The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-12-30
SUMTER s. G.. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 80 1896.

coutio aer and then cane . fash Of
light fron: t5e Spaniard 4 second
later caDc he crack Of q -pcrndsr,
and thea there was TIE hiss OF a skei!
; few reds to the star beard. Word vas
passtd on the fiibuster that all must
6gh!. y few men broke cpen tic rife
and cartridge boxes, aod soou the en-
tire party we're armed Sbarpsbooter
German gathered his riAemeu along the
stern raj! upon the upper deck. Maj
Morales was 10 charge.
Again came fash from the coaster
and another solid shot splasbed into the
water on the starboard side several rods
nearer the vessel, Pursued and pur
eu7er we're each under full steam and
smoke was pouring from their fucnels.
They we're now about 500 yards apart
Then the Spabiard 6red for the third
tine, the shot falling few RODS astern
Of the Three Friends. but in direct
line. Use II Hotchkiss. 5" command
ed Major Morales.
Gunner Michael Walsh, who With his
crew had stood BY the twelve pounder
10 the bow, heard the command with
JOY AID called out to Captain O'Brian
to swing the ship around In minute
the filibuster was almost broadside to
the coaster
The coaster doomed for the fourth
time, but the smoke had not cleared
away before the Hotchkiss on the 6i-
busters Prov beloved forth acd seat
shrapnel she'll between the short
masts Of the coaster, squarely over the
engines. The she'll Gid rot burst, but
the Spaniards seemed parajyzed with
fear 1t was the first time 10 the Gu
ban war that 6libuster has returned
shot for shot
A cheer burst from everybody on
board the Three Friends. The SpaD-
lard had fred four times. but without
! effect. Several men ca the lower deck
opened fire with their rifles, aud this
was followed by rattling volley from
the line Of men CD the upper deck
The shrapnel shot fred from the Hotcb
kiss ended the fight, as the Spauiard
sailed away. firing rockets calling for
assistance The call for assistance was
promptly answered, for while the fiji
buster was swinging toto position to
allow the Hotctkiss to play upon the
enemy, gunboat, double the size of
the coaster, appeared on the port bow.
She opened with heavy guns. but did
not have the range. Gunoer Walsh
rammed another sbrapnel into the gun
on the prov, sighted it for the conner
and yanked the lanyard. There came
report that shook the sea and the
hills and re echoed in the distance. The
she'll few straight fer the guuboat and
burst directly over her. It was an
swercd by still heavier thunder from
the gunbcat, returning fire Of she'll
With she'll
TIE shot from the Spaaiard disabled
TWO of toe landing boats of the 6iitus
ter, tus did 60 ether damage The
Hotcbkiss was again loaded With shTap-
Del, and the next discharge, aimed
vith splendid skill by the amateur gno-
! ne.s on the Three Frieads, struck the
cruiser aasidsbips Then the Three
Frieuds put &C steam, leaving the war
ship possibly disabled, but at ell events
silent acd defeated. cut Of sight behind
point of lard.
AS the cargo Of the Three Friends
was being landed the Spanish coast
patrol came up, and fierce fight cu-
sued between them and the Cubaus
sent by Gen Gomez to escort the cargo
into his camp. After two bours Of
fighting tie Spaniards we're driven off,
aud the cargo was landed and safely
carried into the interior.
Tie vessel then lay to for several
days is secluded cove, aud started for
Florida last Monday She vas pursued
BY several gunboats as she entered the
Windwa-d Passage, aod ball from
one of them tore a hole 10 her bull
warks. i barrel of oil 90 'he furnance
6oes soou rau up the steam AID the fast
craft crept away.
Emerging fron, the Keys tWo
cruisers were found awaiting for her,
and another race ensucd. The Spanish
vessels fred on her for half az hour.
Capt. Lewis then ran in among the
Kegs and escaped from the Spanish
war vessels, reaching American waters
near Miami, Fla.