The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-10
Clever Move by "BOb" Evans Where
by He Learned the Channel Was
Blocked by the Merrimac.
CABLES NOW PROBABLY CUT
INSURGENTS COOPERATING WITH
THE AMERICAN FLEET.
Commodore Schley's Tribute to Hero
HObsOn and Party-Mysterious War
Ships Seen Near Havana.
Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press,

June 4, via Kingston, Jamaica, Monday
June 6, a. m.-Every effort is being made
to cut off Santiago de Cuba's connection
with the outside world, and it is believed
within forty-eight hours there will be
practical accomplishment of the design
Since Sunday last, when Commodore Schley
found Admiral Cervera's fleet trying to
quietly leave the harbor and headed off the
attempt, thus probably solving the war
problem, it has been the policy to so sur
round the city and harbor that no assist
ance either in supplying arms or ammuni-
ton could reach there.
After driving the Spanish fleet into
more protected position in the harbor by the
bombardment of Tuesday Commodore
Schley opened communication with the in
surgents, eighteen miles from Santiago to
the east. They were urged to obtain If
possible names and number of the vessels
of the fleet. inside the harbor as the con-
tour of the land at the entrance made it i'm
possible to accurately determine by view
from the American fleet just how many YES
sells Of the Spanish squadron was there
On Friday afternoon Lieutenant Sharp, of
the Vixen, went to the place of rendezvous
and received from the insurgents a map of
the harbor, showing the entire Cape Verde
fleet, with the exception of the destroyer
Terror, inside and close up to the city under
the protection of the guns mounted on
Blanco battery at the northern extremity
of the harbor. The ships there, according
to this chart, are the Cristobal Colon, the
Vizcaya, the Almirante Oquendo the Maria
Teresa and the Reina Mercedes destroyed
by the American war ships since this dis
patch was written), all cruisers of the first
class and heavily armed, together with
three torpedo boats. The definiteness of this
information naturally gave Commodore
Schley great satisfaction Although he had
known that several ships of the enemy were
there he was not certain that some others
had not succeeded in getting away or had
been sent in another direction.
With Admiral SIMPSONS arrival Wednes-
day the blockade was much strengthened
and although the plans to starve out the
city, its troops and the enemy's fleet were
pushed vigorously, cable boat was sent to
find and cut the cables communicating from
Santiago TO Jamaica and Haiti, :ables which
it had been alleged had been cut by the
auxiliary cruiser ST. Louis. The boat was
put to work, but up to to-day mad not found
the gable for which she was searching.
Guarded by the battle ships Massachusetts
and Texas, she worked on Friday morn ing
within two miles of formidable fortf!ca-
tons on shore. and strange to say, without
any attempt of the Spanish gunners to hit
them, although in the early morning the
big guns were fired viciously at Commodore
Just how long Santiago can stand be-
sieged is matter of conjecture. Three
weeks ago it was claimed at Jamaica that
food in Santiago was very poor and that 1t
was also very Scant The country about the
city is unproductive and mountainous, and
the insurgent camps are so close that there
city and it's environs The railway service
Is not carried to a DISTANCE much beyond ten
when Cervera's squadron was bottled up by
the flying squadron under Commodore
Sehley, nothing has gone in, and the aux IL
larry cruiser st. Paul captured about 1000
tons OF coal consigned to the port. 1t Is
thoroughly believed that only short time
Saas t6e ee h so
supply, perhaps for two months. but the
Spanish soldiery cannot be sustained on
this.
One important fact was learned to-day
from the insurgents on shore with when
COMMUNICATION &c All mas been opened up: There
are not 5000 soldiers. as has been stated in
this part of the province of Santiago de
Cuba, but only about 5000. Even these are
badly fed and much diSheartened.
1t had been the intention to send the
cruiser Marblehead and the cable steamer
east to Guantanamo to cut the cable at
that point, word having been brought that
the Spanish fleet evidently was in commu-
nication with Madrid. The ships to
leave at midnight. but subsequent order
delayed the matter. In the meantime the
Spanish seemed to be profiting greatly by
delay. Active work is being prosecuted on
the earthworks and new guns are being
mounted.
On Sunday morning the fleet lay outside
the harbor ready to fight at a moments
notice. At 1880 a tug boat bearing a flag
of truce was seen by the lookout on the
Iowa to be steaming down the entrance.
GraSping the situation Immediately Capt.
Bob Evans, commander of the battle ship,
started out in boat to meet the tug, at
the same time instructing the officer in
charge to go close possible to the
mouth of the harbor, so as to see where
the Merrimac was sunk and if her hull was
successfully blockading the harbor entrance.
The boat succeeded in getting near enough
to observe that the Spanish tug had to go
into shallow water and around the wreck
before she could get out. When she
emerged the Spanish officer on board, after
an exchange of compliments said the Span
iards had seen what they believed TO be a
flag of truce on the Iowa and had come to
answer 1t. They were politely informed
that they had been deceived by the awning
over the lookout in the foretop, and that
the American feet had no occasion to send
up flags of truce. The Spanish tug then
returned TO the harbor.
Attention was called to-day TO a fictitious
story to the effect that the auxiliary cruiser
st. Paul, with Captain Slgsbee on board,
had first located Cervera's feet here. There
is absolutely no foundation for such yarn.
The scouts did not arrive off Santiago until
twelve hours after Commodore Schley and
his squadron arrived, and ,ney were very
much surprised at the announcement of the
whereabouts OF the Spanish fleet.