The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-08-26
ON TIE BLOCKADE.
Scenes ana Incfdenfs DESCRIBED By an
American Naval OmceF On
Duty Before Havana-

and tribulations entailed upon those
whose duty it Is TO maintain a strict
blockade OF the various ports along
the Cuban coast. How many times
at the mess table one hears wiling
ness expressed on the part Of various
individuals to exchange all their debts
for a chance at a soda fountain Still,
the want Of cooling beverages is, after
awhile, less and less Of a grievance,
the earthen monkey or water bag
hung up in the air cools the water so
that It quenches the thirst, and the ap-
petite is less hearty than IN our more
bracing climate. Electric fans are
one Of the greatest and most endless
sources Of relief, and their cheerful
buzzing luIIs one to sleep and makes
him comfortable throughout the night
Sleeping below In the close confines
of a hammock is not thought OF, and
the decks, particularly the poop and
forecastle, that are somewhat higher
than the others, are thickly PeOpled
with sleeping humanity, whom it is
hard to move, even though the boat
SWANS mate rudely brawls: Rouse
up, there, and 60 below out Of the
rain This one has to do in spite OF
all. The surgeons orders about keep
ing dry and not exposing ones self are
very strict and are rigidly carried out,
backed as they always are by the full
force Of the captains authority.
About shutdown "Out all lights" and
sIn with the battle ports" are the or
ders at which the lights about the
decks are extinguished, and blank
metal shutters replace the glass air
Dorts. Not even the usual mining or
steaming lights are carried, for it is
all important in this blOckading that
the position Of the vigil keepers should
be kept from the enemy. There are
two very important reasons, among a
number of others, for these precau-
lions. One is tits well that the enemy
should not know your exact location,
lest YOU should become a too easy
prey TO his guns or his torpedo boats.
Then, toe, vessels approaching the
port, with the intention Of running IN,
have to proceed cautiously for fear Of
sitting up a hornets nest, and should
your lights be showing, they viii know
Just what to avoid.
Half the ships company are on duty
at a time, and those not on lookout or
at the guns Of the secondary battery
are grouped about the other guns OF
the armament ready to spring up at
moments warning. Orders to assem-
bic for battle stations are hardly nee
essarv. except as an indication of what
the captain intends doing, as long be
fore the call ceases the gun crews are
in readiness, and every cOign Of want
age is occupied with men Peering
through the darkness to get some kind
Of a notion Of the bearing Of the stran-
ger. Many and many an experience
during the past month or two tell OF
misunderstood signals, followed by
blank shot, and the order to stir up the
fires and turn on the forced draught
ready for q chase. Occasionally some
thing more urgent than a blank cart
ridge has been used, but before serious
damage has been done, halls have been
exchanged and doubts set at rest
Electricity here again has come to
the rescue and made an interchange Of
signals easier and more rapid than we
have ever had In former times Still,
If signals are 1T all doubtful, every
thing is in readiness and from the num-
erous instances Of high speed being
though every department was on the
qui vive. Sail no. during the daytime
breaks up the siesta, causes the man
with-the-shoveI to work his brawny
body and brings everybody to the tip
top Of expectancy. Away goes the
cruiser, headed so as to cut OF the
stranger, and when within short range
bang goes a gun, unsolicited, to be sure,
but its sound hardly dies away before
the stranger, if a sailing craft, put
down his helm, lets fly his head sheets,
and brings his craft into the wind,
where she remains until boarded by a
boat from the war vessel If her pa
pers are straight and correct she is al
lowed TO proceed, If any doubt attaches
to them, the captain Of the cruiser
Judges as [ o the extent she is involved.
Should II be evident that she is = bit
crooked, then an officer and a half-dOz-
en- or more men are put on board and
she is ordered to port for adjudication
Every now and again a saucy little
Spanish gunboat viii poke her nose
out from behind the mangrOve bushes
or sugar cane growing near the en-
trance to some one of the blOckadeC
IiOA - anu 1t q S-A0L q IL 49,
jailer and then, as If kicked back by
the recOiI Of her own gun, fly al once
to shelter almost before a good aim car
be taken at her. The smOkeless pow
der and the faT-carrying Mauser, witt
its small caliber bullet, are also dan
gers that make themselves heard and
felt when one approaches a little too
near the shore. The dissipation of The
smoke so soon follows the noise of tn,
discharge OF the singing Of the bulle
that It is very difficult at times L
locate the offender and send him
similar message The SPaniards ar
rather ahead Of us in this matter o
powder, as with the exception Of on
OF two vessels, we still are supple,
with the brown powder, and when tn
wind is toward the enemy, we CanuO
fire with very great rapidity. for tn
target Is entirely hidden At the pres
ent rate Il looks as though the wa
would be entirely over before we ar
supplied with the most modern an
approved applianees.-N. y Times
No Discount