New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-04
ST. PAUL AT TOMPKINSV1LLE.
NOT RECOGNIZED AS SHE ENTERS PORT
OWING TO HER WAR PAINT

CAPTAIN SI0SBEE DNiI~uo INV
ADMIRAL sAMpsoX-THE LONG WATCH
OF THE CRUISER OFF SANTIAGO.
The United States auxiliary cruiser 81 fau'
arrived IN port yesterday morning. she was
frat sighted on Thursday night on SANDY hooA'
and while she was recognized as one or the lot
mer American Line vessels she showed no Sig
nails and the observer at the Hook thought she
was the ST. Louis returning % port ana II WIS
not until she came inside yesterday morning
that she was recognized as the ST. Paul She
has been doing duty In West Indian waters TOT
several weeks and presumably came to this port
20 receive n supply OF coal. provisions water
and ammunition.
The officers Of the ST. Paul are largely MADE
I'D Of men who were connected with the ii-ia'eo
Maine They are Captain Sigshec formerly cap
tair OF the Maine. Lieutenant C"i'''''ai'ue'
briggs DIT HenneburScr. VINO vas sur seo" "
the Maine Ensign Powcllson, VINO gave sue"
Important expert Testimony In corhccuon WIZ"
the blowing up Of the Maine as navigator Lieu
tenant Gilmore Lieutenant Poyer, lAeu'eh"h' :"
Nicholson Kane. formerly commodore Vi 'i'e
New-York Yacht Club: Lieutenant fa'le'so"'
to whom was given the charge OF the pli"c
steamer Restormcl; Lieutenant DIXON Lieu'eh
ant Claiborne. Lieutenant Young. Lieutenant
roven ~ the United States Marine Corps; En-
,,r, pookwaIter Ensign Cowell. Paymaster
Y;t,,eee,d who was left behind at Key West
rn,e, Engineer Hunter and Assistant Engineers
Robinson O. Anderson. J. Anderson and Thomp-
son.
sIGsBEE STARTS FOR WASHINGTON
The St Paul came to anchor of Tompkinsville
Staten Island. at $50 o'clock yesterday morn
ing and soon after Captain Sigsbee left the snip
and took the o'clock train for Washington lie
was the bearer of important dispatches from
Admiral Sampson. Before leaving here ne SAID
IL do not know all the reasons why we came
here We need coal and water. as we'll as some
provisions and there Is no better place 10 get
them than In this city. OF course, they couio
have been procured at Key West but assume
that the Cover lment wishes to Keep up large
supply Of munitions Of war at that point Tor the
warships that cannot leave the West Indies. as
We could"
Lieutenant Commander briggs was left In
command Of the st. Paul after Captain Sigsoees
departure and he said that the cruiser would
probably be In port four or five days during
which time she would take on board about three
thousand tons of coal and two hundred thou-
aand gallons OF water. Lieutenant Commander
briggs also told the story Of the cruise of the
st. Paul.
The cruiser left Philadelphia May T. after
having been fitted 70 service: proceeded 10
Hampton Roads being delayed on the way by
fog, and after coaling left there for Key West.
She left Key West on May II. under orders to
nroceed with the utmost dispatch for Cape Hay
tien and arriving there she was ordered TO cruise
of Santiago de Cuba 10 watch for the Spanish
neet. The st. Paul arrived of Santiago de Cuba
on Nav 20 The St Louis. which had been
there had sailed on the 10th. leaving the en-
trance to the pert unguarded for about twenty
four hours, and making 1t possible for the Span
ish Meet to enter Santiago in the interval. 1t
would appear that this had been done. for not
q doubt rested in the minds of any OF the off,
GERS that Cervera's fleet was bottled up there.
and that 1t did not get in after the ST. Paul ar
rived or In the course Of her cruise Of nine days
before the entrance.
USED THE FORTS FOR TARGET PRACTICE
Upon the st. Paul's arrival of Santiago she
at once began target practice using the forts
at the entrance the targets, but she did not
draw any fire in return from the Spaniards. she
afterward moved out OF range Of the forts. The
following days were spent in like practice. NOV
ing within about four miles Of the entrance
during the day and lying of the shore about
twelve miles at night. The greater distance
away at night was necessary 10 avoid the Span
ish torpedo boats which might be lying In wait
TO creep out on their mission of destruction. At
intervals the cruisers Minneapolis, Yale and
Harvard were In the vicinity stopping day or
two and going away again A number OF news
paper dispatch boats were sighted. some OF them
were chased and one which did not pay any at
tention to a blank shot fred for her to heave
10 was considerably scared by solid shot strik-
ing the water near her and came to time in
hurry. Several vessels were sighted and chased
The only prize taken the British coal
steamer Restormel. since arrived at Key West
The chase was a most exciting one. 1t occurred
on May %, and when the Restormel was first
sighted she was already near the harbor. going
at a speed of twelve knots. paying no attention
TO the blank shots from the st. Paul to heave to-
Her captain seemed determined at all hazards
to get his load Of coal into Santiago. The st.
Paul put on all speed to catch her, and only
succeeded in rounding up her prey by shell
when within Ave miles OF the forts. Had 1t been
ten minutes later the collier would have been
safely under the protection Of the Spanish forts
and Admiral Cervera would have had fine lot
Of coal for his ships.
SCHLEY'S FLEET SIGHTED.
Although the ST. Paul cruising close
watch every day nothing had been discovered
ss to the whereabouts Of the Spanish fleet. when,
on the morning Of May 20 Sunday. at $50
O'clock smoke was sighted on the horizon and
the st. Paul started with all speed in the drec-
ton Of II to ind out II IT was not the Spanish
fleet. The ship was made ready for action.
Presently seven steamers were made OUT then.
on nearer approach. they were discovered to he
Commodore Schley's feet nearing Santiago. AS
the harbor was approached. at ESQ a. m. big
warship was seen for the first time lying inside
the entrance and the stern Of another. They
had apparently dropped down from an anchor
age further inside. where they had not been seen
account Of the high hills in the vicinity and the