on 3 july "hist" followed up her early success by joining the fleet in battle off santiago as the spanish attempted to break the blockade. under constant enemy fire, hist rescued 142 spanish sailors from their disabled and burning ship, "viscaya". eight days after this engagement, she and "wompatuck" cut the important cable connecting media luna and quizaro islands. "hist" also cut the cable between punta carapacho and cayo obispo on 21 july, the day after she had participated effectively in the bombardment of santa cruz del sur. when not in combat, "hist" patrolled the cuban coast, searching ships, and also served as a dispatch boat between the blockading fleet at santiago and guantanamo.