The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-12-31
IN A BATTLE AT SEA
THE THREE FRIENDS WHIPPED
A SPANISH GUNBOAT.
story That an Encounter Took Place
on the Mouth of the San
Juan River.

| New York, Dec. PA special to the
World from Key West, Fla, says
The lone star flag Of Cuba has met The
red and yellow banner of CASTLE upon the
seas. The shrapnel, shell and rifle volleys
of brave filibusterer have made answer
| TO the roar of Spanish 12-pounders and
| have gained for Cuba libre the first victory
on the ocean.
The iilibustering steamer Three Friends
sailed from Fernandino, Fla, Sunday
| night December IS, carrying a valuable
cargo of munitions of war for the Caban
insurgents. After eluding the vigilance of
the United States warships and revenue
cutters and lodging every sail upon the
ocean, the little steamer with about 50men
was within mailing distance of Cuba on
the sixth night out Surprised and fired
upon. she threw shot into the Spanish ma
val coaster, frightened off a big gunboat
and escaped from a swift cruiser, steering
out to sea.
The Three Friends put In again to the
coast and safely landed her cargo on the
border of the Zapatha swamp. Not before
in Cuba's struggle for liberty has the flag
=, SPAN Deen iireu upon al sea' NJ os,ei
W 'i'ei 10 ms oeeui '''soNeu ~
the enemy, has stood by her guns and full
dlled her perilous mission
~ a,ooun' Vi 'ne history -inaAins mp
90 -o-,0"s
Nuo' was noaieu i''st oa'uiuAS d
two-pound shell buzzed through our rig
ging and five minutes later the naval duel
80 ~ "a o9s' iS"i ~ oh ohe iiioini"s %
- one io'i INST Cape oan Nr'o'iio'
eiii'S VI S"D' w.
S''',ueu "a sun oiee@e was pio"ins oil
- .'' ''N0 '"e 'nip "e''ueu sou'i' " GU "
"aS AAo"" ."a' inc pat.iesnip oei.i''
i'ss' INC Vi uisei Aiioiise ALL, anu tiie
o"s'ei Use ue MAILS "ere pe'lroHins tne
ma uei iVio souln coas'. lne seaieu Or
ueis i,oii 'ne New horh Junta wore op7ll-
gu d" iioui "i1er 1he cdpe hdu peeh passeu'
NY save ~ vi eo1iols as ~ tne cou,se
'ne Nessei snou'u take us destination
alone peing mentioned by the orders of the
una, - ieau' 9ai 10 tne inoutn oi the
san . ia" river anu tieie await parties Oh
'he iiisui sents' VIM VIII take chtrSe OIL
'ne oaiso' ~ no' av'eiiipt 10 iaho men Ut
'r,, 'ioiS ''' any o'Nei poin''
Ane orueis causeu sensation' "A CON
'u,.'''ioii vas ieiu Niii'ieulateiy LII 'he
Se'i.'' a''S"ueu Wy Oaptalh Jolih y brlen'
N"Nis'uon captain LOWS MAJOR Ferez
noi"ies' eoniiiahuer Oh the land expedi-
uO"' anu lieutenant CalVa, sea COM
uianuer' haJor Amos was also called IN
Neariy every oincer ABOARD mad warned
'ne 'uila mat ne would not attempt to
iahu an eApeoltion near the san Juan
iNer INC steainer bermuda mad tried to
ana oeen hred upon, and driven away by
opinish COASTER whiie the cargo of the
Dauntless, after having been put ashore,
was captured But what was there to be
deneY nhe steamer had stolen away from
1he united States and had already covered
three-quarters OF the distance to her or
uered destination. She had weathered
heavy storms and was staunch. Her crew
was picked one, and the soldiers aboard
were brave and determined.
Well land at the San Juan If we have
10 sail through hell to do it. said Captain
Lewis
when night fell we were 30 miles from
land, following an eastern line. Saturday
morning was clear and beautiful. The
vessel was placed under a small head of
steam and went ahead easily in a calm
sea. The Three Friends was several hours
in making her way to the proper place to
effect a landing. When all was in readi-
ness, the coast seemed clear. On the lower
deck, amidship, the first boats crew.
armed with machetes and revolvers. stood
ready to man the large surfboat. which al
ready swung over the side The crew con-
sisted of Lieutenants Carbonne and chi
teras, Sharpshooter German and Priv,7es
Arcane and Edgaro. Major Perez Mo-
rales and Dr. Bonjardine. who also was 70
go ashore in the first boat, stood at ,he
gangway.
when the fllibuster was within 400
yards of shore the engineer discovered
a moving object in the darkness under
the lee and Informed Captain Lewis that
he saw a coaster Without further ado
the fillbuster turned swiftly to starboard
and pointed for the open sea, 300 or 400
yards, hove to, then backed toward the
mouth of the San Juan. In a minute
more the black shape of a 4O-foot coaster
was seen darling out in the direction
of the Three Friends. Away steamed the
and behind, emerging from
the shadow along the shore. came the |
coaster. For few minutes the exciting |
race continued, and then came a flash |
of light from the Spaniard second la
tel came the crack of a two-pounder and
then there was the hiss of a shell a few
rods to the starboard Word Nc -
named German patharad bis