The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-14

stopped again at 7:15 p. m, and drifted
until p; m. of May Is. ,,.
joined the flying squadron, and her COM
handing officer delivered TO Commodore
Schley the following dispatch. dated May
Harvard at St Nicholas Mole, Haiti
Proceed at once and inform Schley and
also the senior officer present OFF Santiago
information indicates the Spanish divi-
sion is still at Santiago de Cuba. The de-
partment looks TO you to ascertain fact
and that the enemy. If therein, does not
leave without decisive action. Cubans
familiar with Santiago de Cuba say that
there is a landing place five nautical miles
west or six from mouth of harbor, and
that there insurgents probably will be
found, and not Spanish. From the sur
rounding heights can be seen every yes
sci in the port As soon as ascertained,
notify the department whether enemy is
there. Could not squadron and also the
Harvard coal from Merrimac. leeward
Cape Cruz, Cuba, Gonaives, Haiti chan
mel or Mole, Haiti? The department Will
send coal Immediately TO Mole, Haiti. Re
port without delay situation at Santiago
de Cuba
This dispatch was answered by Com
modore Schley about noon May q as fol-
lows: Received dispatch of May 26th de-
livered by Harvard off Santiago de Cuba.
Merrimac's engine is disabled, and she is
helpless; am obliged to have her tOwed to
Key West. Have been absolutely unable
to coal the Texas. MarbleheaJ, Vixen and
Brooklyn from collier. owing to very rough
seas and boisterous weather since leaving
Key West. Brooklyn is the only in
squadron having more than sufficient coal
to reach Key West. Impossible TO remain
on Santiago In present state OF coal ac1
count of squadron. Not possible to coal
TO leeward of Cape Cruz in summer. ow-
ing To southwest winds. Harvard just re-
ports to me she has only coal enough to
reach Jamaica. and she will proceed TO
Port Royal; also reports only small YES
sells could coal at Gonaives or Mole, Haiti.
Minneapolis has coal enough to reach Key
West, and same OF Yale, which Will tow
Merrimac. 1t is TO be regretted that the
department s orders cannot be obeyed,
earnestly as we have all striven TO that
end. / am forced 10 return 10 Key West
via Yucatan passage for coal. Can ascer-
tain nothing certain concerning enemy.
Was obliged to send Eagle to Port Antonio.
jamaica yesterday as she had only TWEEN
ty-seven tons coal on board. Will leave
St. Paul here. Will require $500 tons OF
coal at Key West.
COAL SUPPLY SUFFICIENT.
The coal supply OF the vessels of the fly
ing squadron at noon on May q was suf-
ficient TO have enabled them TO steam at
ten knots per hour: The Brooklyn for
ilA days; Iowa. ~ days; Massachusetts.
10 days; Texas. Ga days; Marblehead. SA
days; Vixen. 1l1a days. Or TO have re-
NAMED on blockade Guty off Santiago de
Cuba: The Brooklyn l1r 26 days; Iowa.
Is days; Massachusetts. - days; Texas,
10 days; Marblehead, 3 days; Vixen, %
days; and then steam to Gonaives, Hayti.
or TO Cape Cruz. Cuba, 10 coal. At that
date the flying squadron was accompanied
~ the collier Merrimac. containing 1880
tons OF coal. The amount of coal required
% completely fill the coal bunkers of al,
he vessels OF the flying squadron on this
same date was 2.750 tons The conditions
Of wind. and weather from noon on
May % TO June ! were favorable for taking
coal from collier at OF Santiago de
Cuba.
The Iowa. Castine and Dupont coaled at
Ctenfuegos from the collier Merrimac
May % and the Massachusetts and Castine
On May "a The Texas asked permission 10
coal first May % and was refused by
Commodore Schley, who ordered the Iowa
% coal first and the Massachusetts, second.
The Texas was ord cred TO coal from the
collier on May "A, but the order was re-
yoked as the Massachusetts, was alongside
IF the collier deemed IL unsafe To place his
vessel between the two battleships
The Texas and Marblehead coaled at sea
of Santiago from colliers May - and Is the
Massachusetts and Vixen on May %, the
Brooklyn and Iowa on May -, the Brook
lyn. Texas and Marblehead on May 81
AT 1886 p. m. May q Commodore Schley
signaled 10 the St Paul. If Sampson comes
here tell him half of squadron out of coal
and collier engines broken down.
AT 10:45 p. m. May 22 Commodore Schley
5ignaled TO the Texas. The more coal you
take I'm this smooth weather the less YOU
viii have 10 take In Hsyti.'
LEFT SANTIAGO UNGUARDED.
Commodore Schey made no effort 10 as
certain whether the Spanish squadron was
IA the harbor OF Santiago: he left said