The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-01
AN EXPEDITION LANDED
FOUR HUNDRED ARMED MEN
REACH THE COAST OF CUBA

Most Powerful Anti-Spanish ENpedi-
tlou Ever Sent to the island
Carries 1000 Rides and 2,ooo'-
600 Rounds of Ammunition for
Gen notwithstanding Florida
the Transport.
KEY WEST, Fla, May 31.-The
steamship Florida has returned here
from Cuba, where she successfully
landed over four hundred men, with
a pack train and a large quantity oI
arms and ammunition.
The expedition left Key West on the
Plant lire steamer Florida, on the nighl
of May q, under command or Gen
JOAQUIN Castillo. Immediately on the
landing of the expedition the command
was turned over to Col. Jose Lacret,
formerly insurgent commander in Ma
tanzaS province.
In the landing of the expedition the
United States army was represented
by Capt. ]. A. Dorst, and Tomas Es-
trada Palma was represented by }. Il.
Cartaya, who has been the landing
agent of nearly every filibusterlng en-
petition for more than a year. MeSsrS.
Castillo. Cartaya and sDorst will return
to Key West. Gen. Julio Sanguilly, on
the way to report to Gen. Maxine
Gomez, was also on the boat.
This is the most powerful anti-Span-
ism expedition ever sent to Cuba. About
800 Of the men are Cubans, the others
are Americans. The engineer corps of
the expedition is composed entirely Of
Americans, under Aurelian Ladd.
The men were dressed in canvas uni
f1,r iSh af1 hU "a
government, and the commissary de-
partment had rations enough to last
fifteen days after the landing. The
pack train consisted of seventy-flve
mules and twenty-five horses. The ex-
petition carried 1000 rifles and 2,000,0 O0
rounds of ammunition for Gen. CaliXto
Garcia.
The expedition Is composed of hardy
young fellows, who looked fit for any
thing.
THE LANDING.
The expedition was landed on the
coast of Cuba Thursday morning, May
26. about twenty-five miles east Of Ha-
vana
When the Florida, escorted by the
Osceola, drew up close to the shore at
the place selected for the landing, she
sent scouts to see if all was clear.
These scouts were greeted by Gems.
Ferria and Retas, with some 1900
armed insurgents. Consequently, far
from there being any hostile demon
STATIONS upon the part of the Span
iards, the landing of the expedition
was in the nature Of a triumphal in
vaSion. The Cubans who We're in wait
ing for the party had a brass band and
welcomed the newcomers with national
airs.
The work Of unloading the cargo of
the Florida was promptly begun and
carried on by the 432 men composing
the expedition. There was nothing in
the nature of interruption until the
work was finished on Friday
While the cargo was being unloaded,
the Osceola, an auxiliary gunboat,
with her guns ready for action, scout
ed about the vicinity looking for an
enemy, but the Spaniards apparently
had no suspicion of what was taking
place. So easily was the dangerous
mission accomplished that while some
members of the party were getting the
supplies ashore, others were providing
themselves with fruit, sugar and other
products of the landing place, a large
stock of which was brought back for
Key West friends.
At the Cuban landing place neonla
crowded about trying to exchange fruit
for clothes and shoes, of which they
stand in great need
When the Florida arrived at Key
West she had largo Cuban nag hang
ing over the railing of her upper deck
and yellow flag flying.
The expedition landed a large ouan-
tity of bacon, as well as army rations
the returning members of the party
brought with them several hundred
private letters, which, it is understood
give a complete insight into the pres,
ent conditions prevailing in the block
AIDED island
THE ENGINEER CORPS.
The engineer corps of the expedition
is composed of Aurelius Lad, William
Mohun, Frederick C. Brandon. Row
Richards, George MontzeI, Patr,cl,
Mckrivey, William Simmons. chas
Ryan, Guy V. Henry, Frank A Leo
gett, Mccoy King. John W. Pitn1en
Shas. Nash, Jesse Thompson, FREDERICK,
Ernst, John w. Russell, William Flag
Ter, Edward Glenn, Robert A. I,inahan
Bernhart Adamson,- ]. ]. Woods. Max
X Morton and Clarence E. Bachtmsn
Ihey are all Americans. A prominent
CUBAN here today received the follow
ing letter from his son, who is a mem
May Is: ua'eo
-, Dear Father: At last we are in Cuh,
nbre, IN the midst OF our brave and valiant
brothers. The Spaniards operate but LITTLE in
thls section, and always with Disastrous rn
suits TO their arms. Since our arrival II bes
ralned necessarily, and under thesa rair
storms we are working like Titans bavine
had no rest since cur arrival on the morni-,S
oil the 18th. Our cargo is the largest landa6
10 uate, not only as concerns Ammunition
ana arms. but also provisions.
me moment We landed we established
communication with the Cuban forces. and
were Joined yesterday by Brig Cen Fer
Ter and his troops. Today we EXPECT further
reinforcements. '-->
Vegetables and fruits abound in this sec.
ton. Horses are also plentiful but cattle
are scarce. We are told that oxen are very
plentiful in Camaguay
me Spaniards are abandoning the less
coast. ~ '--'
AWFUL ATROCITIES.
AT one place we found the forts aban
doned and in ruins. The Spanish genera
In command of the forces in this yicin,t,
has only 1000 or 1000 men. The natives ar,
destitute. many not having clothes to cove
their bodies. They relate unheard of cruel
ues ana atrocities of Spanish soldiers
fhe native population consists princiDaI
~ OF widows and mothers, whose husbands
ana sons have been massacred by Spanish
soldiers. l heard of one family of clever
whose number was reduced to four in on
was seized, killed and CHARTERED by the sol