Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-23
KEY WEST FLEET OFF
THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY GOT
AWAY.
SOMETHING OF A SCRAMBLE.
The Departure Not So Imposing rs
Had Been Anticipsted-TwO MOni-
tors Left Dehind-Expert Cuban
Pilots on Board.

KEY WEST. FLA. April 22.-The North
Atlantic Squadron, excepting the monitors
Terror and Puritan and the smaller
cruisers. sailed from Key West at $40
o'clock this morning headed for the Flo
rida Straits Besides the two monitors,
the ships left behind are the cruisers
Detroit and Marblehead. the gunboat He
lena. the dispatch-boat Dolphin. and the
cable-repair-boat MangrOve.
The Dauntless. the dispatch-boat of the
Associated Press. left here with the fleet.
The departure of the fleet was not 50
imposing as had been anticipated. On the
contrary, there was something OF scram-
bic in getting away. When all was ready
the flagship swung round and came well
into harbor. signalling 10 the other ships
about TO sail. After receiving responses,
she turned and headed for the open sea.
with the Indiana and the Iowa closely in
her rear. The Indiana had been coaling
at the Dry Tortugas, but was cabled for
and at midnight joined her two sister
ships at the anchorage held by the three
while in the harbor.
The gunboat Machias lay nearest to the
three big warships. and was the first to
swing her squat bulk into line. She was
followed by the Newport which also
Law outside. OF the fleet lying close TO
the shore the Amphitrte was the leader.
She numbered along after the Machias'
her immense guns stretching above her
low free board.
A DEADLY INSTRUMENT .
She was the first of the monitors to join
I the warlike procession, looking the deadly
instrument she is Then came the Nash
Vile. her three smoke-stacks distinguish
ing her from the others. with the gun
boat Wilmington pumping alongside. The
Castine. which was next, was little com
pared with the other members of the
truculeut family. but looked game for
bloody work. should the fortunes of war
| demand it.
/ The Cincinnati was detained a little
/ while as she was in the act Of taking
/ coal from a schooner off Fort Taylor
( when the signal to sail was given. But
/ she got into the jagged line next The
other ships of the fleet followed in navy
mathematical formation, as viewed by
| the shore spectators. The Mayfiower
! brought up the rear of the parade. and
/ was one of the last to fade from view.
The torpedo-boats did not start until
! 6 o'clock. when most of the line was under
way. but as If TO exhibit their capabili-
ties. they darted ahead, and were lost
from sight in the forward group The
boats were the Dupont. Porter. Winslow,
/ Ericsson. and Gushing.
The monitors Puritan and Terror lay
side by side coaling from barge which
was between them. their decks crowded
| with officers and blue-iackets observing
the naval pageant. 1t is believed the
two monitors are 10 follow the rest Of the
| squadron.
NEWSPAPER CRAFT.
Following the floating forts was n feet
Of newspaper dispatch-boats, numbering
about twenty.
Cuban pilots accompanied the fleet
Juan Santo was on board the New York
Pedro Hernandez was aboard the Cincin-
natl. and FeliZe LOsa was the pilot of the
Indiana These three men are experts in
their business. They know the Cuban
coast thoroughly and have successfully
| A. al ~,