The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-27
THE LOPEZ EXP petition
Capt. James Lynch Tells the Story of
Its Failure.


From the Key Vest Bqudtor.
Capt. James Lynch OF Washington, who
| IS a guest OF the Duval houss. visited Key
West forty-two years ago under very diff
| feFent circumstances, the memory of which
has always made him feel very grateful to
| this people.
He tells the followir & story of Gen. Lopez's
expedition TO Cuba In 1851.
Gen. Lopez gathered together in New
Orleans band of about 500 men. They
were mainly Kentuckians and there was
one company of Louisiana artillery of 1870
men. They were all fine men, with tDue
| American spirit, and they felt sure of i'm
mediate gains on touching Cuban soil. The
Louisiana men and part of the Kentucky
brigadeE got on board the bark Geor9iana
and sailed to Yucatan until the main body
| came on the Creole, which we boarded, and
ali proceeded to Cuba.
1--WE reached Cardenas just before day.
| light aud with a slight skiru1ish succeeded
in taking the governor prisoner. One COM
pany OF Spanish troops, under command Of
Capt. Lopez, nephew Of the general in COM
mRnd Of the expedition, came over to US.
about u 80 that morning We were at
| tackled by regiment OF infantry and the
| fight lasted two hours. The Spaniards
| lost heavily and finally reiterated. We were
| noon which we also defeated.
but there were no further reinforce
| ments to our numbers and the people would
| do nothing, 80 we decided to retreat to our
ship. While retrsating to ths Creole we
were attacked by the cavalry. Quickly
forming in line we determined to die hard.
We were fighting for our lives and every
gun In our lines brought down a man. We
completely routed them and those not shot
10 trying TO escape jumped into cellar of
hot molasses and were burned TO death. A
great sugar warehouse had been burned
the day before near where we stood and the
cellar OF 1t was open aHd filled with hot
molasses. IL was horrible to see the Span
isrds perish in that way. Only FIVE of the
cavalry were left and we took them prison
ers aud ret Gated unmolested to the Creole.
ION entering the Creole several lives
were lost among our men by their careless
ness in handling their guns. We weighed
anchor late in the afternoon and sailed for
Key West with the governor of Cardenas
and the five cavalrymen as our prisoners
That night we ran aground not far from
Cardenas, and 30 saved our lives. All lights
were put out and we kept very quiet. 1t
vas we'll we did, for the Spanish man-of-
war passed by hunting us, but did not see
US, for we had no steam up.
With the light the Creole got off and
pointed her course for Key West. We were
sighted by the Spanish man-ot-war Pixarro,
which was watching for US. and it was a
close race all the way TO see which would
get to Key West first 1t was not comfort
able to have her running along side Of US.
when wo came into the harbor the
Pizarro tried to cut US out from the wharf,
but she did not come close enough for US to
board her. Capt. Rogers was ia command
of some governments ships here and he sung
QUITO the captain of tie PiZRrro; go to
your anchorage or I'll fire into you.n We
were on the poop deck of the Creole ready
to pick off every man and rake the decks Of
the PiZarro. We would have claimed her
If she had come twenty-five yards nearer.
when we succeeding In landing the
geod citizens Of Key West came to our help
and took our dead and dying ashore. We
went to the garrison with Mr.. Browne, one
of your oitizens, whom l have prayed for
all through life because OF his kindness 10
US. He knocked down the United States
sergeant on guard and secured the key of
the magazine. took charge Of the artillery
and in e short time we had every gun in
the fort trained on the Pizarro"
Her captain had commanded us several
times to surrender bat We replied: we
are American citizens and will never SUP
render alive, Come and take u.s. The Pr
Zarro remained in port about three days
we boarded a schooner in few days
and went to Tampa, where we all dispersed
to our homes Most of our men shot were
killed by our own soldiers accidentally, and
we brought back over 400 of the $50 i. cur
command after Capt. Lopez's company
Joined US.
''Since then l have had great desire to
come to Key West, and have often said
would rather live here than anywhere in
the world. Your people we're so Kind to as
that none In that hapless expedition ever
forgot them. l am much benefited since
landing here and feel better than have for
long time.