The herald., 1896-12-25


, for the open sea, oew persons aboard
had seenthe Spaaiard. Captain O'Brien
| after allowing his ship to scamper three
or four hundred yards, hove to, then
backed toward the San Juan.
In a moment the black shape of forty
foot coaster was seen darting out in the
| direction of the Three Friends. 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 a flash of light came from
| the Spaniard. a second later cameh the
| crack of 81 FOUNDER and then there was
| a hiss of a shell q few yards to the
starboard. Word was passed on the
| filibuster 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 O nthe upper
| deck. Major Morales was in charge.
| Again came a flash from the coaster
| and another solid shot splashed in the
water, several rods nearer the vessel.
Pursued and pursuer We're each under
! full steam and smoke was pouring from
their tunnels. They We're now about
500 yards apart. Then the Spaniard
fired for the third time, falling few
rods astern of the filibuster, but in a
direct line.
use the otchkiss." commanded Major
Morales.
Gunner Michael Welsh, who. with his
crew stood by the twelve FOUNDER in tlN
bow, heard the command with joy and
called out to Captain O'Brien to swing
the ship around. In a minute the fill
buster was almost broadside to the
coaster.
The latter boom ,&Sorth again but the
nod hGf l,l
Hotchkiss IN our brow belched forth and
sent shell between the short masts of
the coaster, sqnarely over her engines.
The she'll did not burst, but the Spaniards
seemed paralyzed with fear.
Several men on the lower deck opened
fire with their rifles, and this was fol-
lowed by a rafting volley from the line
of men on the upper deck. The shrapnel
fred from the Hotchkiss ended the fight
as the Spaniards sailed away, firing
rockets callin@ for assistance. The call
for assistance was promptly answered,
for while the fillbuster was swinging
into position to allow the Hotchkiss to
play upon the enemy q gun boat double
the size of the coaster appeared on the
port
She opened fire with heavy guns, but
did not have the range. Gunner Welsh
rammed another shrapnel into the gun
on the Prov and yanked the lanyard
The she'll few straight for the gunboat
and burst directly over her. 1t was an
swered by q still heavier thunder from
the gunboat. returning shell for she'll
The shot from the Spaniard disabled two
of the landing boats of thelilibuster, but
did no other damage. The Hotchkiss
was again loaded with chrapnel, and he
next discharge struck the cruiser amid
ships. Then the Three Friends put on
steam, leaving the warship. possibly dis
abled, but at all events silent and de-
feated, out of sight, behind point of
land.
AS the cargo of the Three Friends was
being landed the Spanish coast patrol
came up and fierce fight ensued be-
tween them and the Cubans sent by
General Gomez to escort the cargo into
his camp
After two hours of fighting the Span
ards were driven off and the cargo was
tanded and safely carried into the in
terror.
The vessel then lay to for several days
IN secluded cove and started for Flor
ida last Monday. t'he was plhrsude by
several gunboats as she entered the
Windward Passage, and ball from
one of them tore hole in her bulwarks
A barrel of oil on the furnace fires ran
up the steam and the fast craft swept
away
Emerging from the keys two cruisers
We're found waiting for her, and a race
ensued The Spanish vessels fired on
| her for half an hour
Captain Lewis then ran among the
keys and escaped the Spanish war yes
| sells, and reached American water near
| Miami, Fla.
| WEYLER'S THREATS
CINCCINNNATI. o., Dec PA
| special to the Commercial Tribune from
Iyaxr
night say that all Havana is waiting for
reports from General Weyler and COM
menting upon his actions so far. He is
reported as having stated that he in
tended to make a desert of the Pinar
del Rio section, to starve General Ri
vera. According to rumors he has be-
gun strongly on this. Guerilla bands
| have orders to shoot all pacificos at sight,
to carry off or destroy all cattle or pro-
visions of any kind and to lay to waste
the entire country, burning cane fields,
houses, barns, etc.
This they are begirning to do. Fifteen
pacificos have already been killed be-
tween Artemisa and the foothills, among
them the women The Cubans are in
| furiated at this savageness and have
begun to show a spirit of retaliation by
hanging all guerillas captured, with a
| short trial. Weyler's arrival was op-
perfume, 1t is stated, as his commanders
have been greatly worried over the va
| rous SUCCESSES OF the Cuban bands Sew
eral attacks have been made on the tro-
| chain fact, that is now a daily occur
renee, the Cuhans seemingly being de-
| sirous of keeping their foes in a state of
siege.
1t is stated that sH entire pacifico FAM
! lily of five persons was destroyed on Fri
| day last by Capt. Melguiz' band when
| they tried to prevent the removal of their
| cattle Melguiz irritaeed at their re-
| sistance, shot three down inecold blood,
| and then. binding the two elder sons u
his horses tail, dragged them around
| until life was extinct. They were then
cut loose and thrown into the house, to
which the firebrand was applied. Gu
| bans swear to burn Melguiz alive if they
| ever capture him.
| Several engagements are reported
from Santa ClCara province with the
| VanGuards OF Gen. Gomez army, the
| Spaniards being defeated in nearly every
case. though the published records
claim victory.
! M'KINIEYi GARNET