With Sampson Through the War (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VH. THE BLOCKADE OF SANTIAGO. Captain Evans has said that the "beginning of the end was in sight" when Rear-Admiral Sampson arrived at Santiago. This occurred at six o'clock on the morning of June 1. The reader will remember that we left Sampson on the night of May 31, coming from Key West, and then about one hundred miles from Santiago, with the New York, Oregon, Mayflower and Porter. From the reports he had just received from the St. Paul and Yale he felt some anxiety as to the effectiveness of the measures Schley had taken to prevent Cervera's escape. In fact, no one on Sampson's ships was sure that Cervera had not slipped out of Santiago until the small squadron from Key West actually arrived off that harbor. A thick haze hung over land and sea. Schley's vessels were seen standing about ten miles out from the shore, bunched rather than in blockade formation. Without waiting to communicate, Sampson headed the New York close to the harbor. All doubts were quickly set at rest by a shot fired from a vessel lying in undisturbed possession of the harbor mouth. Even from the New York's comparative proximity she was hard to distinguish in the mist of dawn, and before the shot could be replied to the Spanish man-of-war passed out of sight behind Smith Cay, an island that completely hides the inner harbor from the view of those outside. The shot was welcome, for it signified that at least one of Cervera's ships was in Santiago, and, if one, probably all. After assuring himself that the period of utter uncertainty no longer existed, Sampson called together all his commanders, including Schley, for a conference. The commodore had not found opportunity to put into execution Sampson's instructions, sent by the New Orleans, which had already arrived, regardi...