The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-29
THE ARMADA OFF SANTIAGO.
Safe Arrival Of the Transports at their Des-
tination.


patch Boat Dandy, off Santiago de
Cuba, Monday, June 20, l p. M. VIA
the Mole st. Nicholas, Hayti, Tues
day, June 81, 3 a. m.-The United
States army for the liberation of Cuba,
$4,000 strong, commanded by Gen.
Shafter, arrived off Santiago de Cuba
at noon to-day. The line Of its dis
embarkation has not been decided on,
but it will be within the next three
days.
When. the feet Of twenty-seven,
4 transports, 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 greet
ed with ringing cheers, which, family
echoed to the transports from the decks
Of the blockading war ships far in
shore, were most heartily answered by
the troops.
The weeks Of anxious waiting on
one side and of impatient chafng 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.
It was 12 o'clock this morning when
the lookout ON board the armored
cruiser Brooklyn reported seeing the
American feet away to the southeast,
and moment or solaterhe announced
that q dozen transports were in sight.
Then signals were exchanged from
ship to ship, gladdening the hearts Of
the weary blockaders, Then the Uni
ted States auxiliary cruiser Glouces-
ter, formerly j. Pierpont Morgan's
yacht Corsair, dashed away to meet
and welcome the troops.
In about half an hour later grim
forest of masts had sprung apparently
from the sea, and most impressive
scene was presented as the 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
the other men-of-war on the outskirts
of the feet. In this order the trans
ports and their escorts steamed slowly
toward the hills, where the Moro 8
red walls cleaned brightly in the sun
light.
A dispatch boat Of the Associated
Press, as she steamed among the
4 transports was eagerly besieged on all
sides for news, Admiral Sampson s op-
erations, officers and men clamoring
for a word from the blockaders. Much
satisfaction was expressed among the
troops when, it became known that the
actual capture Of Santiagois to be left
to the army.
The American feet off Santiago has
been materially strengthened BY the
addition Of the war ships, which es-
corted the transports here.
VOYAGE OF THE TRANSPORTS.
With the United States Transport
Ships, off Santiago de Cuba, Monday.
June 20, Noon, via the Mole St. Nico-
las, Hayti, Tuesday, June I'll a. m.
The fleet Of United States trans.
ports, having on board 10000 men,
under command of Gen. Shafter, ar
rived off Santiago de Cuba at noon to-
day, being exactly six days out from
Port Tampa.
The Army Of Liberation left Eg-
mont Key at noon on Tuesday, June
ID, conveyed by the United States war
ships Indiana, Castine, Helena, An
napolis, Bancroft, Morrill, and Hornet.
The passage was necessarily slow, as
TWO big water barges and the schooner
Stevens, also used for water, had to be
towed. At Rebecca Shoals lighthouse
the feet was joined by the United
States war ships Detroit, Manning,
Osceols, Wasp and Ericsson.
When the transport feet left Port
Tampa it was the intention Of those
in authority to take the western course
around Cape Antonio, but later it was
decided to go via the Florida Straits,
that being shorter distance.
After the feet got into the rough
waters of the straits the transports
we're formed into three lines, about
100 yards apart, while 900 yards sepa-
rated the ships.
The easily advancing transports
presented a very impressive spectacle,
stretching for miles over the blue wa
tera IT, was one of the LARGEST fleets