Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-26
,oMErHlNG TO READ.
DOESN'T Contain Much Information, but
IL Is Probably the Best That is To Be

Copyright, Associated Press.


Copyright, Associated Press)
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch Boat Wanda, off Havana May
23.-(Filed at Key West, Fla, May 25,
3: 10 p. mat daybreak on Sunday
| morning the entire squadron under
Rear Admiral Sampson was lying di-
rectly opposite the entrance to Havana
harbOr, about ten miles off shore, a
formidable mouse-colored flotilla of
battleshipS, monitors, cruisers, yachts,
lighthouse tenders and torpedo boats.
The peaceful inactivity noticed the day
before on board the vessels of tn feet
had given way to scenes of great life
and hustle. The deck of every ship
swarmed with crowds of blue jackets
and white jacketed marines and officers
Around the flagship from whose main
mast fiuttered the crimson pennant Of
precedence, rocked on the choppy waves
| score of launches and gigs from sur
rounding warships, each manned by
sailors in spotless white. They had
brought aboard the flagship he com
handing officers of their respective
vessels, where they had apparently been
summoned for orders.
Overhead the sky was field of blue
unbrOken by single cloud and the
restless sea reflected its color in a
deper and more intense tone. Against
this background the stars and strips
stood out in bold relief from the mast
head and stern pole of every vessel
there. In the distance a bit of red and
yellow bunting hung Imply from the
flag pole on Morrow Castle. Beyond
was the billy blush outline of the
Cuban coast
A half hour later the gigs and
launches left the flagship and returned
with their officers aboard their own
vessels Almost Immediately thick col
umns of black smoke began to pour
from the smockestacks of the assem-
bled fleet and slowly, almost imper-
'ceptibly, the flagship began to move
to the eastward.
A number of vessels were left behind
on blockade duty, the acting flagship
flying a blue pennant. About two
hours later a large double masted
and double funneled cruiser came
steaming under full Roadway from the
| westward When within hailing dis
lance and without slackening her speed
she exchanged signals with the act
ing flagship off Havana A string Of
colored bunting was hoisted aloft on
the fagship's billiards, and the cruiser
pushed on to the east at full speed.
Afterwards the squadron was in the
Nicholas channel off Cardenas heading
for the old Bahama channel. The
squadron was proceeding with care,
for Admiral Cervera had not yet ac-
tually been bottled up, and care must
be taken lest the fox turn and dash
out of Santiago, around the east end
of Cuba, up through the Windward
Passage, and north to attack the cities
of the Atlantic coast of the United
States.
In all likelihood Commodore Schley viii
be able to spring the trap and then Rear
Admiral Sampson may hasten to Santi-
ago.
A great game is being played and the
situation is one of extreme suspense. At
ter Admiral Cervera is sealed up in Santi-
ago harbor the problem will be, as in the
case of a 'Varmint," caught in a trap,
whether to shoot or starve him. In any
event. Admiral Cervera, it is believed,
cannot reach Havana. Two powerful
| fets, each having fast vessels, as well as
heavy ones and each able to destroy him,
are closing in upon him. Naval officers
here believe that the battleship Oregon
| will be ordered to join Rear Admiral
| Simpsons fleet.