The story of the U.S.S. "Yosemite" in 1898, compiled from available records by Joseph S. Stringham.

THE U. S. S. "YOSEMITE"

"3. At this date 11 A. M., Monday, July 4th, the Yosemite is the only
vessel of the Fleet blockading this port."
"On July 4th Captain Emory steamed directly for the Morro, stopped at
a distance of about two miles, hoisted the battle flags and fired the national
salute, to which no attention was paid by the Spanish fort. We afterward
learned from the San Juan newspapers of that date that 'An American
warship steamed in at noon to-day and fired a national salute in honour of
the naval victory at Santiago,' which, by the way, we did not know anything about until we were relieved by the New Orleans many days later."5
"AT SEA, July 5, 1898.
"1. This morning about six saw a steamer come out of the harbour of
San Juan and steam to the westward. Steamed to a position sufficiently
far to the westward to be out of range of the batteries and also to overtake
the cruiser with the long range guns in case she should come out and fire
at the Yosemite before she could hoist the boarding boat.
"2. The steamer stopped her engines and remained about an hour within
the range of the guns of Morro, evidently hoping that she would be boarded
there. Finding that the Yosemite paid no attention to her in that position,
she steamed various courses to lead the Yosemite under the Spanish guns,
but failing to do so finally stood to us and was boarded about 8 A. M. this day.
"3. She proved to be the French steamer Olinde Rodriques, a vessel of the
Trans-Atlantique Line, from St. Thomas for San Juan, Hayti, and Mexican
ports and the same vessel that evaded the Yosemite yesterday and ran in to
San Juan. The master of the Olinde Rodriques averred that he knew nothing
of the blockade of the port of San Juan and that neither the French Consul
at St. Thomas nor at San Juan were aware that a blockade was established.
These statements are regarded by me as untruthful as the master of the
Olinde Rodriques changed his course eight points to get under the protection
of the sunken battery of San Juan yesterday, and to-day wasted nearly
two hours of time in attempting to make the Yosemite board him within
range of Morro.
"4. The Olinde Rodriques was duly warned and the warning entered in
writing."
"SAN JUAN BLOCKADE, July 8, 1898.
"From the moment that we lost sight of the St. Paul, now twelve days
ago, we have laid our eyes on nothing more friendly than the Spanish
ensign, or more inviting than Morro Castle.
'Letter from Senator Truman Newberry to Editor.
Page sixty-two