The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-07
HARD WORK GETTING TO CUBA.
Perils OF an Expedition That Didn't
Know How to Do the Trick.

boston Herald.
Capt. J. Chapleau. now in command of a
CUBAN battery OF insurgents, who was one
OF number Of men who Joined an expedi-
ton In this country for Cuba, was formerly
a resident of East Cambridge. and was a
member Of a company in the Ninth Regi-
ment. He has sent the Herald a couple of
letters giving an account Of his experiences
in getting, to Cuba. which are filled with
exciting adventures. An idea of the dangers
of entering upon a f1libustering expedition
may be gathered from an abstract of his
story of the experiences Of this particular
party. The expedition was one of the
strongest of several which started for Cuba,
and was thoroughly equipped, with large
supply of repeating rifles; reyolvers. ma,
ammunition. The expedition numbered over
three hundred men. p
The expedition left Portland harbor early
in November on tug, and met another tug
outside the harbor which carried lot of
small arms and ammunition. Arrangements
were made to meet again outside the har-
to return to Portland for coal. This was at
10 o'clock at night, and the tug was to lay
to until midnight for the other one, after
which 1t was TO steam TO sea sixty miles
and fall in with the steamer which was to
take the party to Cuba. Unfortunately, a
storm arose, and the two tugs failed to
see each other and the boat which carried
the members of the party was Obliged to
beat about all night in a heavy sea and rain
storm. $4,000
men were terribly seasick. After sailing
about for several hours the tug finally put
to sea in the face OF the storm. and at 3
O'Clock in the afternoon the steamer was
sighted. BY o'clock the men were all
transferred from the, tug to the steamer.
the voyage to Cuba began In earnest. II
was rough all the way. and the men were
pretty well used up as result OF seasick-
ness. Captain Weathersby and Captain Jo-
seph Chapleau, who gave an account Of the
incidents OF the trip. drilled the men. The
latter was commissioned A captain and as
eli ,aI m q ha M
The expedition arrived off the coast or
Cuba on Nov. 10, and or, Friday evening:
the steamer which carried the party in
formed those in charge that II was time TO
lower the boats and make for the shore
Four large boats were lowered and loaded
enough to hold the men and the supplies
and two more boats were purchased from
these boats was loaded II took water so fast
that the supplies had TO be put into an
other one. -Four of the boats, after being
loaded. were tied TO the stern OF the steam
or. Al of sudden a storm came up. and
one CT the boats was blown from the bow
of the steamer toward the stern. The men
in the other boats realized that they would
soon be struck by IT. and terror reigned Tor
time However, they were In q sort of lee
in the wake of the steamer. and escaped the
terrific force Of the squal. The Captain or
the steamer. IL is said told those In charge
Of the boats to tie them In a single HE ana
he would tow them nearer shore: he start,
water so fast that they were in danger OF
sinking. and more line was asked for. III is
claimed that the Captain said he could give
no more rope. At that moment the storm
redoub.ed in fury, and IL was terribly dark.
The men in the boats heard the splash OF
| the propeller, put noticed unat tne Dodts
| did not move.
Then they realized that the steamer had
dropped the line. and as they saw her turn
| and go directly away from them their worst
| fears were verified. They were abandoned
| at sea in bad storm. with overloaded
| boats and no food or water Land was no
| where in sight and the boats were leaking
| and shipping water at every lurch or the
| waves Col. Thomas Collero had a COM
| mass and IL was soon set To reach the
| shore IL was found that a hard would
| have to be taken against a strong wind.
| The Colonel sat in the bow or the leading
| boat and smoked seventeen cigars 10 l.Eht
| the pinnacle box AMI keep the course The
| men worked hard. but the boats leaket bad
| w. and were in danger OF filing and sinking
| at any moment. AT last General GARLIC
| gave orders 20 tighten them up by throwing
| overheard packages OF rifles cutlasses and
| one OF the two nieces OF artillery. Even
| this not sufficient TO keep the boats
| a1oat. and the men were compelled 10 ball
| all night.
| When day broke il was found that the
| boats were headed toward the shore. but
! that they were about twenty miles away
| from IT, The tide was also against the boats
| and the men being tired were Able 70 give
| hut little strength 10 the oars. For six
! hours they rowed hard but made little head
| wav. The sun came out strong and hot
| and the men began 10 suffer from thirst.
| They rowed all that day. and at shutdown
were about five miles from shore.
At II o'clock at night breakers were hear
| ahead and the men began 10 proceed more
| cautiously. When they got near the shore II
was discovered they were right In front Of