The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-27

HOW THE CREWS WE'RE TREATED AT
CHARLESTON.
Another Desperate Battle:
The New York Sun has this interesting e'-
ter, dated Havana, January 18th:
The gunboats arrived at Havana, and in or
der to witness their entrance, and shake
hands with former friend. who to my regret
acted as pilot for the fleet, went to Havana,
and well was repaid tor the trip. The
gunboats came struggling in one after another
Ia quick succession, and were soon anchored
about the bay. Yankee like, l wished TO
satisfy my curiosity, and going on board OF
one, witnessed spectacle, such as wonid
make old Captain Ericsson jump out OF MS
boots.
Randall, an Irlshman, and chief engineer OF
the Spanish Arsenal, was on board, swearing
about the id Yankee shoemakers who had
ruined the boilers and surface condeEserS OF
the new boats, and he told the truth: A sum
of 100000 would not pay the repair Dill, anu
fully one-half are unserviceable, the engineers
having burnt the boiler plates and worked the
engine at high pressure nearly the entire trip,
using salt water, without ever blowing OIL.
Randall thought it was ignorance on the part
of the American engineers, but on returning
to the shore soon heard o different tale;
The agreement in New York made with the
engineers was that the Spaniards should fur
nish provisions during the trip, and 4o on ar ar
rival at Havana, to pay for the passage back
to New York, the firemen to receive SIS. The
Spanish officers knew very well that $40 would
mot pay for passage from Havana to New
York, and the promise that steamer would
be waiting for these people to take them on
was equally untrue The trip, however, ana
the provisions furnished were just good enough
for such chaps as those who forgot their dig
nity to serve the Spanish bloodhound
A barrel of salt pork, another Of salt beet,
and another of hall moulding biscuit come
prised the provisions for engineers and hre-
men, and when they demonstrated at Charles
ton, the Spanish commander informed them
that such fare was altogether too good for the
id Yankees.
couple of DAYS a few dollars had to be eXpend-
ed for eating and lodging. No steamer want.
ed to take them, and at last the agents OF
Livingston, Fox & Co., and the Philadelphia
steamers took few out Of charity ut greatly
reduced rates, some of the engineers selling
even their clothes and tools to get away,
whilst the rest unable to raise the money left
as steerage passengers on the German steamer
for New Orleans, hoping to get back to New
York from there.
When the engineers and firemen found out
how they had been cheated by the spanish
Government, not even receiving the dollar
promised them for every day that should pass
fifteen employed in the voyage, and for every
day that they had to remain In Havana walt
ing for the steamer. they went to Mr.. Hall, the
American Consul, demanding redress and pro-
lection Mr.. Hall informed them that they
had made mistake in the officer; that this
was the American Consulate and not the Span
ish Admiralty; that he was not here to meddle
in the affairs Of the Spanish Government
and its employees; and that if any wrong
had been done them they must apply to their
seamen in distress. but had nothing to do
with the Spanish Navy. How the blacksuards
swore and called Mr.. Hall bad American, as
If he and not they had aided this corrupt and
brutal nation to enslave the patriots again, II
possible; but old Hall is spunky, and when he
caught up his stick the whole crowd OF loaiers
ran as if an army was after them, to the great
delight of the bystanders. Only two OF the
gunboats are fit for service. The rest need
great deal of overhauling, and few will be
sent back to New York to have new boilers
put in them.
= GENERAL PUEBLO
has not captured Guaimaro. On the Sd inst.
he had reached about thirty miles from Neuvi-
tas and ordered halt, the troops being SO
worn out as to be unable to move. Advance
guards and rear guards extended in all dlrec-
lions. q few stolen beeves were killed, and not
sign of an enemy anywhere, when suddenly
the patriots appeared from every side, and the
TROOPS. surprised, hardly found time to form iR
small detachments before over 200 Of their
number covered the ground. The rear gu 'rd
of the Spaniards stood firm, and, marching
forward, managed TO JOIN the man pouy;
when the fight became general, lasting until
nightfall. The patriots lost forty-nine killed
and siXty.thrce wouaded; the Spaniards 229
killed and many wounded. The entire train OF
the Spaniards was destroyed, and Pueblo had
to send to Neuvitas for supply, remaining on
the battle field on the 7th, the latest date to
hand.
cRUBL ASSASSINATION.
On the 30th of. December, q column OF over
$500 men carried few loads of provisions and
some earth from Guiamoro to Las Tunas. Seve-
raj attempts which had been made to relieve
the starving garrison had failed, the patriots
massing at the Sabana de Munot, Sabana dc 10
Pievra, and at the Pass de las Arenas, driving
the troops back three different times, allowing
half convoy to proceed to Las Tunas on the
goth of December by an arrangement made
with the Spanish Colonel Velasco, who retreat
ed with his troops, giving his promise that the
provisions which the patriots allowed 10 be
carried into the town should be equally divid-
ed between the soldiers and citizens. This pro-
mise was not kept, however, and the soldiers
appropriated all the provisions, over fifty chill
dren and women in the besiesed town dying
of starvation within the following five days.
The Cubans became cognizant OF these facts
and vowed vengeance. Colonel Fclarco wrote
a letter to the patriot commander cXcusing the
conduct of the troops, and promising that the
same thing should not happen with the next
convoy: but the Cuban commander had enough
of Spanish promises and laid in waiting at the
three points OH the 30th and 31st OF December
The troops fought desperately and lost heavily,
managing. however, to save portion OF the
convoy. The Spanish commanders, madden
ed ut their heavy loss and desirous of protect
ING themselves against the Cuban rifles, COM
pellcd about forty Cuban ladies, residing at
Las Tnnas, to accompany them. Ten ladies'
went with the advance guard of the Spaniards,
twenty with the main body, and about fifteen
with the rear guard. At first the Cubans re-
fused TO fire on their enemies seeing their wives
and children in their midst; but the Spanish
a !rance guard opening fire on sentry, pru-
dence and compassion was no longer possible,
and the firing became general. young lady,
we'll known rs strong insurgent, named Miss
Mercedes Varona, stood up and shouted,
l.Fire, Cubans, don't mind lis, we are willing
to die" The words had scarcely been uttered,
when Spanish captain turned round, pointed
q revolver 10 her temple and blew her brains