The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-12-25
VICTORY ON THE SEA
The Flag Of Spain Fired Upon by
the Little Three Friends.
CASTLES BEAT A RETREAT
After Standing Manfully by Their
Guns. the Flllibusterers safely
Land heir Valuable Cargo
of Munitions.

lcne star nag or Cuba has met the red
and yellow banner OF CASTLE upon the
seas. The Shrapnel shell and rifle vol
leys OF a brave filibusterer have made
answer 10 the roar of Spanish twelve
FOUNDERS and have gained for Cuba
llbIe the first victory on the ocean. The
fillbustering steamer Three Friends
sailed from Fernaudino, Fla, Sunday
night. Dec. 10. carrying a valuable car
so of munitions Of war FOR the Cuban
insurgents. After eluding the vigilance
OF the United States warships and reve-
nue. cutters and lodging every sail up
ON the ocean, the little steamer, with
about 80 men. was within haillnE dis
tance Of Cuba on the sixth night out.
Surprised, trapped and fired upon,
she threw shot into the Spanish naval
coaster. frightened off a big gunboat
and escaped from a swift cruiser, steer
ing out TO sea. The Three Friends put
In again to the coast and safely landed
her cargo ON the border of the great
Za-Patha swamp. Not before in Cuha's
struggle for liberty has the dag OF
Spain been fired upon at sea. No other
filibusterer, after having been attack
ed by the enemy. has stood by her guns
and fulfilled her perilous mission.
The account OF this history making
ed, about midnight last Saturday, a
two-pound shell buzzed through our
rigging and In five minutes the naval
duel was In progress. Early ON the
morning Of Friday. the 18th Instant
Cape san Antonio, at the western ex-
tremity Of Cuba, was rounded. A stin
breeze was blowing of the land and
the ship headed sGuthward. IL was
known that the battleship lteina Mcri-
edes, the cruiser Alfonso MIL and the
coaster Dose de Maio, We're patrOling
the Pinar del Rio south coast. Tine
sealed orders from the New York junta
were opened an hour after the cape
had been passed. They gave no direc-
tions as to the course the vessel should
take. its destination alone being mem
toned by the orders of the junta,
which read as follows: sail To the
mouth of the San Juan river and there
await a party of insurgents who VIII
take charge of the cargo. Do not at
tempt to land men or munitions at any
other point"
The orders caused q sensation. A
consultation was held Immediately In
the cabin, attended by Capt. John
O'Brien.- Navigation Captain Lewis.
Major Perez Morales. commander OF
the land expedition. and Lieutenant
Colonel Calvo. sea commander or the
same. Major Arnos was also called IN.
Nearly every officer aboard had warm
ed the junta that he would not at
tempt To land an expedition near the
san Juan river. The steamer Ber-
muda had tried to and been fired 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 he done? The
steamer had stolen away from the
United States and had already covered
three-quartcrs of the distance IN her
ordered destination. She had wealth
cred heavy storms and was staunch.
Her crew was n picked one and the SOL
diers aboard were brave and deter
mined.
Wen land at the San Juan II we
have to sail through hell to do it," said
Captain Lewis
When night fell we were 80 miles
from land, following an eastern line.
Saturday morning was clear and beau
tiful. The vessel was placed under a
small head of steam and went easily In
a calm sea.
The Three Friends was several hours
In making her way to the proper place
10 effect landing. When all was In
readiness the coast seemed clear on
the lower deck. amidships. the first
boats crew. armed with machetes and
| revolvers, stood ready Ia arm the large
| surfboat. which already swung over
| the side.
The crew consisted OF Lieutenants
Carbonne and Guiteras. Sharpshooter
John German and Privates Aurelio Ar
cano and Edgaro. Major Peres Morales
| IlnNta pl a hn IA
go ashore in the first boat. stood at the
gangway. When the fllihuster 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 coaster.
Without further ado the fillibuster
turned swiftly to starhoard and point
ed for the open sea three or four hun
dred yards. hove To. then backed to-
wards the mouth of the San Juan. In
minute more the black shape of a
i2-foot coaster was seen dartinC out In
the direction OF the Three Friends.
Away steamed the fillihuster and he
hind. emerging from the shadow along
the shore, came the coaster. For few
minutes the exciting race continued
and then came flash from the Spani.
ard. A second later came the crack of
a two-poupdcr. and then there was the
hiss Of shell a few rods To the star
board. Word was passed on the fillihus-
ter that all must fight. SharpshOOter
German gathered his rife men along
the stern rail upon the upper deck.
Again came a flash from the coaster
and another solid shot splashed In the
water near the vessel. Pursued and
pursuer We're each under iull steam
and smoke was pouring from their fun
nCls. They were now about 500 yards
I apart. In minute the iillihustcr was
almost a bruadside To the coaster The
/ latter Doomed a fourth time but the
/ smoke had not yet cleared away be-
Z fore the Hotchkiss on our prov helched
1 forth and sent shell between the
short masts Of the coaster. The men
on the lower deck opened fire with
their rifles. and vas followed by a r7t-
/ Ting Volley from Inc line Of men on The
upper deck. The shrapnel shell fired
I from the HOtchkiss ended the light. as
/ the Spaniards We're sailing away, fir
/ ing rockets for assistance.
The HUtChkiss WIS again loaded and
| tho next discharge struck the cruiser
/ amidshius. Then the Three Friends
I put on steam leaving the warship pos.
Z sibly disabled hut at all events silent
and defeated, cut ~ sight behind a
point OF lend. As the cargo ~ ths
Three Friends was being landed tn.
Spanish coast patrol came Up and d