The Mena weekly star., 1897-10-27
4 KANSAS BOY IN CUBA.
AFTER YEARS OF HARDSHIPS IS
 COPING HOME.
An interesting Description Of the fa. nous Capture of Los Tunas Tn August. = The Cuban's
 Greatest Victory.

He writes that he IS so broken down by the hardships he has undergone that he is coming home about Christmas II hate to leave now" he says. but l feel us if had done about my share for Cub n independence. A man who has fought through four seiges and twenty-two battles ought to rest bit So in a few weeks expect to ask for my leave and start for home. "
 Funston says that he has received the golden star of lieutenant colonel, presumably for his servises during the seige and capture of Los Tunas, the fall of which created such consterna tion among the Spanish and so much elation among the Cubans Concern ing the capture of Los Tunas. the letter which is dated, Los Tunas, August 3l. 1s97,n says: We have just won the biggest victory of this or the other revolution, by capturing the city of Los Tunas. with it's twenty-one forts and taking it's entire garrison. with great quantity of rifles, ammu- nition, etc. The fight lasted three days and two nights and was a fear fully bloody affair.
 ''On the night of the 27th Inst, we constructed Qualifications in the way of strong intrenchments on the north side of the town. the nearest fort be- ing distant 400 yards, and placed therein four breech-loading field guns and Sims-Dudley pneumatic dyna- mite gun. At the dawn of day we opened fire on the six forts within range and they replied most vigorous ly, peparing us with all sorts of hard ware, from Krupp guns to Mau -er bullets, and tore our intrenchmcnts to pieces so that it was with the greatest difficulty we held the men to their work. It was something awful, shells exploding near us constantly and our losses being very heavy
 "The pneumatic dynamite gun did wonders, wrecxing the cavalry head quarters. and in two shots blowing the top off from Fort Conception At 10 d. III. lieutenant Colonel Calixto EHam- arado, wish few men carried the lat ter work by assault, losing one third of his men by the fire of adjoining forts
 But at 12 occurred the grand feat ure of the seige. The strong fort called the Cavalry headquarters be- cause it had once been used as such, suffered much from our fire, when Chief of Staff Menocal ordered the bugler to sound the charge Hardly had the sound died away before the same lieutenant colonel, with 200 men left the shelter of the hill crest and started for the fort Many ner fell, but on they pushed until checked by tangle of barb wire fences where in the open, they held their position, fir ing at the Spanish in the trenches of the fort, until Lieutenant Colonel Car los Garcia. son of the general, led mp l50 men to his support. Then there was wild rush for the fort The men cut the barb wire with their machete and Lieutenant Colonel Gar cia. with the Cuban flag in one hand aud sword in the other, leaped the moat and the men followed him like flock of sheep. 1t was like the battles of the story books and it was worth years of hum-drum life to see it. All was over in moment and when the hated red and yellow flag gave way to the Cuban banner, we in the intrenchments only 400 yards away eheered ourselves hoarse
 ''All the rest of the fearfully hot day we pitched shells at the Spanish forts and lodged those sent at us The cannonadipg closed at nightfall but a terrific racket was kept up by the in fantrv. who assaulted and took two more forts.
 "'rhe next day we put the guns in one of the captured works and. at distance of l50 yards, shelled the great fort known as the Infantry Caurtel.' but wath little effect as the walls were very strong. Even the dynamite gun had but little effect here. With darkness the uproar ceased and the weared men on both sides go, what snatcbes of sleep they could
 .rhe morning of tie 3oth saw the end at hand After an hours engage nent the flag ot truce was sent from