The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-25
under the lee and informed Captain Lewis

auo the HnDuSter turned quickly 10 star
board and pointed for the open sea. Few
persons aboard had seen the Spaniard.
Captain O'Brien. after allowing his ship TO
scamper three or four hundred yards, hove
10, then backed toward the mouth of the
San Juan. In minute more the black
shape of a forty-foot coaster was seen
darting out in our direction. Away steamed
the filibuster. and behind. emerging from
the shadow along the shore, came the
coaster.
For a few minutes the exciting race
continued, and then came a flash of light
from the Spaniard. A second later came
the crack of two-pounder. and then there
was the hiss of shell a few rods TO the
starboard. Word was passed on the fill
buster that all must fight. A few men
broke open the rifle and cartridge boxes.
and soon the entire party was armed.
Sharpshooter German gathered his rifle
men along the stern rail upon the upper
deck. Major Morales was in charge.
Again came fash from the coaster,
and another solid shot splashed i'm the
water. several rods nearer the vessel Pur-
sued and pursuer were each under steam,
and smoke was pouring from their tunnels
They were now about eight hundred yards
apart. Then the Spaniards fired for the
third time. the shot falling a few rods
astern of us. but i'm a direct line.
Use the Hotchkiss. commanded Major
Morales.
Gunner Michael Walsh, who. with his
crew, had stood by the twelve-pounder in
the bow. heard the command with joy and
called out to Captain o Brien to swing the
ship around. In minute the filibuster was
almost broadsde to the coaster. The lat
ter doomed for the fourth time. but the
smoke had not cleared away before the
Hotchkiss prov beloved forth and
sent shrapnel shell btween the short
masts of the coaster, squarely over her en-
gines. The shell did not burst, but the
Spaniards seemed paralyzed with fear Sew
eral men on the lower deck opened fire with
their rifles. and this was followed by rat
Ting volley from the line of men on the
upper deck.
THE shrapnel shell fired from the Hotch-
kiss ended the fight, as the Span
iards sailed away, firing rockets
calling for assistance. The call for
assistance was promptly answered. for
while the flibuster was swinging into po-
sition to allow the Hotchkiss to play upon
the enemy. a gunboat, double the size or
the coaster, appeared on the port. She
opened fire with heavy guns, but did not
have the range. Gunner Walsh rammed
another shrapnel into the gun on the PROV
and yanked the lanyard. The shell flew
straight for the gunboat and burst directly
over her. 1t was answered by a still heav-
ier thunder from the gunboat. returning
shell for she'll. The shot from the Span
lard disabled two of the landing boats Of
the flibuster, but did no other damage.
The Hotchkiss was again loaded with a
shrapnel shell, and the next discharge
struck the cruiser amidshps. Then the
Three Friends put on steam, leaving the
war ship. possibly disabled, but at all
events silent and defeated, out of sight, be-
| hind point of land.
LAS the cargo of III eThree Friends was
being landed the Spanish coast patrol came
| up and q fierce fight ensued between them
| and the Cubans sent by General Gomez 10
| escort the cargo into his camp. After two
| hours Of fifhting the Spaniards were driven
| off and the cargo was landed and safely
] carried into the interior. The vessel then
! lay to for several days In a secluded cove
| and started for Florida last Monday. She
| was pursued by several gun boats as she
| entered the Windward pass and a ball
| from one OF them tore a hole i'm her bull
warks A barrel of oil on the furnace
| fires soon up the steam and the fast
| craft crept away. Emerging from the
| Keys. two cruisers We're found waiting for
| her. and another race ensued The Span
| ish vessels fire don her for half an hour.
| Captain Lewis then ran in among the
| Keys, and. escaping from the Spanish war
| vessels. reached American waters, near
| Miami Fla