The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-14

when stepped ashore and planted
the American flag on the mainland
of Cuba. 1t was IN enthusiastic
sight to SEQ our sailors mingle with
the Cuban soldiers, in waving their
hate and giving hearty cheers for tho
stars and stripes as it. hoated in tho
glare Of the camp fires that lighted
the dark forest. l remained at the
camp only about half an hour, rs I
deemod it to be of the greatest i'm
portance to get across the bay again
and into the key (cays) before the
break Of day. When we had been
sailing for about an hour one of the
men sang out "a light over the port
bow, sir" Every one involuntarily
grasped his rifle. 1t was only mo.
mont boforo my worst fears were con-
firmed; almost in our path was a
Spanish gunboat. II wo wore taken
it would mean tho cruelist kind of
death to the Cuban patriots that
were with us and months in Spanish
dungeons for ourselves. We could
not hope for success in coping with
q vessel, ono shot from which would
shatter our frail craft into thou.
sand pieces. One Cuban remarked
that there was nothing left to do but
turn and run for Gomcz's camp. |
wavered for an instant between two
opinions. TO 90 back meant ut least
days delay in getting important
information to our ships outside,
without making us safe from attack.
l thought Of the old saying that one
might as we'll be cooked for q goose
rs Il gauder, had every oar manned
in addition to our sails, changed the
course few points so M not to pass
too near the stranger, and our cutter
went through the water like a thing
Of lifo. The moon had set and tho
night was dark, otherwise escape
would have been impossible. Tho
gunboat just happened to be OK
changing signals with somo signal
station or we would not have
seon hor and would have run right
into hor arms. ....
"Tho Spaniards nt Cay Frances
knew about our expedition and had
signallcd by means Of tho Photograph
TO the gunboat to be on the outlook
for us. I made them pay dearly for
this tho next morning.
Well, to make n long story short,
we escaped from the gunbuat and
got into the Gays. I had orders to
reioin the ship off Frances cay, which
gave mo about forty.tive miles on
the return trip. Daybreak found us
thirty miles from tho ship without n
breath of wind to till our sails. The
mon had been pulling hard all night
and were almost exhausted. Soon
the tropical eun came out and almost
roasted us. We kept on through
the Gays When within six miles OF
our destination, as I was searching
every island with my glasses, I saw
two white sails between tho tree tops
on tho opposite side of the island
from us. AS wo kept on our course
and they did not move, I concluded
they had not seen us. They had nc
idea that wo would be 80 bold rs tc
pass out SO near Cay Frances. But
they reckoned without their host
We rounded tho island and attacked
and captured both vessels inside oi
ten minutes. 1t was the most com
plcte surprise I ever saw. The yes
sells were anchored very near thu
shore, which allowed the Spaniards
chance to escape. Amidst hal
Of lead from our guns, they lowered
their boats, pulled ashore and wen
heltor- -skolter through tho woods.
was sight to sec them run. Afte
it was all over, | laughed until I 90
pain in my side abont big, fa
Spaniard who was left alone on on
Of the vessels without boat to go
ashore in. Hs jumped ovorboar'
and am almost tempted to say tha
he was going 30 fast that he ran o.
top Of tho water, not having time t.
sink. When he got to land, ther
, was no doubt at all about his flying
+ | never saw fat man go so fast i
r my lifo before. We ran alongsil
tho nearest vessel and sont fc,