The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-23
FLEET SAILS FROM KEY WEST


riantic squadron, except the monitors Ter
,ror and Puritan and the smaller cruis-
ers, sailed from Key West at 5:45 O'Clock
this morning, headed for the Florida
Straits. The skies were growing gray
with the coming dawn when the formula
BILE family of destroyers quietly and I'M
ostentauously steamed away, presumably
for the shores of Cuba. Besides the two
monitors. the ships left behind were the
gunboat Helena, the cruisers Marblehead
and Detroit, the dispatch boat Dolphin
and the torpedo boats Cushing, Dupont
and Porter.
Throughout the long night unusual ac-
tivity on the vessels of the fleet told weary
watchers on Shore that the long-awaited
advance on Havana was near at hand
yet there was nothing official on which TO
found that belief. Washington advices of
yesterday indicated the probability of a
movement during the night or today, but
the naval man ashore disclaimed any
knowledge of orders. They still averred
that their condition of uncertainty was
still unchanged.
Early in the evening, however, came
the first realization of the fact that the
tedious period Of naction was nearing its
close. When signals were hoisted recall
ing all the men to the ships without delay,
many interpret ed this as a precautionary
measure. especially in view Of the fact
that q number Of officers, including sew
eral from the flagship, remained ashore
and had leave for The night.
About Il O'Clock there ocR~red a de-
cided change in he situation wnen a spe-
cial boat hurried from the flagship with
orders 10 an stlI ashore 70 Immediately
return 10 the ships Midnight found the
city empty Of sold braid and blue jack
cts, with which il had grown so familiar.
Save one Or two recalcitraut jackies whose
convi'-ai PATRIOTISM had run away with
their sense Of duty, there was not a
naval man 20 he found in town. The
theatre Of acton was transferred to the
harbor whore p Elittering panorama was
enacted until daybreak appeared slowly
over the waters OF the gulf. For many
days pas- the flagship had majestically
swung at anchor about seven miles out,
fanked by-her Gorgeous sisters, the Iowa
and the Indiana. To the eyes Of Key |
West the great sT1Okestacks were barely !
visible whiie the ,EHls lay like indefina- |
bic shadows i'm tho' distant waters. The |
inner harbor. noAveser. offered a striking |
picture. crowded Is il was with monitors, /
cruisers. gunboacs and IcIe, but sinister, |
torpedo boats. 1IE-lus noiselessly in and |
put of the maze of greater vessels lying
a. anchor.
When twilight Dell last night this scene
was unchanged. The signalling between
the distant trio of ships and those closer
in shore had been the custom ever since
the assemblage Of the fleet here but last
night vari-coIored lights glimmered their
messages across the skies almost without
cessation.
The first streaks of the morning light
were crossing the east and two bells had
just sounded from the ships, when a
tiny and, TO unfamiliar eyes. an almost
dine of fire appeared on the
sky above where lay the flagship.
moment or two after and the signal staff
OF the Cincinnati, lying off Fort Taylor in
the inner harEbor, flashed into colored
light. acknowledging the call
The Puritan and Helena joined in the
signals and soon the skies
were Kaleidoscope, as ship after ship an
bwered and new lights licked messages
Fraught with the gravest Importance and
creative Of history. What words. of
course, no one ashore knew, but the few
who watched with straining eyes from
sea and docks needed no interpreter to
tell that it meant hostile action.
The message was not long in delivery, I
but sunrise had fully come as the last !
letter fiickered and went out. Then the
witnesses knew that the movement had
actually begun under cover of the night. {
The big ships could be discerned in the
distance. but the others had moved !
toward them, the flagship drawing other
ships Of the squadron 10 her
The Wilmington and Amphitrite had
slipped from their anchorage and ad-
vanced within hailing distance OF the flag
ship. 1t was just $40 when the New I
York. without unnecessary display moved
and slowly toward the outer
Of the gulf. The red ligh. flashed
the signal to eager eyes on the following
feet and told them to get in motion, at I
ast.
To those ashore it looked as il the New
York was somewhat in advance of the
line, with the Iowa and Indiana follow
ms on either side but separated from her +
oy a good stretch of water As the line
advanced toward the horizon. the ships
spread out until perhaps there was dis
ance NJ three miles between the tins Of
The crescent. The ships Of the inner har-
Dor had steamed out one by one. and :
stopped n various stations until the en-
ire formation was ready to move The
'Nact order of ,he ships could not be as
,ertained from the shore. From the high 9
'st point in Key West the line was semi !.
circular The ships that followed the
hree leaders were the cruisers Cincinnati
Detroit and Nashville the gunhoats Wi
nington. Castine. Machias. Newport. the
monitor Amphitrite the cable repair boar
Iangrove the Maynower and the tor
'edo boats Foo;e, Dupont. Porter. Win
low. Ericsson and Gushing. Why the \
'wertul monitors Puritan and Terror Gid
LOT accompany the fleet II could not be =
earned but il was said they would follow n
hortly. The Marbehead is taking on Il
water and will doubtless join the squad T.
on in day or Two "A
The Fern went 20 Tampa for ammuni- y
ion Tor the fleet and wsu carry Il to r
havana If ,aa- IS the destination. al Z
hough a foresoue conclusion that the t
.eet has moved on Cuba was certain, as c
he fleet was movins wei cut % sea. al
hough they may await further orders. l
+ orders 50 far reeei are nor NAL. tor p
edo boats held here can quickly carry e
uch dispatches 70 the ships. II
When Key West awoke il was a cry Of Y
volts story again. Bedtime left the ST. 2
-auon no different than j, has been for b