The morning times., 1896-12-26
CUBA W|tsi ON THE SEA
First Naval Battle With Spain
Results in Victory.
THREE FRIENDS FIRED UPON
Filibuster Beats4Off a launch and
Escapes From a GunbOat Arms
and Ammunition Safely Landed.
Anger of Captain General Weyler
Over the Event.

New York, Dec 25-Thc Evening Jour
nal prints the following dispatch, dated
Key West:
The latest report from Havana tells OF
the chagrin of the Spanish officials at the
failure OF their plan to entrap and an
initiate the Cuban filibustering expedi-
ton which attempted to land at the mouth
of the San Juan River in Santa Clara
province on December 8.
The anger OF Gen Weyler and his as
sociates at the utter he!plessness of a gun
boat and launch in coping with little
coast steamer mounting only twelve
pound IlotchkSs gun and armed with Rem
ington rifles is intense.
The story of the first naval battle in
which the forces of Cuba have engaged
with the Spanish and by which the Span
ish were forced to give up pursuit OF the
filibuStering steamer is a stirring one.
Theplan of the fiibustering party waste
land the expedition it carried at the
mouth of the san Juan River. The sur
rounding country is mountainous and the
banks of the river are steep enough to
hide from the ordinary vision any moder-
ate-siZed craft.
The arms and ammunition brought by
the expedition were to be taken across the
mountains 10 the rendezvous of the main
body Of the Cuban army.
Fired on the Tug.
The filibustering steamer made good
headway with its expedition. on Satur-
day night the bay that forms the mouth
Of the san Juan was sighted, and all was
made ready for quick run under the
Of a Iarl,p int an
water in the shadow of the hills. The
boat was trimmed and her boilers were
fired almost to the bursting point.
The decks were cleared Of obstacles and
'he ropes on the davits were slackened
preparatory to the lowering of the surf
boats.
With all steam on, the filibuster darted
toward the river mouth She cut through
the water at a pace that was terrible
until her nose was within 500 yards OF the
sandy, shelving beach.
Then the captain gowed down. Steam
was shut off fr9m the engines, and the
boat prepared for the landing of her men
and munitions.
John j. GotInan, the lookout, "a
former National ffnRrdsman OF the Forty
seventh Regiment, of New Y York, called out
to the captain: y
Il see boatr'
Tie captain, by TIL. aid of field glasses,
saw the craft, little launch lying in
under the hills as If hiding. Steam was
turned on again to its fun pressure and the
boat turned about She had no sooner
turned than thclaunch made after her with
Il dash.
All of Il sudden there was a flash from
the brow of the launch and a report fol-
lowed The proicctile fell far out OF the
way Of the filibuster. The launch steamed
on and another shot was fired 1t struck
the water yards out of aim and its only
effect was TO throw q shower OF foam into
the air.
Eluded the Gunboat.
Then the filibuSter returned the fire, and
the launch sent up a rocket, indicating that
| she had been disabled.
Then came the surprise of surpr;s to
the filbuster. In fleeing from the launch,
| the boat was running Squareiy into 4 Span
| ish gunhoat The filbuSter had to steer
| between the two and rush for the open sea.
Meantime the men aboard the filibuster
| kept up continuous fire on the launch
with rifles, and the popping and cracking
was deafenng. The HotChkiss gun was
| loaded with shrapnel, and shot after shot
| was fired at the pursuers of the little
! steamer.
| The launch, after giving signs of having
| been disabled, gave up the chase.
The gunboat was not swift enough to
| catch the filibuster, and the latter's men
| were safe.
Mike" Walsh, formerly of the United
| States Navy, handled the Hotchkiss gun.
| His assistants were also Americans.
The expedition, 1t is said, was landed
| on one OF the little islands near the Cuban
coast, and the men an munitions will very
shortly be where they will be of actual use
| to the Cuban patriots.
| The steamer Three Friends returned
| to this port yesterday.
| Her officers have been in close CONSUL
| tation with the Cuban sympathizers here.
| The boat has been seized by the customs
officers. All efforts to get any informa-
| ton from the officers or members of the
| crew of the steamer have been futile