Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1899-08-09
900 HEN the sun sank his red and
WhW perspirng face under the cooling
x-lAl liz. Ia rilLaan m fhp


200 HEN the sun sank his red and
WW perspirIng face under the cooling 90, ing
AA waters Of the Caribbean on the
night OF July . 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
flame into the crooked mouth of the har-
Dor. sweeping to right and left, west and
east over the grim fortresses which mask
ed the entrance. peering in to where the
HeiDa 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 feet 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 inn
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. SPANS 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 al hour and half after
the time for midday mess call. Hun
dreds OF Spaniards had made their last
fight ON earth, four magnificent cruisers,
exceling in power--on paper-the one ar
mored cruiser which did such fearful ex-
ecution, were blackened hulks lying
ashore on the coast, two torpedo destroy
ers were under the sea. sent there by a
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 days the same six
mile circle had bound in the entrance to
Santiago and made II impossible for any
thing, even whaeboat, 10 emerge night
or day without challenge TO be turned
into destruction unless the challenge were
needed 1t had been nerve-racking
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 batteships in the center to the same
distance off the harbor entrance but close
inshore, where the little s..4boats picket
ed, by night closing in TO half distance
with formation unbroken excepting that
battleship should close in ON the en-
trance and blaze it with its searchlights
until relieved. while another huge hulk
attended TO open fire on anything emerg
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
exam OF CASTLE had sought for break in
that deadly guard and had retired into
the inner businesses OF the crooked harbor
In despair. III the enemy attempts to es-
cape close in on him. engage and endea-
yor TO destroy him or drive him ashore :"
So read the general order issued by Samp-