
Dauntless than almost any other craft
that sails these seas.
OF MatanZas the other night. a man
of wars man assured some of the crew
of the Dauntless that two Spanish gun
boats had escaped the blockade at Car
denas and We're cruising outside. seek
ing To capture any unarmed craft carry
ing the United States keys.
Probably the yarn was false, but its
effect on the crew was far from reaS-
surfing, and it was Il positive comfort.
the next night off Havana, to be hailed
by the Indiana. ordered TO heaye to and
boarded by an officer who evidently
wanted to be we'll assured OF our iden-
tity. The big battle ship gave a sense
Of absolute security and now none of the
crew believes any Spaniard brave enough
10 come within Il score Of miles to this
and similar instruments OF protection
and of offence.
At sea, and visiting them day after
day. the personality of the war ships
grows on YOU and your regard is totally
different from that which YOU feel to-
ward the same vessels when they are in
Il home harbOr or peacefully cruising
mp and down Il friendly coast. If they
seem grimmer. they certainly seem
greater for defence. for honor, for sue
cess.
If any persons have the idea that the
ships of the blockading squadron off
Havana remain punched together oppo-
site the MORO and the harbor's mouth.
they should at once change their no
ton. Last night the distance between
the Wilmington. on the eastern flank
and the Iowa on the western. could not
have been less than thirty miles. Look
outs in the lofty tops, with long telc-
scope glasses. can sweep the coast line
and the sea for many miles without let
ting the smallest of cOasting vessels es-
cape their observation and as long as
the blOckading vessels are within sig
It;IIllllS ulSlttllct. one WITH iiIOtiitl, lit
longer the blockade line, the more effec-
tive it is.
Results in the way of captures have
proven the truth of this. None the less
true is it, however, that Rear ADMIRAL
Sampson could use TO great advantage
Il number of small vessels. They would
render the blockade absolute, and, at
the same time. relieve the crews of the
bigger ships from constant calls to
quarters. These calls are harrassing and
aS only one ont of ten probably amounts
10 anything, are apt to prove irritating
az well.
Newspaper boats give the fleet much
trouble ut night. 1t is u~nintentional, of
course. but true for all that. All the
war vessels are as dark as pitch at
night. and the correspondents boats often
rum directly within the prescribed limits
of approach before they have the faintest
notion of the proximity of q cruiser or
battle ship. The moon. which is rightly
waxing in power, will help greatly in
quick Identification. but the Dauntless
recently succeeded in getting Il night
order for signals which will be better
still.
Sitting near the Dauntless pilot house
recently off I'll MORO. with Il pair of
marine glasses that brought the saffron,
bastions within Il half mile. it was inn
possible to keep from specializing on the
condition Of things within that city.
where for two months many OF us lived
on patience and the hope of a lombard
mcnt. which, it now seems. Is not to
occur. We knew as we'll as If we were
eve witnesses. that famine is within; that
it is not confined to recOncentrados, most
of whom must be dead by this tune: but,
embraces the lady of quality ana her
I WAN nnd hlS
family and the small s~tore-keeper and
his brood. the artisan and his help meet.
Probably as yet. the Spanish officer
md the wealthy contractor have food
enough. or the wherewithal to buy 1t,
even with beef at $50 per pound THE
last quotation reaching ust. Beyond
question Il large ma jority of the lava
uese would welcome the bOmbardment,
hey daily expect. if assured that when
% was over and the city in the hands OF
fhe United States forces. food conditions
would change and the awful uncertainty
H~ to what the next hour might bring
forth be resolved into certainty i'll the
'Tu"lble of action.
When night came we could see the
reflection in the city Of the lights in
l'arque Central and prado. We knew
a~ Well as if we were at the Inglaterra
ti"tel that along the broader streets, the
EpIuntariOS were marching and counter
Marching, their officers wishing the 1.-the
canes they are so found of and their bu-
-lrrs in vain trying to keep time to their
own music. We hoped some of these
|olunteers were hungry. since they GER
.NlIly deserve to be. They are SO blood
i2ig>ty with the helpless and cowardly
Wien met by an armed foe.
Was The band playing on the stand
round the statue of the great Isabelle?
Fohahly not. Even these merciful peO-
PIE would scarcely be in musical mood