Page:The Fall of Maximilan's Empire.djvu/21



daylight of the 28th of March the "Tacony" appeared off the city of Vera Cruz, and quite a fleet was sighted moored under Sacrificios Islands. This anchorage, four miles southeastward of the harbor, is usually chosen by foreign men-of-war for sanitary reasons, although in those days, when steam launches were almost unknown, except to a few especially favored vessels, the long pull (or sail) to town was a serious matter.

Among the vessels present was the U.S.S. "Tahoma," Lieutenant-Commander Gherardi, who, on making out the distinguishing signal of the approaching steamer, came out to meet his countryman, and thus make a tangible offer of services, pilot knowledge, advice, etc. Commander Roe quickly decided to follow the custom, at least for the present, and the "Tacony" was soon snugly moored in nine and one fourth fathoms of water, a short distance inshore of Sacrificios Island. Good ground tackle is a necessity in this roadstead, as northers are frequent, and there is no shelter except from the immediate islands.

The "Tahoma" had been there for some time,