The Boys of '98 Part 40

While the U. S. gunboat _Eagle_ was on the blockading route in the vicinity of the Isle of Pines, on the south Cuban coast, about five miles from the sh.o.r.e, she sighted the schooner _Gallito_, provision laden. She immediately gave chase, and the schooner ran in until about a quarter of a mile from the sh.o.r.e, when she dropped her anchor, and those aboard slipped over her side and swam ash.o.r.e.

Ensign J. H. Roys and a crew of eight men from the _Eagle_ were sent in a small boat to board the schooner. They found her deserted, and while examining her were fired upon by her crew from the beach. Several rifle-shots went through the schooner's sails, but no one was injured. The _Eagle_ drew closer in, and sent half a dozen shots toward the beach from her 6-pounders, whereupon the Spaniards disappeared. The _Gallito_ was taken into Key West.

_July 7._ Congress having pa.s.sed resolutions to the effect that Hawaii be annexed to the United States, the President added his signature, and a new territory was thus added to the American nation.

Secretary Long gave orders for the departure of the _Philadelphia_ from Mare Island for Hawaii. She was to carry the flag of the United States to those islands and include them within the Union. Admiral Miller, commanding the Pacific station, was charged with the function of hoisting the flag.

_July 8._ Admiral Camara, commander of the Spanish fleet, which was bound for the Philippines, informed the Egyptian government that he had been ordered to return home, and would, therefore, reenter the Suez Ca.n.a.l.

_July 12._ The auxiliary gunboat _Eagle_ sighted the Spanish steamer _Santo Domingo_, fifty-five hundred tons, aground near the Cuban coast, off Cape Francis, and opened fire with her 6-pounders, sending seventy shots at her, nearly all of which took effect.

While this was going on, another steamer came out of the bay and took off the officers and crew of the _Santo Domingo_. When the men from the _Eagle_ boarded the latter they found that she carried two 5-inch and two 12-inch guns, the latter being loaded and her magazines open. The steamer had been drawing twenty-four feet of water and had gone aground in twenty feet.

The men from the _Eagle_ decided that the steamer could not be floated, and she was set on fire after fifty head of cattle, which were on board, had been shot.

The _Santo Domingo_ carried a large cargo of grain, corn, etc. While the steamer was burning, the vessel which had previously taken off the crew emerged from the bay, and tried to get off some of the cargo, but failed.

The Spanish steamer burned for three days, and was totally destroyed.

_July 17._ The cruiser _New Orleans_ captured the French steamer _Olinde Rodriguez_ off San Juan de Porto Rico, as she was trying to enter the port with pa.s.sengers and a cargo of coffee and tobacco.

The U. S. S. _Mayflower_ captured the British steamer _Newfoundland_ off Cienfuegos while the latter was trying to run the Cuban blockade.

The Spanish sloop _Domingo Aurello_ was captured by the U. S. S. _Maple_ as the former was leaving the port of Sagua de Tanamo, province of Santiago, with a cargo of tobacco.

_July 22._ The following cablegram was received at the Navy Department:

[Ill.u.s.tration: U. S. S. NEW ORLEANS.]

"PLAYA, July 22.

"Expedition to Nipe has been entirely successful, although the mines have not been removed for want of time.

"The Spanish cruiser _Jorge Juan_, defending the place, was destroyed, without loss on our part.

"The _Annapolis_ and _Wasp_ afterward proceeded from Nipe to a.s.sist in the landing of the commanding general of the army on arrival at Porto Rico.

(Signed) "SAMPSON."

_July 30._ Another "jackie" achieved the reputation of a hero. He is boatswain's mate Nevis of the gunboat _Bancroft_, and the tale of his valour is not unmixed with humour.

The _Bancroft_, accompanied by the converted yacht _Eagle_, which had been covering the blockading station around the Isle of Pines, sighted a small Spanish schooner in Sigunea Bay.

The _Bancroft's_ steam launch, in charge of Nevis and one seaman, each armed with a rifle, were sent in to take the schooner. This was only a task of minutes, and the launch returned with the prize, which proved to be the schooner _Nito_, little more than a smack, and with no cargo.

