The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1897-01-29
COURAGEOUS cUBANs.
Sink Spanish Gunboats and Win Several
Notable Victories.

Sink Spanish Gunboats and Win Several
Notable Victories.
The Cuban forces are scoring numer
GUS telling points against their oppress-
ors of late, but perhaps the most inter
esting were the sinking of two small
Spanish gunboats. When it is remem-
bered that the Cubans have no vessels
to use in fighting, these deeds are
remarkable. The gunboats Centinela
and Relampago had left Manzanillo to
go up the River Cauto to carry relief to
Bayamo, which had been besieged by
| the insurgents under Gen. Calixito
Garcia for 10 weeks, and to Fort
Guamo, to which Garcia had just laid
siege. The gunboats neared Mango
landing when an explosion of torpedo
which had been placed by the insur-
gents, sank the Relampago before the
crew could lower a boat. Those of
the crew who survived swan toward
the shore, but were fired on from the
banks, but boat from the Centinela
rescued some of the men. Six of Rel
ampago's crew and three from the
Centinela were killed.
The second gunboat to receive the
tender attentions of the Cubans was
the Cometa, which was one of the most
powerful of the smaller Spanish vessels
in Cuban waters, and had been cruis-
ing near Cardenas TO prevent the land
ing of filibustering expeditions. For
some time she had anchored off Sierra
Nora, and the insurgents determined
to capture her, SO on a favorable night
they opened fire on the vessel with
, 12-pound Hotchlliss gun. The vessel
was struck several times and seriously
damaged. While the crew were in
confusion, boats loaded with insurgents
left the shore and the Cometa was
boarded. A desperate hand to hand
fight took place on the deck of the
gunboat, the Cubans using the machete
with deadly effect. Finally, after the
Spanish commander and half his men
had been killed, the survivors surren-
dered The vessel was then burned.
The insurgents most notable victor
les since the glorious capture of Santa
Clara includes a terrific battle at Cab
uquito, near Manzanillo. which Gen.
Garcia with 5000 men had held for
some time against the Spanish attacks
Finally the Spanish, 1000 strong,
under Col. Segura made a more deter
mined attack and charge upon the
Cuban intrenchments in force, but the
Cubans poured upon them such with
ering fire that the Spaniards broke
and fled in disorder. Segura reformed
his broken columns and again led them
TO the attack, but they were again re-
pulsed by the deadly fire of the Cubans.
In repelling this second charge the
Cubans used three Hotchkiss field
pieces with terrible execution, great
swaths being cut IN the ranks of the
Spaniards. The troops refused to
make third attack and Segura retired
having lost 800 men killed, including
20 officers, and 400 wounded. The
Cuban loss was 100 killed. Garcia
then, with 5000 men, besieged and
bombarded Fort Guamo, 30 miles from
Manzanillo, on the River Cauto, eight
days, but the Spanish column, strongly
reinforced succeeded in raising the
siege and Garcia then returned to
Gabuquito.
A detachment of Lieut.. Col. Herman
dez' insurgent troops made a raid in
the direction of Guanabacoa, suburb
just across the bay from Havana,
burning over twenty houses, and in
a slSirmish with the garrison killed %
Spaniards, losing l6 men himself. The
following night Hernandez turned up
at the opposite side of the city, engag-
ing the garrison of a blockhouse and
driving them out and burning it, kill
ing seven men and losing four Ser-
nandez' greatest recent victory, how
ever, was at Pelanos, in the southern
part of Havana province. The place
has 1000 inhabitants, is we'll fortified.
and had a Spanish garrison of 600 men
with one field piece. Hernandez, with
500 insurgent cavalry, made dash ut
the town while the troops were at the
church celebrating some local holiday.
Before they could form the insurgents
had possession of the block house, and
although the Spanish resisted stub
bornly they were driven almost to
Cajaio. The insurgents then returned,
burned the fort at Pelanos and with
drew. They secured 100 stands of
arms, one cannon, $4,000 in money and
valuable papers.