The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-02-04
sPANlARDs SUFFER.
Fifteen Boats Sunk and Many Persons
Killed In an Engagement

49, n -.-a.
Fifteen Boats Sunk and Many Persons
Killed In an Engagement. M
New York, Feb. Ia Key West spe
cial says: Another marine disaster to
the Spanlards is reported. This time
the navy department. will not be-
charged with it. as one of Gen. Weyler's
own river expeditions was badly used
up. Fifteen boats are said tc have BEEN
sunk, 100 men are reported to have been
killed or to be missing, and the number
of wounded is put at IS. Hearing that
the insurgents had fortified some
heights near Pnez, on the river Caunac,
Santa Clara province, Gen. Weyler sent
Col. Serves with 200 men in small boats
to capture the place and destroy the
forts.
After proceeding up the river about
70 miles, on rounding sharp bend
heavy fire was opened on the expedi-
ton with rifles and six-pound field
piece. The river there was shallow and
narrow. the channel being near the
bank where the insurgents were. The
fourth shot from the cannon sank one
boat. a moment later another boat was
sunk. The Spaniards deaped out Of
1he;1 boats, waded to land and charged
the insurgents. who weretrrotected by
| the high" banks and the thick brush.
The Spanish drove the insurgents off,
bu, could not capture the cannon. Re-
Stunning the journey, the expedition was
| ha1assed at every bend of the river. A
few miles from Pace the Cubans opened
Gre with two cannons. Six boats were
quickly sunk, and then the rebel rifles
played havoc with the Spanish soldiers
as they struggled in the water. Four OF
| the wounded men were caught by ALI.
e. tors near shore and dragged under
Col. Serves was forced to order re-
treat. which speedily became a rout.
Hastily the boats pulled back, but the
Cubans pursued, keeping up a constant
tire and sinking more boats. Had not a
| reinforcement met the Spanish ten
miles from Cienfuegos not 100 men
would have escaped. Cen: Weyler has
made no official report of this disaster.
Key West, Fla, Feb. 1.-Advices from
Havana state that in fiat contradiction
OF all rumors lately circulated that
VAC ICeTC1S u1C anu weak
ened and ready to surrender. especially
in Pinar province, where Weyler made
the assertion that only 500 remained in
struggling bands. word reached Havana
Friday that the insurgents had dyna-
mitcd train, causing great damage
and loss OF life. Although the censor,
for state reasons, maintains the official
rucifcation and suppressed the in
formation in the papers. the news rap
idly spread, and all were soon familiar
with the details. The affair created a
great impression, and was widely COM
mented on. Investigation disclosed the
fact that on the morning of the sSth,
as military train was crossing a
culvert at a place named Oceguera. be-
tween Candelaria and Mangos, ire
mendous dynamite explosions occurred,
ditching the engine and tender. The
armored car was completely wrecked,
and other cars were more Or less dam
aged. The engineer, fireman and 10
soldiers were killed. The surgeon, 20
soldiers. conductor and a brakeman
were wounded. Assistance was hur-
riedly sent, and the dead bodies brought
to Havana.