The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-21

a six-inch she'll and the Indiana had
patched UP the hole in her deck. ALI tho
chips. have been painted and their peace
the greatest naval battles ever fought they
are rather disappoInting..
Of diamonds and rubies, at the masthead or
the Oregon, in Guantanamo bay, was sig
nal for wild applause from the ships on Fri
came more vociferous when the announces
ment was made by Commodore Watson that
the lighters OF the navy, the big war ships,
had been ordered home and were ordered TO
sail for New York as soon as possible. Adj
miral Sampson, on the New York. was alb
sent when the news came but the Brook
on mud bank. had been lowed of by the
oregon. and prepared for home Saturday
after consultation the Navy Department BY
wire. ordered that the ships prepare to go
to sea at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning. So.
once more, Sunday became the American
navy day. The Brooklyn, Ii was found, was
uninjured by her mishap in the mud. The
circumstances under which she ran aground
chored almost across the entrance to the
bay. and the Brooklyn. while passing her
stern on THURSDAY night had to suddenly
which. without warning, had backed away
from along the big scout. The channel buoy
was not in position and the cruiser struck
her nose slightly in the mud. The efforts
OF the tug Wamputuck to get her of at
night failed. but on Friday She was pulled
moved some of her heavy ammunition.
Promptly at 10 o'clock on Sunday morn
ing the New York signaled to go to sea
ana the oregon, nearest the entrance,
moved out. The Brooklyn followed. and as
she passed the Badger. the Vixen. the
Massachusetts and the Oregon, the men OF
those ships lined up on deck and cheered
vociferously. When the New York passed
the column on her way to take the lead.
her band played Amt Glad to Get Out of
the Wilderness, and as the ships caught
the air there was applause. 1t was decided
t. run at eight knots an hour, the Indiana
being incapable of sustaining greater
speed, and. with the New York leading, the
ships headed eastward. At o'clock. Cape
Maysi, on the extreme east of Cuba was
sighted, and at Z o'clock the column headed
for the north. AT 1880 o'clock the land for
whose freedom American bravery had been
tested and American blood shed, slowly
faded from view, and it was singularly
significant fact that on the gundeck of the
of destruction, that few short weeks ago
had dealt death to enemy a peaceful
multitude raised its voice in the third verse
of America:
Let music swell the breeze
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedoms song!
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong."
So the fleet that for nine long weeks
had aided and watched the progress Of
freedom, took a last leave of Cuban shores
Monday morning found the fleet in sight
of some of the smaller islands, but away
from Cuba, and in the Windward passage.
The Indiana had developed a nine-knot
speed and greater progress than expected
had been made. Tuesday the fleet passed in
view of the island where Columbus made
his first landing. The Indiana, early in the
day, signaled that she had broken her
starboard condenser, and after she had
spent three hours fixing it, she had to go
to work for similar time on the port COM
denser. Despite the delay, one-half of the
distance had been made by Wednesday
noon, the rate of two hundred miles day
having been accomplished. With the excep-
ton of the Indiana the fleet could have
made eleven knots an hour, the maximum
speed of the Iowa and Massachusetts. The
Oregon, New York and Brooklyn could
have made thirteen knots. but Admiral
Sampson decided to keep them all together.
Wednesday afternoon the Indiana got a
speed of nine knots, and from that time un-
til Sandy Hook was reached the men in
her engine rooms did splendid work The
trip was by no means a simple excursion
home. Besides the daily routine there were
fire and collision drills on all the ships and
active work done in painting and repair
ing. The weather was fine, and. rounding
Cape Hatteras, usually stormy, there
was a calm, hot day. Thursday Friday
were uneventful, but very. pleasant DAYS.
Saturday, at a. M, running by Scotland
light, the navy yard tug brought out an
order for the fleet to proceed up the North
river to Grants tomb, fire salute and re-
turn to Tompkinsville to anchorage.