size of individual ships and weight of armor and armament, there had
never been anything in the history of the United States to equal it.

The fleet consisted of the powerful battleships "Iowa," "Indiana,"
"Massachusetts," and "Texas," the two splendid armored cruisers "New
York" and "Brooklyn," cruisers "New Orleans" and "Marblehead," converted
yachts "Mayflower," "Josephine," and "Vixen," torpedo boat "Porter,"
cable boat "Adria," gunboat "Dolphin," and the auxiliary cruisers "St.
Louis" and "Yankee."

The vessels formed a semicircular line, completely enclosing the
entrance to Santiago harbor. From where the "Yankee" rested, on the
right wing, a fine view of the coast could be obtained. Two insurgent
camps were plainly visible--one on the beach and another in the hills,
which at that point rose to the height of fully four thousand feet.
Morro Castle, a grim, sullen, gray embattled fort, directly overlooking
the channel, was in plain sight, and here and there could be seen little
green or sand-colored mounds, marking the site of earthworks.

The stretch of blue sea, edged by the tumbling surf-beaten beach, and
the uprising of foliage-covered hills, all brought out clearly by a
tropical sun, formed a picture as far removed from the usual setting of
war as could be. But war was there, and the scenery appealed to few.
There was more interest in the drab hulls of the fleet and the outward
reaching of the mighty guns.

That evening--the evening of June 3d--the "Yankee's" decks presented an
animated spectacle. The novel surroundings and the prospect of action
kept the boys interested. The "Rumor Committee" was in active session,
and one of its principal members, the captain's orderly, brought the