The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-14

Signal lights were displayed on SnOfe
at night May % and May q, but Com
modore Schley had no information
which enabled him to interpret them
Before sailing from Cienfuegos Com
modore SchIey received reliable infor-
nation that ships could be coaled IN
the vicinity of Cape Cruz and in Co
naives channel
The flying squadron. with the exeep-
ton of the Castine. sailed from Glen
fuegos about s p. m. of May "A, the
heavy ships in column Of vessels, the
light ships on the right flank and the
collier Merrimac on the lett flank. Al
1910 a. m. of May &c the light vessels
were shifted to the port beam and the
collier to the starbOard beam.
Before midnight Of May "a, owing TO
heavy rolling, the forward compart-
ment of the Eagle filed with water
which reduced her speed.
On Nav % the wind was fresh from
the eastward, the weather was bad ana
the sea was heavy for small vesseis.
The squadron reduced its speed 10 en-
able the Eagle to remain with It.
on May 26 the weather improved, the
wind veered to the west and became
light. and the sea moderated.
At 1890 o. m. Commodore Schley
sent the Eagle to Port Antonio to coal
and then to return to Key West. At
noon of May 26 the Eagle had sum
cient coal to steam ten knots per hour
for three days.
At $50 p. m. the squadron stopped
about twenty-five miles to the south
ward of port of Santiago and was
Joined by the scouts Minneapolis and
St. Paul
Merrimac Broke Down.
At d. m. May 26, the engines Of
tbe collier Merrimac were temporarily
disabled. The engines were changed
to work compound" and at 4:4O D..
m. of Nav q she was able to make
six knots with her own steam. The
broken parts Of the engines were re
haired on board the flagship, all re-
pairs being completed at midnight OF
Nav IS. The Yale lowed the Merrimac
while disabled.
The commanding officer Of the St
Paul visited the flagship in obedience
to signal. took with him Cuban
pilot and had a conversation with
Commodore Schley
Commodore SchIey had no converse
ton with the senior commanding OIL
Ger of the scouts. and obtained no
positive Information from the scouts
regarding the Spanish squadron.
At 7:45 p. m, May 20 Commodore
Schley changed the course Of the fly
ing SQUADRON to the westward and sig
nailed to his squadron, Destination
Key West. via south side Of Cuba, and
Yucatan channel. as soon as collier is
ready: speed nine knots"
The squadron proceeded westward
eighteen miles; stopped at HIS p. m
nhe tow lines Of the collier having
parted). drifted until 3:40 p. m, May
q, resumed its westward course for
twenty-three miles. stopped again at
7.15 p. m. and drifted until p. m.
of May IS
At $3.50 a. N. May q, the Harvard
Joined the flying squadron, and her
commanding officer delivered to Com
modore Schley the following dispatch
dated May %. addressed by the de-
partment to the Harvard at st. Mich
olas mole, Hayti:
Information for schley.
Proceed at once and inform Schley
and also the senior officer present off
Santiago de Cuba as follows. All de-
partment's information indicates that
Spanish division is stin at Santiago
de Cuba The department looks to you
to ascertain facts, and that the enemy,
if therein does not leave without a
decisive action. Cubans familiar with
Santiago de Cuba say that there is
landing place five nautical miles west
from mouth of harb0r. and that the
insurgents probably viii be found. and
not Spanish From the surrounding
heights can see every vessel in the
port AS soon as ascertained notify
the department whether enemy is
there. Could not squadron and also
Harvard coal from Merrimac, leeward
Cape Cruz, cuba. GOnaiVes, Hayti
channel or Mole Hayti? The depart
ment win send coal Immediately to
Mole Hayti. Report without delay
at Santiago de Cuba
This dispatch was answered by Com
modore Schley about noon, May p, as
follows: Received dispatch of May
26. delivered by Harvard off Santiago
de Cuba. Merrimac's engine is dis
abled and she IS helpless am obliged