The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-27

Boa. Albert +. Dewey, Old Bahama Chan
mel. Wednesday. via Key West, Fla, May
26.---Judging by the recent movements OF
Admiral Simpsons fleet the United States
authorities no longer have any anxiety
concerning the Spanish Cape Verde squad
ron.
After game of hide and seek along the
northern coast OF Cuba. which consumed
Six days, tho prows of The flagship New
York and her consorts ara again turned
westward, presumably to threaten Havana
or perhaps to take prominent part In the
long delayed invasion OF Cuba. The pres
eht cruise OF SIMPSONS fleet has already
occupied six days. including the time uc-
cupled In getting our ships together 10
mobilize large fleet IL no easy task Ad-
mirnl Sampson was from Friday until Mon
day getting ready TO make start. aud 1t
was not known until then that the full fleet
was assembled. Midnight came, but no
move
An hour later the man at the wheel OF
The Post-Herald's dispatch boat Deyov
called to Captain Hyer. The coal scbooners
are casting loose from the Indiana" and
ae" minutes later the lights OF the Indiana
began TO fade away in the direction of Sand
Key.
Indiana is going out" said the man n,
the wheel
Am board the New York there were no
signs of getting under way. Two boats
were still alongside the big cruiser nnd
hundreds OF sailors shovced coal Into her
bunkers.
outside sand Key the wind blew a gallo.
but the little Dewey never lost sight of thc
running lights OF the Indiana.
When the gray dawn OF Saturday CANA
mo coast OF Cuba was still twenty mllkr
away wrapped In mist. As soon as the
rain and fog lifted the New York could ne
seen coming on at full speed She was
soon In the middle of the blockadiug smad
ron of Havana, Commodore Watson took
boat from tbs Mayflower and went aboard
the flagship.
The monitors Puritan and Mantonomoh
came creeping along from the direction OF
Mariel.
ADMIRAL Sampson seemed TO be waiting
for something About o'clock tho New
YORK steered westward at fun speed with
all the dispatch boats hot In her wake. For
twenty miles she doomed along on
Mariel she spoke the sunboat Wasp, which
started at full speed in tho growing dark
ness to the west. while the New York
. turned and sauntered back To Havana In A
leisurely fashion. Tho dispatch boats
turned, too. and some Of tho men on thom
swore. Tho morning slipped by ANA nosn-
Ing was done beyond much signaling and
-wagglng. 1t was nasty day, The
gale did net abase As tho sun ross IN
Monday the wind ahated some,
Ten rifles of Havana a oluslcr of smoke
indicated che Whereabouts OF the fleet. The
monitor had disappeared.
Tho cruiser Montgomery had come VI
from Key West and Commodore Watson
transferred his pennant to her from the
Mayhower.
After long continued signalling. the New
York about o'clock turned and headed
eastward along the coast. Tho Indiana fell
in Just behind and then the Maynowor
Newport, Vicksburg aud Wilmington
Slowly the line of warships steamed along
with the Dewey in their wake.
Cojmas was passed, then Matanzas ant
thea Cardenas light was given q widt
berth to the south. At Cardinals a black
cruiser came creaking along from III,
northwest and Joined the procession Il
proved TO be the New orleans, Just from
tho north She was followed by the gun
boat Machlas.
During tho night the feet had come III
with the monitors Puritan and Mianiouo-
meh and with the torpedo boats Ericsson
and Rogers. This force was soon aug
mentsd by the arrival OF the cruiser.
MONTGOMERY and Marblehead. 1t began L
look like a real feet. bent on real business
On Tuesday afternoon the big steamer
Supply Joined the feet and several hours
were passed In distributing provision,
among the various ships,
Then came pretty sight. The New
York. fsrs speed ball hoIsted to the peak
started eastward through Old Beham,
channel towards the windward passage
IL thc tShtiai Siuup Win tne UdHsnlp Wert
the Indiana. Puritan, Mantonomoh ant
torpedo boats. the latter In tow Of the tw,
big ships, flying division composed OF th,
cruisers New Orleans. Montsomery and
Marblehead and the torpedo boat destroye,
Mayfower, commanded by Commodoi
Watson. formed group two miles to thu
north. On the other side were the gun
boats Newport, vcksburg and Wasp. Will,
the Wilmington aud Machlas brought u,
The rear. As the fleet moved eastward Ii
this order. red and white signal light,
flashed from the signal yard OF the New
York, and all the other vessels Immediate.
" answered. Unable to perfectly rcguiat.
her speed 10 that Of the fleet, the pewe,
ran IN too near. We were suddenly
warned Of her nearness by the sight Of .
big black ship, which seemed to suddeniy
materialixe out Of the intense gloom. Tn,
Dewey's engines were stopped and she
driftcd. Gradually tho approaching shit
grew larger until she was not more thar
one hundred feet away. II was tho vii
mington. An hour later. the Marhias re-
peated the mute inspection and dixap,
3 p<arpd without even saIutlng
An pf these ebnstlx valuations made N,
Z 1cfn n TIE wheel nervous ana the DAVIS,
I ~ fufther behind ~ remaindsr y M