Commander Clover sent Nevis in with her to anchor near the wreck of the Spanish transatlantic liner _Santo Domingo_, sunk by the _Eagle_ a few weeks ago. Then the _Bancroft_ and _Eagle_ cruised off to Mangle Point, where they happened to be put in communication with the insurgent camp.

Two hours later they returned. For a time nothing could be seen of the launch or the prize. Suddenly Commander Clover, who was scanning the waters with his gla.s.s, shouted to Captain Sutherland of the _Eagle_: "By heavens, they have recaptured my prize." The little schooner lay near the wrecked steamer, but the Spanish flag was flying from her mast, and, instead of only Nevis and his companion, she was apparently filled with men.

Meanwhile the gunboat _Maple_ had drawn up, and Commander Clover ordered her into the work of rescue. With guns ready she steamed toward the schooner, but the sight that greeted her was not what was expected.

Nevis and his companion sat at one end of the boat attempting to navigate her out of the harbour. Each had his rifle across his knee and was keeping a wary eye on a party of half a dozen cowering Spaniards huddled in the other end of the boat.

The _Maple_ asked for information, and offered Nevis a tow, but he replied with a joke and declined the proffered a.s.sistance. Then it developed that, in going in to anchor, he had observed two other small Spanish boats near the wreck of the _Santo Domingo_, and had resolved to capture them, too.

He knew it was hazardous work, but "bluff" carried him through.

He took the Spanish colours of the schooner, ran them up, and boldly sailed in. There were six men on the two other boats, and they watched the approach of their supposed compatriots with calmness that speedily changed to consternation when Nevis and the other "jackie" suddenly whipped their rifles to their shoulders, and demanded an immediate surrender.

The scared Spanish seamen lost no time in complying, and had the unique experience of surrendering to their own flag. Then, scorning all aid, Nevis took them out to his ship, and in the most matter-of-fact manner reported the adventure to his astonished commander.

The capture was no mean one, for these six men gave important information to the American ships.

_August 1._ The Norwegian steamer _Franklin_, of about five hundred tons, bound from Vera Cruz with a cargo of food supplies, was captured by the converted yacht _Siren_ off Francis Key, near Caibarien.

_August 6._ The Norwegian steamer _Aladdin_, sugar-laden, was captured by the auxiliary gunboat _Hawk_ off Cadiz Light, Isle of Pines.

_August 7._ The auxiliary gunboat _Viking_ captured the Norwegian steamer _Bergen_ off Francis Key.

_August 8._ General Shafter and the Spanish General Toral held a consultation at the palace in Santiago, with regard to the embarkation of the Spanish prisoners of war. As a result of the conference, one thousand of the Spanish sick and wounded were taken on board the _Alicante_ next morning, to be sent to Spain as soon as the vessel was properly loaded.

_August 10._ The President to-day promoted Sampson and Schley to be rear-admirals, ranking in the order named.

A department of the army, to be known as the Department of Santiago, was created, and Maj.-Gen. Henry W. Lawton a.s.signed to its command.

The Norwegian steamers _Aladdin_ and _Bergen_ were released, by orders from Washington.

_August 12._ The flag-ship _San Francisco_, the monitor _Miantonomah_, and the auxiliary yacht _Sylvia_ were fired upon by the Havana batteries. One 10 or 12-inch sh.e.l.l struck the _San Francisco's_ stern as she turned to get out of range, and tore a hole about a foot in diameter, completely wrecking Commodore Howell's quarters, and smashing his book-case to fragments. n.o.body was injured, and, being under orders not to attack the batteries, the ships retreated as fast as their engines could carry them.

_August 13._ General Shafter, at Santiago, learned that Manzanillo had been bombarded for twenty hours.

General Shafter at once cabled to the Spanish commander at Manzanillo that peace had been declared,(35) and requesting him to advise the American commander of the fact under a flag of truce, which he did, and the sh.e.l.ling of the town ceased.

_August 16._ The following message was the first received in this country from the territory so lately annexed:

[Ill.u.s.tration: U. S. S. SAN FRANCISCO.]