The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-25
A NAVAL BATTLE.
The Three Friends rours Hot Shot into n
SpNni,h t.upbost,

NEW YORK, Dec. IA special 10 the
World from Key West, Fla, says: Lone
Star illE Of Cuba has met the rcd and
yellow banner OF CASTLE upon the ecas.
The shrupnal. shell and rifle yullrys OF
brave illibuStcr have male answer TO
the. roar or SpanIsh twclvc.pOundcrs
and have gulncd for Cuba llbrc the first
victory on the ocean.
The iillbustsTing steamer, Three
Friends sailed from FcrnSndino, Fla,
sunday nlghE December 10. Carrying II
valuable cargo OF munitions OF war for
the Cuban Insurgents. EmdIng the Wig
ilancr OF United States war ships, and
revenue cutters. and dodgInE every sail
upon thr ocean, the littln steamer with
about flfty men was within hnlling dis
lance OF Cuba on the sixth night out.
Surprised. trapped and fred upon, she
threw shO. Into Il Spanish nlynl coastcr,
frightened OF big SunbOlt and cScap-
ed from 4 swlr! cruiser gicerlng out 90
seu.
The Three Friends put In again to the
coast and safely landed her cargo On
the border OF the great ZapAta swamp.
Not before IN Cuba's struggle for lib
cray, has the flag ~ Spain been fred
upon at sea. No other flllbustrrcr. after
having been attacked by the enemy. han
stood By her guns and fulfilled her per-
ilous mission.
The account OF this history making
trip Is ns follows: AZ Cuba was ncarrd
about midnight last Saturday, twO-
pound shell bu%zel and tore through
our rigging, and I've minutes later. the
r1vLl duel was In progress.
Early ON thr morning " Friday. the
18th. Cap san Antonio ut III" western
extremity OF Cuba. WAS rounded. y
stlnf breeze was Blowing OF the land,
and the yhip headed sOu,hwaTd.
II wRs known that N" ba;NcshlD
! ReiaI Mercedes. the cruiser AltnHsp
SllI and JkG coaster Dose Dc Ma.o were
pllroilng the Pinar del Rio south coast
The sealed orders fTOnI the New York
juE.l were opened an hour after the
Cape had been passed. They gave no III
rrC,tdUS aS Ia The course the vessel
should take, l.s destination alone being
mentioned. The orders OF the junta
read.
Sail 10 the mouth OF the San Juan
river and there await II parry OF in
surScnts. who will take charge OF the
cargo. Do not attempt to lind men or
munitions ut any other point"
The orders caused sensation. \
consultation was held Immediately In
t.lt tuOll. haAtuNtG W NhBAhaAA SNllaA
O'Brien. navigation Captain Lewis. Ma
Tor Perez Morales. commander OF the
land expedition, and Lieutenant Colo
mel Salvo. u sea commander OF the
same. jor ArnRs was also called In.
Nearly every officer aboard had
warned the junta TINT he would not at
tempt 10 land an expedition near the
san Juan river. The steamer Berrnu-
da had tried TO and had been fired up
on. and driven away by Spanish
| coaster. while the cargo OF the Daunt-
less, after havlES- been put ashore, was
| captured.
But what was there 20 be done? The
steamer had stolen uWay trom the
United States and had already covered
three quarters OF the distance TO her
ordered destination. Her crew was n
picked one and the soldiers aboard
were brave and determined
Well land at the san Juan. Il We
| have 70 sail through he'll 10 90 IT. said
Captain Lewis.
Keep good head on, but don't
waste any coal" was the word sent
down to chief engineer Dunn.
When flfty miles south OF the Cape,
| the course was changed 10 noIth by
| northeast. against dead wind. When
| Night fell, We were thirty miles from
| land, following M eastern line.