would state that I am by no means satisfied that the Spanish squadron is not at Cienfuegos. The large amount of smoke seen in the harbor would indicate the presence of a number of vessels, and under such circumstances it would seem to be extremely unwise to chase up a probability at Santiago de Cuba reported via Havana, no doubt as a ruse.

"2. I shall therefore remain off this port." Another letter of the same date reports the coming of the British steamer Adula, en route to Cienfuegos, ostensibly to get British refugees. Her captain told Schley he had heard at Jamaica that Cervera had left Santiago on May 20th. Commenting on this report, Schley says:

"Now, on Saturday, May 21st, when about forty miles southwest of this port, I heard, from the bridge of this vessel, firing of guns toward Cienfuegos, which I interpreted as a welcome to the Spanish fleet."

On the morning of the 24th, the Marblehead, Eagle, and Vixen joined Schley. The lookouts of the squadron had seen three fires on a hill west of the port every night and three horses on the beach beneath the hill every day. McCalla, of the Marblehead, knew them to be a signal made by the insurgents, and he went to see them in person. He reported to Schley that they were trustworthy and that they said positively that Cervera's ships were not in the harbor.

Schley, in the afternoon of that day (May 24th), determined to obey the spirit of his instructions received by way of the Hawk on the 23d, and go on to Santiago. He left Cienfuegos soon after 6 o'clock.

It illustrates the spirit of his men to tell that the Dupont, which had bumped a hole in her bottom on a coral reef, and had started for Key West for repairs, came back at full speed to beg permission to go along as soon as she read the signals ordering the squadron to Santiago. A plug would keep out the water well enough if a fight with Cervera was in prospect.

The weather during the run of four hundred miles east was bad. At noon on May 26th the lookouts were able to see the Morro at the mouth of Santiago harbor, but at 5 o'clock in the afternoon Schley's squadron was still twenty miles away and the Morro could only be made out by means of glasses in the military tops. Before dark the scouts Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Yale joined Schley. Not one of these ships had seen Cervera's fleet, but Captain Wise of the Yale said to Captain Philip of the Texas:

"I firmly believe Cervera is in Santiago harbor." He had expressed his belief to Schley before that, no doubt, although there is no explicit report of his having done so. But Sigsbee, of the St. Paul, reported that he had captured the British cargo-ship Restormel as she was en

The

tering the harbor with a cargo of coal. captain of the Restormel said he had been ordered to go to San Juan de Porto Rico with the coal, but if Cervera was not there he was to go on to Martinique, and in case Cervera had left Martinique he was to go thence to Santiago. It was in obeying these orders that he was entering Santiago. Dieuaide says that in the opinion of most of the officers of the fleet this confirmed the reports that Cervera was in Santiago.

Nevertheless Schley's squadron remained where it was until after dark, and then, to once more quote Dieuaide, "occurred the most remarkable thing of the naval campaign. Almost without exception every man in the squadron expected that the next move would be a dash toward the harbor entrance to draw the fire of the forts, perhaps the ships--who knew? But while everybody waited under the greatest nervous tension that can be imagined, the Ardois signal lights on the Brooklyn began to twinkle. Three thousand men watched that signal with almost bated breath. Slowly the red and white lights unfolded the message, while everybody spelled it out letter by letter. And this was it :

"D-e-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n K-e-y W-e-s-t a-s s-o-o-na-s C-o-l-l-i-e-r i-s r-e-a-d-y v-i-a s-o-u-t-h s-i-d-e C-u-b-a a-n-d Y-u-c-a-t-a-n C-h-a-n-n-e-l. S-p-e-e-d n-i-n-e k-n-o-t-s.'

The Iowa was lying within hail of the Texas and Captain Evans shouted to Captain Philip : Say, Jack, what the devil does it mean?" "Beats me,” replied Philip. “What do you think?"

"Damned if I know," Evans said; "but I know one thing-I'm the most disgusted man afloat."

Let it be repeated that the squadron was at that time twenty miles from the Morro of Santiago and it had not been any nearer nor had any effort been made to learn whether Cervera was within or not. At 9.15 o'clock that night the squadron did actually start back for Key West. The break on the collier was a bad one, but in his determination to get back to Key West Schley ordered the St. Paul to take her in tow. The St. Paul did so, and the squadron started, but the tow lines parted four times in succession. Then Schley ordered the break repaired so that she could go on under her own steam, but before the repairing was completed, the Harvard came from San Antonio, Jamaica, with orders for Schley to remain blockading Santiago no matter what happened.

Schley had telegraphed the Navy Department that he was going to Key West for coal. While off Cienfuegos he had complained in his despatches about the difficulty of transferring coal from the collier to his ships on the open