This consists of a pistol made for the purpose, which discharges lights similar to those found in the ordinary Roman candles.

The colors are red and green, and they are fired in combinations expressing the numbers from 1 to 9 and 0, so that the numbers to four digits contained in the signal book may be displayed.
The "Yankee" was rigged with the Ardois lamps, and she also carried all the necessary signal flags and other paraphernalia required to communicate with other vessels of the fleet.

The signalmen on board had been drilled in their work as members of the Naval Reserve prior to the beginning of the war, and they were experts to a man.
On the evening of June 8th, while we were idling about decks awaiting the order to get under way, a small boat came alongside, having as a passenger a captain of the army.

He proved to be a special agent who had succeeded in visiting the vicinity of Santiago, and was on his way to Mole St.Nicholas for the purpose of cabling to Washington.

The mysterious manner in which he boarded the ship, and the quickness with which we steamed from port, created some excitement, and we felt the importance of our mission.
The night was dark and muggy--an ideal time for torpedo-boat work, and extra lookouts were posted by order of the captain.