The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-01
FROM CAPT. w. E. ENGLISH
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE
TRIP TO SANTIAGO.
The Indiana Destroys n WaterspOut-
Fear of Torpedo BOats-Om-
GERS Must Walk.


TO Cuba from Tampa Captain English wrote
each day. and his letter is in the shape of
diary. very interesting to the public. After
eliminating matters of personal interest,
the letter, in it's diary shape, is as follows:
Wednesday. June Is, 1S9S.-This is our
third day out We have been sailing down
the Gulf of Mexico, and it is now nearing
Strait of Florida and the Dry Tortugas. and
the Rebecca light, near Key West can be
seen on each side of us. This has been one
OF the loveliest days imaginable affording
perfect sailing. There has been pleasant
southern breeze and the quiet gulf stream
is most beautiful blue. Every once in q
while clumsy dolphin wheels lazily in the
water DeloW us or one of the flying fish
that, like birds, jump out of the water and
90 sailing off for forty or fifty yards. We
SIT ON the deck, lazily reading sleeping or
taking OF the war, guessing where we are
going, ETC., and each one of us thinking and
thinking OF the dSa' ones at home. l sit at
the table IN the dining saloon, next to Cap
tain Nicholson tine skipper Captain of the
snip, bluff, old Cape Cod sailor. who is
great friends with me on that account We
nave three Indiana men in the party-our
adJutant general Colonel Dorst. of New AL
bany. Lieutenant Thayer of Evansville of
the Third Cavalry, and myself. We ali sa-
lutte each other in Spanish each morning
trying to pick up few Spanish words. Mr.
Mestre, the representative of the Cuban
insurgents, who is with General Wheeler as
a volunteer aid, is teaching several officers
spanish. We are now under the CONVOY of
the gunboats Helena. Anna polls and Cas-
tine, and the converted yacht Hornet. and
early tonight will be Joined by the Indiana
Detroit, Marbehead etc. If there were any
Spanish ships or torpedo boats about to-
night We would be soft picking for them. as
our thirty unarmed transports, loaded with
helpless soldiers would be such easy marks
IN daytime we are not so much afraid, but
feel a little squeamiSh at night, as a Span
ish war ship. could stand off five or six
miles and sink any one of us without the
or1nY o.
US would have picnic.
FIRST SIGHT OF THE INDIANA.
Thursday. June 1e-This morning we are
well out in the ocean and have already
passed Havana. We are keeping out about
forty miles, so we cannot be seen from
shore, as we do not desire them to know
of our coming. We had little squat and
rain last night; in fact we have had each
night which gave the sea a comfortable roll
(or.'bob,' as Captain Nicholson says), which
made some of our boys seasick, but so far
| have not had an unpleasant moment
However, if it gets very rough 1 expect to
nave dose later. but so far the trip has
been perfectly delightful in every way-a
more lovely sail could not be imagined. The
first thing | saw ON rolling out at this
morning was the great big battle ship In
diana. only a few hundred yards away,
with her big thirteen-inch guns looming up.
| felt like loving her for her name alone,
and she gave US all mighty. comfortable
feeling, as we had not been at ease with
no other protection than the small gunboats.
The Indiana is a beauty and cost s., 000 600.
On every side of us now are our war vessels
The Detroit is the next largest after the
Indiana, and we have the torpedo boats
Dupont and Gushing putting along just be-
hind them. There are fourteen In ALL but
the Indiana and Detroit are the only large
ones. 1t is a great sight to witness, and
guess the world has never seen a war fleet
so imposing-our thirty transports and the
fourteen vessels. fOrtV-fOtlr
sight never to be forgotten. / don't know
what the Spanish will think when they see
us coming. Our transports in themselves
are great sight, with soldiers swarming
all over them, in the rigging and everywhere
else, while the regimental bands are play
ing, flags flying. etc. The Indiana has just
fired six of her eight-inch guns, one at a
time. When she began we jumped up ex-
e ebn ysd not tkn9wing but Spanish war
only trying her guns. We don't want to see
any Spanish war ships, even If we have an
escort, as stray shell would sink any of
US quickly, and the numerous sharks in
these waters are not pleasant fellows to
meet. This is another beautiful day-beau-
tiful beyond description-but as we are we'll
out to sea now we have considerable more
roll on, but | feel as comfortable as ever.
We are now 90 a. NO. about off Matanzas
forty miles), which makes it sure we are
not going there, as many of the officers
thought. 1t looks more as if we were GER
tainly going to Santiago, or. if not there,
to Porto Rico, as we are now keeping we'll
off the north coast of Cuba drew San
tiago in the pool so it looks to-day as if 1
would win. In the pool each officer put in a
dollar and then drew landing place out of
hat. The pool amounts to about $780, We
all hope We are going to MatanZas, as it is
not so far from home, and the nearer Ha-
yana the more fighting we shall have, and
Matanzas Is near Havana, with direct rail-
road communication there.
CELEBRITIES ON THE TRANSPORTS.
Friday June 17.-To-day we are we'll on
our way, and are now (2:SO p. NO. very close
to the Cuban shore. We are only eight
miles from the shore, and can see 1t plainly
through our glasses. We are this moment
passing a lighthouse and blockhouse for
soldiers about fifty miles before passing
Neuvatis. and can see them with the
glasses. The channel gets very narrow
here-the Bahama channel we are now in
and can see land on the Bahama side also.
The Bahamas belong to England and we
are running In close on that side and can
see Lopez island lighthouse easily with the
naked eye. This is one of the English Ba-
hamas, and we are only about four miles
away. The channel is only about twelve
miles wide where we are, so we were
obliged to let the Cubans see us here for
the first time. This narrow channel would
be the best possible place for few Spanish
war ships to attack us, and as a precaution
the commander has just signaled all the
ships to close up and keep together here.
1t is quite interesting to watch the ships
signaling to each other, especially at night
Tune. we nave young naval cddet on
board our ship for the purpose of reading
and answering them, as there Is on eacn
ship. We have quite an interesting lot OF
persons in our party on the Allegheny.
General Wheeler, our commander is Ia
nous the world over as cavalryman and
statesman. Lieutenant Colonel Dorst, our
adjutant general is the officer who took the
three expeditions to Cuba on the Gusse.
Florida and Leyden; Major Darlington, our
inspector general commanded the third
Greedy relief expedition to the arctic re-
gionS, and was badly wounded at the IA
nous Indian battle at Wounded Knee;
Capt. William Astor Chanler, assistant adj
iutant general. is one of the famous Astor
family and brother-1n-law to Amelie Rives-
Ch9nler. and noted as an African explorer.
Our English officer of observation is Sir IL.
Leighton, English baronet; and our cor
of Clark Howell, of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton. l have just learned with qualification
that General Breckenridge is on board the
Seguranca with General Shafter. John ia
cob Aston, they say, is with him. This is
another beautiful day in every respect. but
occasionally feel a little squeamish, but so
far have not been seasick. | have not seen
Willie Reed (my body servanD jumping
around anywhere either to-day or yesterday,
and suspect he is seasick but he may not
be- He is down stairs with the men, where
Saturday, June 1&-There is little that is
new TO write to-day. We are still sailing
along the north shore of Cuba. Our bands
are no longer playing or our flags flying,
we want TO attract as little attention as
possible. | have just seen Willie for the
first time In two days He says he has not
been sick. but doubt it. The horse is get
ting along fairly well, but Is iouKIng thin.
The trip is very hard on the horses. They
are packed so closely together. and the con-