The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-25

steamer toward the stern. The men in
the other boats reaiizel that they would
soon pe struck by b.. and terror reigneo
Tor time. However. they were IN sort
OF Zee Ia the wake Of the steamer and es-
c@ped the terrific force Of the squail- Inc
captain OF the steamer. Do Is SAID. told
those IN charge OF the boats TO tie them IN
a single file and he would tow them near
er shore. he started up the steamer,
out the boats shipped water so FAST tnat
they were in danger OF sinking, and more
the captain said h could give no more
rope At that momeuu the sterm re-
doubled in fury. and ir was terribly dark.
The men In the boats heard the splash Of
ne propeller, but noticed that the boats
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,
win overloaded boats and no food or
water Land was nowhere in sight, and
the boats were leaking and shipping wa
ter at every lurch OF the waves. Col.
Thomas Collero had compass, and il
was soon set. To reach the shore IL was
FOUND That hard row would have TO be
taken against a strong wind. The colonel
sat IN the bow OF the leading boat and
smoked seventeen cigars to light the
pinnacle box and keep the course. The
men worked hard, but the boats leaked
sinking at any moment At last Gen.
Garlic gave orders TO tighten them up by
throwing overheard packages Of rifles,
cutlasses and one or Two pieces of arttl-
lery. Even this was not sufficient TO keep
the boats afiOat, and the men were com
PEELED to bail ali night
when day broke il was found that the
boats were headed toward the shore, but
that they were about wenty miles away
from It, The tide was also against the
boats, and the men being tired were
able to give but little strength to the
oars. For six hours they rowed hard,
but made little Roadway. The sun came
out strong and hot and the men began
70 surfer from thirst. They rowed all
that day, and at shutdown were about
five miles from shore
At II O'Clock at night breakers were
heard ahead and the men began to pro-
coed more cautiously. When they got near
the shore II was discovered they were
right in front of a fort and surrounded
by war vessels. At first il was decided
to put TO sea. but this plan was changed,
ana the men were ordered TO row for
the shore as fast as possible The boats
were sent through the breakers, which
were heavy, but a safe landing was made
IL was about midnight when the shore
was reached. Then the work of unload
ing the boats began, as the ammunition
and guns had to be put out of sight be-
fore daylight. The men were told that 1t
was a matter of life or death with them
and, although they were hardly able to
stand up the work was accomplished in
a few hours. The men then lay down to
get a short rest on the sand. They suffer-
ed with cold. and were in a pitiable state
when ordered to work again. The stuff
was then taken into a dense forest of
palms, and then came a search for water.
which was found after much hardship.
The men got nights rest, and then, with
the aid of guides, succeeded in getting into
the mountains.
The expedition was detailed to it's place
in the army and is now fighting from
camp to camp, with the enemy always
with 1t, according TO the letter of Capt.
Joseph Chapleau. He informs the Herald
that he is to be made a colonel, as is also
Capt. Weathersby, who is with him. for
bravery displayed In getting the expedition
safely through.
This account may be interesting from
the point that IL gives an idea of the
hardships and dangers to he experienced
in accompanying a administering expedi-
ton into a country rampant with war
and pillage