The record-union., 1896-12-25

Cubans.
NEW YORK, Dec PA Key West
Tla.) special says: The Lone Star flag of
Cuba has met the red and yellow ban
ner of CASTLE upon the seas. The Shrap-
mel. shell and rifle volleys of brave fill
ibuster have made answer to the roar
of Spanish twelve-pounders, and have
gained for Cuba hsse the first victory
on the ocean.
The filibustering steamship Three
Friends sailed from Fernando, Fla,
Sunday night, December 18th, carrying
a valuable cargo of munitions of war
for the Cuban insurgents. Eluding the
vigilance of United States warships and
revenue cutters, and lodging every sail
upon the ocean. the little steamship,
with about fifty men, was within hail
ing distance of Cuba on the sixth night
out. Surprised, trapped and fired upon,
she threw shot into a 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 Friday night, and
safely landed her cargo on the border OF
the Great Zapala swamp.
No Cuban filibuster ever ran such a
gantIet: none ever went through such
a rain of shot and Shell. Never before
III Cuba's struggle for liberty has the
flag of Spain been fired upon at sea.
No other fhbuster, after having been
attacked by the enemy. has stood by her
guns and fulfilled her brave and peril
Gus mission.
The account Of this history making
"trip is given as it was written from day
TO day on the voyage:
AS we neared Cuba about midnight
last Saturday we prepared to go ashore.
Three minutes later a shell tore through
our rigging and five minutes later the
naval duel was in progress. Early on
the morning Of Friday, the 18th, we
rounded Cape San Antonio, at the west
ern extremity Of Cuba. A stiff breeze
was blowing off the land. ard tie sss.9
headed southwark. 1t was known that
the battleship Renia Mercedes, the
cruiser Alfonso Kill and the coaster
Dos de Milo were patrolling the Pinar
del Rio southern coast.
The sealed orders from the New
York Junta were opened an hour after
the cape had been passed. The orders
y
of the San Juan River, and there await
a party Of insurgents. who will take
charge of the cargo. Do not attempt 10
land men or munitions at any other
point
Nearly every officer aboard had
warned the Junta that he would not at
tempt to land an expedition near the
San Juan River. The steamship Ber-
muda had tried to, and had been fired
upon and driven away by Spanish
coaster. while the cargo Of the Daunt-
less. after having been put ashore, was
captured. But what was there to be
done? Wen land at the San Juan if
We have TO sail through hell TO do Il.
said Captain Lewis as brave as he IS
intelligent 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 a head wind About
the decks all was hustle. The boxes OF
arms, cartridges and dynamite stored
below We're carried on deck and put in
convenient positions for landing. The
12-pound HotchIiss gun was mounted
forward. frowning over the ship IS prov
"As Saturday afternoon wore on the
ship stood out to sea. When about
forty miles from land she threw her
ocean anchor and rolled quietly. All
we're in readiness for the landing, dark
ness alone being awaited. AS the sun
went down the flibuster was headed for
land. Quarter speed only was main
tained until II o'clock. Six or seven
miles from land the Three Friends
aeain slowed down, and a thorough sur
vev of the surroundings was made.
at is safe enough now to go ahead.
said Major Morales, and Captain
Lewis gave an order to Chief Engineer
nunn. and the flibuster pushed ahead
10 the bright opening on the rocky coast
where the river runs into the sea. On
The middle deck amidships the first
boats crew. armed with machetes and
revolvers. stood ready to man the largs
surf boat which already swung over the
side. Behind the first boats party stood
a dozen men. armed with machetes and
Pemingtons. in a line along the rail to
rcpel boarders. None others aboard were
armed except with the revolvers they
carried I'm their belts as the rifles and
boxes for transfer ashore.
on the PROV. night glasses in hand
stood Engineer Pagluchi. Captain Lewis
and Major Arnas.
When the nlibuster was within fouI
hundred yards of the shore. and the first
beat was about TO be lowered. Engineer
Pagluchi discovered a moving object II
the darkness under the lee over the port
bow. He trained his glasses carefully
upon It. and Immediately informed
Captain Lewis that he saw coaster
without delay word was passed to cap
tain O'Brien at the wheel and Engineer
Dunn. Without further ado the hli-
buster turned swiftly 70 starboard and
pointed for the open sea.
"All was excitement on board at this
time. and a dozen glasses were trained
upon the suspicious darkness. There
had been no mistake. steam ano
smoke were emerging from the place