The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-31
FROM KEY WEST COMES REPORT
OF A BRISK NAVAL EN-
GAGEMENT.
battle FOUGHT OFF CUBAN COAST
Filibuster Three Friends Defeated a
Coaster and Cruiser and Landed Her
Big Cargo-Three Friends Had
Hotchkiss Aboard.

reu ana yeiiOW Danner Oh CaStlie upon
the seas. The shot and rifle voleys of a
brave filibuster have made answer to the
roar of Spanish 12-pounders, and have
| gained for Cuba libre the first victory on
the ocean. The flibustering steamer
Three Friends sailed from Ferdinandina,
Fla, Sunday night, December -, carry
ing valuable cargo of munitions of war
for the Cuban insurgents, eluding the
vigilance of the United States ships and
revenue cutters, and lodging every sail
| upon the ocean, the little steamer, with
about fifty men, within hailing distance
| of Cuba, on the sixth night out, was sur
prised and fred upon. She threw shot
into Spanish naval coaster, frightened
off big gunboat and escaped from a
| swift cruiser, steering out to sea-
The Three Friends put in again to the
coast and landed safely her cargo on
| the border of the great Zapata swamp.
Not before, in Cuba's struggle for lib
| erty, has the flag of Spain been fred on
| at sea. No other filibuster, after hay-
ing been attacked by the enemy, has
stood by her guns and fulfilled her peri
lous mission. The account of this his
tory-making trip is as follows:
AS Cuba was neared, about midnight,
last Saturday, a 2-pound shell buzzed
and tore through our rigging, and five
minutes later the naval duel was in prog
ress. Early in the morning of Friday,
the 18th, Cape Antonio, at the west
ern extremity of Cuba, was rounded.
A stiff breeze was blowing off the land,
and the ship headed southwark. 1t was
known that the battleship Reina Mer-
cedes, the Alfonso XII and the coaster
Doze De Maio were patrolling the Pinar
del Rio south coast The sealed orders
from the New York junta were opened
an hour after the cape had been passed.
They gave no directions as to the course
the vessel should take, it's destination
alone being mentioned. The orders of
the junta said:
"Sail to the mouth of the San Juan
river, and there await party of insur-
gents, who will take charge of the cargo.
Do not attempt to land men or munitions
at any other point"
The orders caused a sensation. A con-
sultation was held Immediately in the
cabin by Capt. John O'Brien, Navigation
Capt. Lewis, Maj. Perez Morales, com
mander of the land expedition and Lieut..
Col. Calvo, sea commander. Gen. De
Arms was called in. Nearly every officer
aboard had warned the junta that it
would be useless to attempt to land an
expedition near the San Juan river The
steamer Bermuda had tried to and had
been fed upon and driven away by
Spanish coaster while the cargo of the
Dauntless, after having been put ashore,
was captured.
But what was there to be done? The
steamer had stolen away from the United
States and had already covered three
fourths of the distance to her ordered
destination. She had weathered heavy
storms and was staunch. Her crew was
a picked one and the soldiers aboard were
brave and determined.
eve will land at the San Juan If we
have to steal through hell to do it." said
Capt. Lewis.
keep a good head on, but don't waste
any COAL" was the word sent down to
Chief Engineer Dunn. When fifty miles
south of the cape the course was changed
to north by northeast against dead
wind. When night fell we were thirty
miles from land following an easterly d.
rection. Saturday morning was clear
and beautiful. The vessel was placed
under a small head of steam and went
easily in a clam sea.
On the prov, night glass in hand, stood
Capt. Lewis, Maj. Arnas and Engineer
Baglchi. The remainder of the expedi-
ton gathered along the rails on the port
side as the vessel steamed almost into
the shadow of the rock cliffs. When the
filibusterer was within 400 yards of the
shore the engineer discovered moving
object in the darkness under the lee, and
Capt. Lewis that he saw a
coaster. Without further ado the fiji
buster turned swiftly to starboard and
pointed for the open sea. Few persons
board had seen the Spaniard. Capt.
O'Brien, after allowing his ship to
scamper 300 or 400 yards, hove to and |
backed towards the mouth of San Juan.
In a minute more the black shape of
4O-foot coaster was seen darling out in
our direction. Away steamed the fill
buster and behind, emerging from the
shadow along the shore, came the coaster
For few minutes the exciting race con-
tinued and then came fash of light
from the Spaniard. A second later
came the crack of twO-pounders and then
here was a hiss of shell few rods to
The starboard Word was passed that
ali must fight. few men broke open
the rife and cartridge boxes and soon
The entire party was armed. Sharp
shooter German stationed his riaeneh
mon the storm rail upon the upper deck.
Mai. Morales was in charge. Again
came flash from the coaster, and anoth-
or solid shot splashed in the water sever
al rods nearer the vessel. Pursued and
pursuer were each under full steam and
smoke was pouring from the tunnels. '