New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22
SAMPSON AND SCHLEY NET.
THEIR FLEETS WERE AT KEY WEST on
THURSDAY.
THE ST. PAUL, WHICH WAS THERE BEFORE
THEM WENT OFF SCOUTING-SPECU-
LATIONS ABOUT THE ENiAYs
MOVEMENTS.

MOVEMENTS
Key West, Fla May 49, via Jacksonville, May
21.-To-night sees the close Of the most anxious
and most vexa,ious day Key West has known
since the war began. Everything indicates the
proximity OF big naval battle, and with an un-
seen foe which may appear at any one OF sew
eral places and possibly strike blow and get
away before force can be massed 10 crush him
At this hour the whereabouts OF Schley's and
Simpsons squadrons are the fixed quantities in
the equation. while the Spaniards are represent
ed by X
Dayhrcak found Commander Schey's squad
ron which had sailed from Hampton Roads on
Friday. anchored off Sand Key Light. six miles
below Key West. 1t has Joined Captain Sigs-
bees big greyhound, the st. Paul, which. leav-
ing the Roads a day later than the other ships,
beat them here almost a day and half
The appearance OF the Flying Squadron was
followed about $50 a. by two OF the dis
patch-hoats that had been with Admiral samp-
sons fleet. racing in neck and neck, the Associ-
ated Press boat Dauntless IN the lead.
SIMPSONS ARRIVAL.
Admiral Simpsons feet arrived here at
p. m. This confirmed the forecast made in these
dispa tches Sunday to the whereabouts
and intentions Of these two hcets Both had
officers here expected. All this was interesting
enough but not a word OF Il allowed TO
pass the censors office. score OF correspond
ents who had been besicGing the cable office all
the morning wilted down into the hotel veranda
chairs out Of the brong sun. helpless to get
word OF the real news Of the situation to their
papers Naval officers for the most part were
az ignorant as the correspondents as 10 how
matters stood in the world outside Of Key West.
and whether or not the matters being censored
had not already leaked out through the less con-
strcted channels at Washington.
Naval men. however. had less time for specu-
lation. for the fleet busy engaged in pre-
pairing for some move. the details Of which were
known only TO Commodore Watson and those
nearest him. Every officer ashore was on the
alert for orders to hurry aboard his ship.
FOUR LITTLE FELLOWS OFF TOGETHER.
Such last night was the fate Of the men from
the Bancroft the Castinc. the Helena and the
Wilmington. Hurry orders reached them about
G:3O O'Clock. The I}ancroft's quartermaster was
ashore looking after stores when word was sent
him TO cancel. provision contract and come
aboard The small fleet already under way
when he reached IT, and the Bancroft's gig was
snatched up 20 her davts while she steam
ing out Of the harbor. Where the four vessels
is still a mystery. The most plausible
theory advanced was that they were 20 form
second line Of scouts 70 the southwest. where
the Cincinnati and the Vesuvius supposed
TO be watching the Yucatan Channel These
two vessels moved quietly out on Thursday
morning and disappeared a. leisurely pace to
the southwestward.
All discussion OF the Spanish fleet from here
Is speculative. Key West is Isolated from the
ever. is that Sampson counted confidently on
finding the Spanish squadron bottled UP in San
Juan. as did Dewey the Spaniards at Manila.
1t was not until daylight on the morning Of the
bornbardment that he learned the harbor was
empty.
Meantime according to the best Information
here. the fleet of seven spanish ships. probably
including the vizcaya the Oquendo. the Cristo-
bal Colon the Maria Teresa and three destroy
ers. have been moving west along the southern
shore of the Caribbean Sea.
ARE THERE TWO SPANISH sQUADRONS7
Reports from Mole St Nicolas. Cape Hay
tien and other places make II seem probable that
a second section OF the squadron. probably in
Guiding the Cardenal Cisneros. the Peayo and
the Cristina Regente. are following in the wake
OF the hrs, By keeping 10 the south shore Of
encounter with Sampson OF Porto Rico. and II
they received news at cable stations OF the
weakened state OF the Cuban blockade espe
cially at Cienfuogos. 1t showed tempting
chance 10 make dash at the South Cuban coast
and wipe out the light vessels there From the
fact that no such attack has yet been reported
II is inferred that the fleet Is still holding It's
course west.
MI he n
warships might be easily worked west Just
outside the fringe OF keys on the Mosquito coast
without danger Of discovery before they emerged
from the Yucatan Channel between the north
end Of Yucatan and the west end Of Cuba. From
this place they would he almost equidistant
from Key West and Havana, not three hundred
miles either way. II their object was TO break
the Havana blockade they could do II easily
II they arrived before Schley or Sampson.
The feeling here tonight is that the naval |
battle Of the may be fought in forty-eight |
hours and probably between Key West and the |
North Cuban coast Everything is at high ten |
sion. and both officers and correspondents are |
looking FOR n dspatch-boat at any hour with the |
news that the hostile fleet has been sighted |
within striking distance of Key West or Havana. |
FUTURE MOVEMENTS
II ia impossible TO forecast the movements OF |
either Sampson or Schley. but the supposition |
among naval men is that orders from Washing
ton will direct n redistribution OF the vessels.
forming a new flying squadron to make n quick |
roundup OF the West Cuban coast. perhaps as
far around as Cicnfucgos on the south. leaving
n sufficient guard OF heavy vessels at Key West |
and throwing n strong fighting force In front Of |
Havana.
The heavy squadrons off Sand Key were Joined
this afternoon by three big transpOrts-the
coma. the Iroquois and the Cherokee. Work.
men were busy engaged putting In temporary
bunks but one was allowed TO board them.
md no information as To their sailing destlna-
ton would be given. 1t Is understood however.
they are from New-York having started for
rampa 10 transfer troops a week ago. when the
o.f l,,Il hv q land fnrce seemed lnnI=