During all these complications, which included at one time even a threat that the Spanish ministry would resign, there was no discordant note of any sort in the United States.  Secretary of State John Sherman and Postmaster General Gary resigned from President McKinley’s cabinet because of ill health, in order that the government might be in no way handicapped during the time of emergency.  Secretary Sherman was succeeded by Assistant Secretary Judge William R. Day of Canton, Ohio, who had displayed remarkable aptitude for the office during his term of service, while Mr. Gary’s successor was the Honorable Charles Emory Smith, of Philadelphia, a newspaper editor and formerly ambassador to Russia.

Along the Cuban coast.

It was the torpedo boats which kept things exciting during the early blockade of Cuban ports.  They are like hornets, which travel faster than anything that tries to escape them, sting when they strike, and vanish in an instant.  Two of these brisk fighters distinguished themselves on Sunday, while the diplomats were busy in the cabinets of the world.  The torpedo boat Porter, which is as fleet as an express train, has a dare-devil crew and an intrepid commander with an honored name.  He is Lieutenant John C. Fremont, a son of the famous “Pathfinder,” who himself never hesitated to lead the way, whether in wilderness exploration or any other duty that came before him.

Lieutenant Fremont, with the Porter, made a landing on the north coast of Cuba with a small force of his men, in search of certain information which was desired by Admiral Sampson for the guidance of his plans.  It was a dangerous undertaking, for the squad might have been wiped out in spite of their readiness to fight, if they had stumbled upon Spanish troops.  None were met, however, the journey was made in safety, and the landing party returned to the fleet in triumph with the distinction of being the first actual invaders of the Cuban soil in this warfare.

Earlier in the same day the torpedo boat Foote, in command of Lieutenant W. L. Rogers, was directed to take soundings of the approach to the harbor of Matanzas, an important city on the north coast of Cuba fifty miles east of Havana.  The Foote drew the first fire definitely known to be directed against the blockading squadron.  The little scout was taking soundings within three hundred yards of shore, when a Spanish masked battery on the east side of the harbor, commanding the entrance, fired three shots in quick succession.  They all went wide of the mark, striking the water nearly a quarter of a mile away from the boat.  The officers and men were momentarily startled by the volley, and then continued their observation.  The cruiser Cincinnati, which was not far away, was hailed by the torpedo boat and Lieutenant Rogers reported his experience.  The orders of Captain Chester, in command of the Cincinnati, did not permit him to shell Matanzas, so the fire from the masked battery was not returned.