Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-12-21


/ 10 a. m. the Marblehead and Eagl
proceeded to the landing place 49,
miles west of Savanilla Point, commu
nicated with the insurgents, landet
stores for them, learned that the Span
ish squadron was not in the harbor a
/ Cienfuegos, rejoined the squadron a
$3.50 p. M and reported to Commodore
| Schley the information obtained. Ate
| the receipt of this information Com
| modore Schley wrote a dispatch TO the
ommander-in- chief in which he stated
81 shall move eastward tomorrow
He also wrote dispatch to the com
| mandant of the naval base at Key
West in which he stated AS it is moi
found practicable to coal the Texas
from the collier here where there is
SO much swell, / shall proceed tomor
row off Santiago de Cuba, being EN-
barrassed, however, by the Texas
short coal supply and her inability tc
coal in the open sea. | shall not be
able to remain off that port on ac
squadron, so will proceed to the vicfn
ity of Nicholas Mole, where the water
is smooth; and can coal Texas and
other ships with what may remain in
BOILER" No work was, apparently, in
progress on the Notifications of Glen
fuegos while Commodore Schley was
off that port.
No efforts we're made by Commodore
Schley to communicate with the insur-
gents to discover whether the Spanish
squadron was in the harbor of Cienfue-
gos prior to the morning of May "a.
Signal lights were displayed on shore
at night May % and May %, but Com
modore Schley had NO information
which enabled him to interpret them.
Before sailing from Cienfuegos Com
modore Schley received reliable infor-
nation that ships could be coaled in
the vicinity of Cape Cruz and in Con
aives channel
The flying squadron, with the excep-
ton of the Castine, sailed from Glen
fuegos about 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 left flank. At
1910 a. m. of May rs 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 compartment of
the Eagle filed with water, which re-
duced her speed. On May % the wind
was fresh from the eastward, the
weather was bad and the sea was
heavy for small vessels. The squad
ron reduced it's speed to enable the
Eagle to remain with it. On May 26
the weather improved, the wind veered
to the westward and became light and
the sea moderated. At 1880 p. m.
Commodore Schley sent the Eagle to
Port Antonio to coal and then 20 re-
turn to Key West. At noon of May
rs the Eagle had sufficient coal to
steam 10 knots per hour for three
days.
Squadron Arrives Off Santiago.
At $3.50 p. m. the squadron stopped
about 20 miles to the southwark of the
The scouts Minneapolis, Yale and st.
Paul. At p. M. May 26, the engines
Of the collier Merrimac were tenn
porarily disabled. The engines were
changed to work compound" and at
L:2O p. m. of May q she was able to
make six knots with her own steam.
The broken parts Of the engines were
'epaired on board the flagship, all re
pairs being completed ait midnight of
May %. The Yale towed the Merri-
mac while disabled. The commanding
officer of the st. Paul visited the flag
ship in obedience to signal, took with
MIN a Cuban pilot and. had a converse
ion with Commodore Schley. Com
nodore Schley had NO conversation
With the senior commanding officer of
he scouts and obtained NO positive
from the scouts regarding
he Spanish squadron.
AT 7:45 p. M, May 26, Commodore
Schley changed the course of the fly |
ng squadron to the westward and sig
jailed to his squadron, Destination
ley West, via south side of Cuba and
Zucatan channel, as soon aus collier is
eady; speed nine knots"
The squadron proceeded westward
8 miles, stopped at 11:15 p. M. (the
ow lines of the collier having parted), I
lrifted until S:45 p. M, May q, re-
umed its westward course for 90
niles, stopped again at 7:15 p. m. and
rifted until l p. m. of May %.
At $3.50 a. NJ, May ~, the Harvard l
oined the flying squadron and her
officer delivered to Com
nodore' Schley the following dispatch,
lated May 25:
call departments information indi-
ates the Spanish division is still at
santiago de Cuba. The department
ooks to you to ascertain fact and that
he enemy, If therein, does NOT leave
Tithout a decisive action. Cubans
amili,ar with Santiago de Cuba say
hat there is landing place five or sly
autical miles west from mouth of
arbor and that there insurgents prob
bly, will be found and not Spanish.
rom the surrounding heights can
ee every vessel in the port. AS soon
S ascertained notify the department.
neither enemy is there. Could not
quadron coal from Merrimac, leeward
ape Cruz Cuba; Gonaives, Hayti
hannel, or Mole, Hayti? The depart.
lent will send coal Immediately to
Tole, Hayti. Report without delay
ituation at Santiago de Cuba"
This dispatch was answered by
Commodore Sehley about noon May
Z as follows:
Forced to Return to Key West.