The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-25

Bonjardin. who were also to go ashore
In the first boat, stood at the gang
way
Behind the first boats party stood a
dozen men, armed with nlachetes and
Remingtons. in line along the rail to
repel boarders. The remainder of the
expedition were gathered along the
rails ready for debarcation.
When the filibuster was within 400
yards Of shore the engineer discovered
moving object in the darkness under
the lee, and informed Capt. Lewis that
he saw a coaster Without further ado
the filibuster turned swiftly to star
board and pointed for the open sea-
Capt. O'Brien, after allowing his ship
to scamper 800 or 400 yards, hove to,
then backed toward the mouth of the
San Juan. In a minute more the black
shape Of a forty-foot coaster was seen
darting out in our direction Away
steamed the filibuster and behind,
emerging from the shadow along the
shore, came the coaster
For a few minutes the exciting race
continued, and then came a flash of
light from the Spaniard. A second
later came the crack of a two-pounder
and then there was the hiss of shell
q few rods to the starboard. Word
was passed on the filibuster that all
must fight. A few men broke open
the rife and cartridge boxes, and soon
the entire party were armed Sharp
shooter German gathered his riffemen
along the stern rail upon the upper
deck. Maj. Morales was in charge.
Again came a flash from the coaster
and another solid shot splashed in the
water, several rods nearer the vessel.
Pursued and pursuer were each under
full steam, and smoke was pouring
from their tunnels. They were now
oJ1 rdc orf he
Spaniard fired for the third time, the
shot falling a few rods astern of us,
but In q direct line.
THEY TOOK TO THE GUNS.
"Use the Hotchkiss," commanded
Maj Morales.
Gunner Michael Walsh. who, with
his crew, had stood by the twelve
pounder in the bow, heard the conn
mand with joy, and called out to Capt.
O'Brien to swing the snip around. In
a minute the filibuster was almost
broadside to the coaster.
The latter doomed the fourth time,
but the smoke had not cleared away
before the Hotchkiss on our prov
belched forth and sent shrapnel shell
between the short masts of the coaster,
squarely over her engines. The shell
did not burst, but the Spaniards seemed
paralyZed with fear. Several men on
the lower decks opened fire with their
rifles, and this was followed by rat
Ting volley from the line of men on the
upper deck. The shrapnel shell fired
from the Hotchkiss ended the fight,
as the Spaniard sailed away, firing
rockets calling for assistance. The call
was promptly answered, for in mo-
ment a gunboat double the size Of the
coaster, appeared on the port.
She opened fire with heavy guns, but
did not have the range. Gunner Walsh
rammed another shrapnel into the gun
on the prov and yanked the lanyard.
The shell flew straight for the gum
boat and burst directly over her. It
was answered by a still heavier thun-
der from the gunboat, returning shell
for shell. The shot from the Spaniard
disabled two of the landing boats of
the flibuster, but did no other dam
age The Hotchxiss was sagain loaded
with shrapnel. and the next discharge
struck the cruiser amidships. Then
the Three Friends put on steam. leav-
ing the war ship, probably disabled,
but at all events silent and defeated,
out of sight, behind a point Of land
AS the cargo of the Three Friends
was being lande the Spanish coast pa
troll came up and q fierce fight ensued
between them and the Cubans sent by
Gen. Gomez to escort the cargo into
his camp. After two hours of fighting
the Spaniards were driven off and the
cargo was landed and safely carried
into the interior.
The vessel then ley to for several
days in secluded cove, and started for
Florida last Monday. She was pursued
by several gunboats as she entered the
Windward Pass, and ball from one
of them toresa hole in her bulwarks.
A barrel ofgof on the furnace fires
soon ran up the steam. and the fast