The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-04-26
SOME DARING VENTURES
BY SHIPS OF THE FLEET.


Key West, April 25.-The latest adj.
vices received here was brought by dis.
patch boat for the Associated Press,
which also brought several messages
from Captain Sampson TO 90 10 Wash.
ington. The boat left the flagship New
York after midnight Saturday night,
but was delayed In reaching here.
After the excitement Saturday morn.
ing over the Italian man.of.war and the
capture OF a schooner by the torpedo
boat Porter, nothing occurred 10 mar
the peaceful routine. Opinions as TO
the length Of time the blockade viii con.
tinue place II variously at from one to
six weeks. Admiral Sampson has so far
evinced no disposition to take offensive
steps against the Spanish batteries. IL
Is certain that the insurgents are
by no means inactive at this crit.
cal period. Naval engagements be-
tween the formidable fleets would
be much to the liking Of the
officials Of the feet As body they are
anxious TO put TO the test thousands Of
theories 70 which they have been devot.
ing their time since entering the naval
academy, apart from the fact that their
fighting blood is up. A pacific blockade
Is poor work from professional point
Of view, despite the excitement Of coca.
sional chases
Many Of the naval officers maintain
that land base Of operations in Cuba
should be secured before the Spanish
fleet arrives. The general idea is that
Spain will endeavor to recuperate at ST
Thomas from the effects Of the voyag,
before coming 10 Havana.
After the Dauntless had towed tn
prize schooner away in triumph Satur
day afternoon on her way TO Key West
the blockade line was extended. Tn
ships were mostly separated by severn
miles Of water, making a fOrmidabl
semicircle around II Moro, IS miles iron
point to point The entire blockade lin
stretches for about 100 miles from Ma
riel, 90 miles west Of Havana, to Carde
mas, 90 miles east Of the beleagured city
The Mangrove arrived from Ke,
West.
IL was reported that the Maynowe
had stopped tramp steamer about TEL
miles northwest Of FL MORO and tina
the steamer was allowed to proceed, $
It Is presumed that she belongs to neu
tral nation. Several shots were, II wa
said, fired as her.
When darkness came after a gloriou
sunset the semicircle Of blockAding ship
closed in considerably in order to pr,
vent anything slipping in or out OF Ia
vana harbor No, light was shown
The torpedo boats Porter and Dupon
kept upa ceaseless patrol. They wcr
quite invisible. The irrepressible spil
ii OF daring Of Lieutenants Fremont an
Wood, their respective commanders
probably took the black flyers to with
a remarkably short distance Of III Morrc
When the Ericsson picked up he
small prize Saturday she was onls tw
miles from the Spanish batteries.
The day had been busy one for III
officers and men and the slight relaxa
ton in the afternoon was very acceptn
BILE. Admiral sampson ana Capt. Chad
wick was on the after bridge most o
the time, both always as cool as cucum
bers. The former, despite his 80 year.
is rs young as the youngest man. II
seems to have an eye for everything an,
n grasp Of detail that is astounding.
IL Is hardly thought that the steame
Panama, the much hoped for prize, Wi
arrive for day or two.