The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-26
ON BLOCKADE DUTY.
Jersey Naval Reserves on
the Badger OF Neu-
vitas.
MANY HARDsHIps, NO GRUMBLERs
Boys Always Glad to Clear
for Action--Benefactor
Macmillan.
MANY HARDSHIpS, NO GRUMBLERS

~ Sabe, o02J - ooC # -
are, outside of the most forsaken hole
that we know Of. Apparently we are on
blockade here by ourselves. and don't see
anything but the blue sea and the light
house by day, for it does not work at
night, and we nave to go out to sea to
protect ourselves. We held up a large
Austrian man-o'-war last Wednesday,
and she Illuminated herself like a hrst-
class drug store-colored lights and
searchlights all over her. l suppose
she had been held up all along the coast
and was getting sick of it. This would
be a good place for blockade runners. but
they don't seem to come along We had
a couple of exciting times whilst on Che
Havana blockade. The little Hawk ran
a big four masted Spanish runner ashore,
and we cleared for action and got there
(MarieD Just as the Castine had her
plugged full Of four inch holes and blaz-
ing. It was a pity she had to % for she
must nave been worth more than half q
million. She had a lot of ammunition
aboard and It was believed she had guns
also. Two days after firing was heard
again down at Mariel. and away we
plugged, full head of steam. decks cleared
for action, and found the San Francisco
having target practice with the hulk and
making the Dons use some ammunition
from their SAND forts. As Bob Evans
said. they were hitting the water every
time. The commodore ordered US back to
our position before Havana again. mueh
to the disgust of our boys, who seem to
take more delight in Gearing l5r action
thar in anything else that comes along
They all seem to be anxious for a muss-
We don't know a thing that has hap
pened since the fifth, outside of the Fad
ger. and we are all awfully anxious 10
know what has been done in Santiago, al
though we haven't any doubt bu1 they
did it up a week ago. Well, never mind,
we shall get all our news in a heap one
of these days. We are down to hard pan
here now; haven't had a bit Of Ice since
the 9Th; out of cigars; not got any
matches; don't use any light except day
light, except for signalling, and ave bad
cooks aboard into the bargain. Here we
are rolling and pitching in this trade wind
region catching a few sharks, getting
soaked with rain every once in awhile
when you don't expect it and not a growI
anywhere. We are all doing it for Old
Glory. Ensign O'Rourke has had his
head shaved and is letting his whiskers
grow. I am getting disgusingly fat,
healthy, and trying to be good natured
as possible. We would all like a few
kegs Of ice cold beer or even some New
ark water from the faucet.
The routine has been monotonous so far
as getting anywhere is concerned. The
Badger patrolled from a point just east OF
Havana westward past the Santa Cara
batteries as far as Mariel. She sometimes
runs within two miles Of shore, when with
the aid of glasses people can be distinctly
seen from upon the streets. Vigilance is
the watchword, especially at night, when
a four hours watch is just about as much
as a man can stand.
On the night of the It'll a steamer was
sighted and the Badger went for her full
speed. AS the two ships closed in a blank
shot was fired across the Badgers bow;
signals were exchanged and it was found
that both were ships of the same fleet.
At noon on Friday, the sth, the lookout
at the masthead reported a strange steam
er and the general call to quarters inrne-
diately followed. The TRANCE was head
ing for Havana and the Badger started
out to cut her off, under full pressure. Be-
fore half the distance had been covered
the Hawk and two other ships of the IA
troll fleet could been seen coming out to
the assistance of the Badger at top speed.
The latter with guns raine and ready
headed off the stranger, and after a little
conversation, a la bunting, compelled her
to return back and report to the Amphi-
trite, the present flagship.
The new arrival was the French steam
frigate D'Estaing. Her crew stood at the
rail looking expectantly towards Havana,
until they saw the Badgers crew scurry
to quarters, when, presto, every man was
below excepting those on the bridge. She
steamed seaward after putting about,
whether in quest of the flagship or not
could not be learned.
Tho incident as well as the destruction
of the teamer off Mariel, on the 9Th,
which is said to have been valued at $780,
coo, should convince the Spaniards and a
few Of their sympathizers that the Ha-
vana blockade IS not a paper one.
In the afternoon the Hawk brought the
mail and the first news of the fight at
Santiago. Her commander. communicate
ing witbCaptain Snow through the mega
phone remarked that the Spaniards
seemed determined to wind up affairs
without a ship. Naval regulations restrain
noisy expressions of approval. and 1t was
only this pressure which kept the
Badgers crew within bounds. Every man
felt pent up, and the explosion occurred
when, after supper, the sergeant-at-arms
read the account from a Key West paper
sent to the captain by the commander of
the Hawk. Cheer followed cheer, and all
ro1paftod ttof fba Radvar vas NOT SAINT