The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-28
NOT AT SANTIAG0?
That Seems to Be the Impression
Now Prevailing.
MAY TRY TO REACH HAVANA.
In That Event the Annihilaiion OF Hh
Fleet Would BE Ccrtain-Only Two
Routes for Him TO Pursuc-A
Narrow Channel TO the
Eastward-A Long and
Tortuous Route.

ON BOARD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT DAUNTLESS. VIA
KEY WEST, May 27.--s p. Mp to u
o'clock this morning friday nothing had
been seen of the Spanish fleet. Neither
Rear-AdmiraI Sampson nor the naval ofis
GERS with the feet appear at all sanguine
that tho Spaniards. unless hard pressed,
will attempt to run the gauntlet in Ha-
yana.
UNWILLING TO FIGHT.
Admiral Cervera since he reached the
Caribbean Sea has shown anything but
a disposition to fight and our officers are
inclined TO think that IL he is driven
from tho waters south OF Cuba he will
double back TO San Juan de Porto Rico.
where his ships could coal under the pro-
lection OF batteries as powerful as those
at Havana, as Rear-Admiral Sampson as
certained when he bombarded the forts
there two weeks ago. But the unexpect-
ed might happen and, II 1t does. Admiral
Sampson Is prepared.
Should Cervera run into the arms OK
our fleet as now constituted. his surren-
der or annihiliation would be inevitable.
There are but two passages by which
he could enter the Florida straits. From
the eastward, $50 miles east OF Havana,
the Bahama Banks. a great triangular
area of shoal water strung with coral
keys extends northward from Cuba 10 "a
point sixty miles east OF the coast of
Florida.
~ q
wedged down close To the coast OF Cuba.
leaving between only a narrow passage
scarcely fifteen miles wide and about
sixty miles long. called the Bahama
channel. At the north between tina
great and little Bahama banks the north
west Province channel or Hole In tho
wall" as the seafaring men about hero
term it. offers another door TO the Flori-
da Straits
The latter route Is long and tortuous.
| fully 200 miles from Cape Maysie, the
eastern polnt Of the island: while the
former through the old Bahama channei
is a scant six hundred miles, almost in
an air line as the crow dies. We're the
Spanish fleet 60 come up through the
Windward passage and around Cape
Maysle, II would have to choose between
these two.
SIMPSONS FLET.
The United States feet makes an im-
posing spectacle as II moves majestically
| along. bristlng with guns and stripped
| for action. Lookouts are always in the
military tops sweeping the horizon with
their telescopes. During the day tho
| Admirals orders are wig-wagged from
the flagship. while at night orders are
| conveyed by streaks OF light
The newspaper dispatch boats are
Obliged by the Admirars orders 20 main
| tain a position not nearer than hvs
miles astern, In order TO be out OF harms
| way should a collision with the enemy
occur Several times each night tha
scouts far out on the horizon flash their
reports 10 the Admiral, skimming
through the water as fast as railroad
trains and firing their colored rockets
ahoat in the black night
In cannot but occur 10 those unversed
I'm naval warfare that their brilliant ex-
| changes would serve as admirable adver-
| tisements for the location OF our neet
| should the enemy happen along.
The only exciting incident OF the cruise
occurred about II o'clock Tuesday morn
ing before a number OF the ships which
| afterwards Joined the feet had arrived.
| The fleet was steaming eastward In col
umn abreast: but when the smoke from
| three strange ships was made out on tho
horizon dead ahead sngnal flags began
TO stud the signal yards OF the flagship
as Rear-Admiral Sampson made his die
position for battle should the strangers
prove to be the enemy.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
Bugles sounded the call to general
quarters, and every executive officer rang
for steam. while ths smoke stacks OF our
al Ina 10. rfn
smoke as the vessels swung into Ina
ahead IL was evident that Admiral.
Sampson intended 20 adopt tho favorifs
formation OF successful commanders In
modern naval battles and fight his ships
broadside on.
The speed was quickly increased 20 ovee
ten shots and the course altered sifghfIJ
TO pass the strangers on tho port auar<
ter. The very ships seemed 20 scent tho
battle as they ploughed through tho
heavy swell which was dead against
them and flung II aside In clouds Of
spray. The Admiral's commands wcrl
flung back from ship TO ship. From th4
Dauntless with our glasses we could se<
them at quarters. stripped to the waists
| Nettings 20 catch splinters wefe stretched
| from the chart rooms and bridges and
| everything was made ready for the fray,
II was a sight 10 satisfy the pride oi
| every American as our fieet Dc1o down,
Meanwhile the military tops Of the tive
strangers had removed all doubt az "a
| the character OF the vessels, II wos q
! false alarm and tho disappointment Of
| our Jack Tars must have been keeas
Judging by the remarks they made after<
ward.
They had been feeding each other On
| the promlses OF the many things they
promised to do to the Spaniards when
| they got them and for few nifnutc1
| they thought the coveted opportunity had
| come.
Long before the correspondents perch-
| cd on the tops Of tho pilot houses OF their
boats were able 10 recognize the men
comers. the look-outs on the warshspx heA
identified them as two or the Unit40
states monitors and a. supply ship which
had been dispatched IN advance Of the
main body OF the feet.
Rumor About CervePn-