The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-03-25
Arms and Ammunition

Jacksonville, March 1S-The steam
er Three Friends of Jacksonville, in
command of Captain Napoleon B.
Broward, arrived here at noon today.
having successfully succeeded in land
ing iu Cuba Gen. Enrique Collazo,
Mai. Chas. Hernandez aud Duke Es-
trada, besides 81 men taken of the
schooner Ardeil from Tampa, and the
entire cargo of arms and ammunition
of the schooner Mallory, from Cedar
Keys. It vas by long odds the most
important expedition that has set out
from this country and the Cubans here.
wben they learned that the Three
Friends had safely fulfilled her mission
shouted Viva la Cuba" until they
were hoarse. They declared that it
would change the character of 'the
whole war. as the unarmed men would
now be armed and those without ammu
milton would be supplied. and that
Macec, who had before been wary and
cautious. would be more aggressive
than be had ever been before
The cargo Of arms landed by the
Three Frieods aud Mallory WAS as fol-
lows: 10000 rounds of cartridges.
1 200 rifles, 2. 100 nachetes, 400 re-
volvers. besides stores, reloadlug tools,
etc.
The Three Friends met the Msllory
at Alligator Key The ArdelI had
just finished transferring the men to
her. While they we're reudezvoused
there behind the pines in deep coral
walled creek, three big Spanish meu-of.
war steamed slowly by, but they did
not discover that there was anything
saspicious-lookiug iushore. although
with a glass men could be seen in their
lookouts scanning the horizon. as we'll
as searching the shore. Sunday, about
noon, DO vessels being 10 sight, the
Three Friends took in tow the Mallory
and steamed southwark under a good
head of steam. The Three Friends is
a powerful tug. and BY Monday night
was close enough to the Cuban shore to
bear the breakers Several shiplights
to the west were seen, one of which
was evidently Spanish man-of-war for
she had searchlight at her bow and
was sweeping the waves with it, but the
Three Friends was long way off and
had no light and was soon out of tbe
neighborhood of the Spaniards At
10 o'clock that night by the aid of
nap,ha launch aud two big surf boats,
which had been taken cut of Jackson
willie, the Three Friends landed the
men aud ammunition from ber bold and
from that Of the Mallory. 1t took
four and half hours to complete the
Job. There were hundreds of men on
shore 60 assist aud they did it silently,
appreciatipg tne peril of the undertak-
lug. The Cubaus on shore recognized
Geoera Collazo Immediately aud no
words can describe their Joy upon see-
ing bin He is veteran Of Cuban
wars and is one whom Spain fears. In
fact, is is known tha: during his So
iourn 10 Florida be has been shadowed
by detectives, who have been instruct
ed to space 40 expense to keep Co'lszo
from reaching Cuba. When it was
whispered around that Col!azo was
really among them, they seemed not to
believe their ears. bot came forward
and looked. AID, seeing tha, there was
really no mistake, threw their arus
about him aad weps.
Msjcr Charles Hernandez and Duke
Estrada were also enthusiastically
welcomed.
[, was reported thas oighs that Ma
Geo had received the arms of the first
tina, set forth three days
before the Three Friends landed
These were not from the Commodore.
for they reported that they were DOW
on the lookout for that vessel. They
said, 700. that at the end Of the week
four expeditions were aAoat Two, in-
clud;ng the Three Friends had landed,
and two more were on the way. Tues
day IN crniDg as the Three Friends was
returning, size sighted steamer that
answers to the description of the Com
modore She was headed southwark
and pushing along apparently at the
rate Of Is knots az hour. This YES
sci has an engine capable of driving
ship twlce Ter size and bas speed CT
II k2Qts az hour.