midnight
When she left for her station again she was applauded by the whole squadron . We learned later that one hundred and fifty men were killed on the train . Shortly after supper the `` Yankee 's '' whaleboat was called away and sent to the flagship , returning an hour later with sealed orders from the admiral . At midnight we quietly steamed from our station and passed out to sea , our destination being unknown to all save the commanding officer . When a man-of-war sails from port under what are called `` sealed orders , '' which means that the orders given to the captain by the admiral are not to be opened for a certain number of hours , or until the ship reaches a certain degree of latitude , there is a mystery about the affair which appeals strongly to the crew . We of the `` Yankee '' felt very curious as to our destination when we left Santiago that night , and the interest was greatly stimulated by the discovery , before we had gone very far , that the `` St. Louis '' and `` Marblehead '' were following us . The `` Rumor Committee '' went into active session without delay .