Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-26

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00n HEN the sun sank his red and
WAW perspiring face under the cooling
G9 waters of the Caribbean on the
night of July 2, 1898, the blockading fleet
off Santiago drew silently inshore to take
up another night of vigil lest Cervera
should slip by under cover of darkness
and undo the work of the past forty days.
Scarcely had the hiss which marked the
extinction of the orb of day smitten on
the ears of the men of the fleet when the
searchlights took up the labor where the
sun had left off and sent long tongues Of
name into the crooked mouth of the har-
Dor, sweeping to right and left, west and
east over the grim fortresses which mask
60 the entrance, peering in to where the
helna Mercedes was floating watch
dog against any attempt to break inside.
When the same sun after one more
course from east to west again took his
mighty bath over toward Panama, the
blockading fleet was somewhat scattered
although within signal call. Part Of the
vessels were along the coast line picking
up the sailors of Spain and helping to
save the survivors Of the wrecks made
such by themselves. The long vigil was
over, nothing remained Of sufficient i'm
portance to worry gallant "Dick" Vain
wright with his little converted yacht
The fleet Of the gray-haired admiral was
in smoldering ruins along that coast line,
while he himself prisoner was sitting
in the cabin of the flagship dressed in
garments lent to him by her officers.
Independence Day. 1898, had received
new Significance, for it had become the
day of one more stupendous naval accom-
plishment under the flag Of the Union.
Not even the brilliant battle Of Admiral
Dewey in the harbor of Manila exceeded
the wonderful fight made by Schley on
that Sunday morning. Spain's sea power
was mere "Reminiscences when the sun
rose over Moro and Socapa on July 4.
But one American had lost his life in the
fierce fight extending from early in the
morning until an hour and half after
the time for midday mess call. Hun
| dreds of Spaniards had made their last
fight on earth. four magnificent cruisers,
excelling in power-on paper-the one ar
mored cruiser which did such fearful ex-
ecution, were blackened huIks lying
! ashore on the coast, two torpedo destroy
ers were under the sea, sent there by n
fierce little yacht inferior in armament to
them, and the survivors Of all their crews
were prisoners aboard the vessels of their
cOnQuerors.
A Severe Vigil.
For forty days Schley had kept guard
| there. For thirty days the blockade had
been maintained under the one general
| order issued by Sampson to all the fleet
on June .. For thirty duys the same six
mile circle had bound in the entrance to
Santiago and made it impossible for any
thing, even whaleboat, to emerge night
or day without challenge to be turned
into destruction unless the challenge We're
needed. 1t had been nerve-rac kiIly.
soul-wearying strain on officers and men.
by day standing off under steam in wide
circle of six miles from the prows of the
big battleshps in the center to the same
distance off the harbor entrance, but close
inshore, where the little gunbouts picket
ed, by night closing in to half distance
with formation unbroken excepting that
q battleship should close in on the en-
trance and blaze it with its searchlirbts
until relieved, while another huge hulk
attended to open fire on anything emery
ing, such had been the monotonous order
of the watch.
Patiently and faithfully, punctual to
the second on changing station, the watch
had been kept Time after time the vet
eran of CASTLE had sought for break in
that deadly guard and had retired into
the inner Businesses of the crooked harbor
in despair IF the enemy attempts to es-
cape close in on him, engage and endea-
vor to destroy him or drive him ashore"
So read the general order issued by Samp-
son on June 9. which was never changed
until it had been carried into full effect.
So with the fall of night just month
later the big ships moved slowly and sui
lenly nearer the point of possible attack
When the first gray streak of dawn re-
vealed the point where water and shore
separate the Massachusetts, then on
guard with her searchlight attended by
the Indiana. turned her prov to the east
and steamed away to Guantanamo. She
left her station to coal, for her bunkers
were getting too low in supplies to per-
nit her to follow out orders if the emer-
gepcy arose. Taylor, with the Indiana.
relieved her, for no second ship was need
ed then. Back into the circle, with the
Gloucester lowering Oh her port bow. the
big battleship moved. With the increase
of light once more the long semi-circle
was taken up and the grim watch went
on.
But the uneasy sea kept the big ships
drifting to the east as they rose and fell.
Over nearest the shore in the port di-
vision the little Vixen held her place.
Next should have been the Marblehead.
but she was detached that day. Then
came the Brooklyn, flagship of the second
squadron; the Texas, the Iowa, the Ore
gon, the New York, flagship of the chief
in command; the Gloucester close inshore
tion at daybreak was such that the port
side was somewhat uncovered. 1t is be-
lieved that this unusual condition was no
ticed by the Spanish commander and that
herein he saw his only chance of escap-
| ing with one or more Of his vessels.
Sampson Steams OFF.
| Morning mess was called and disposed
of, men lounged about seeking some cool
spot, officers walked nervously about, but
nothing indicated that change to the
monotOny of the vigil was imminent. Over
on the Oregon the jackies assembled III
general quarters 1or sunday morning Ill
spection. On the other ships in rapid
succession the same preparations for the
same ceremony We're noticeable except,
ing the New Yo-k. Day station had been
taken, the CONN snder had made his OBJ
servations and was about to leave his
post for time.
| While the men We're still on deck under.
| going rigid inspection by their officers
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