The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-15

| bocoa river and for half an hour poured
9 wicked fire upon them. The Spaniards
had been largely reinforced during the
day and some field pieces had beer
the American fire, but without effect and
the shells of the two ships speedily
silenced them. The iron block house was
struck repeatedly and the earthworks
| were partially destroyed. No damage was
done to the ships and they again with
drew.
That night the Spaniards burned a
large wharf and the adjacent buildings,
evidently expecting landing in force the
next day. 1t was learned from various
sources that reinforcements were pouring
into Las TunaS from all directions, q
| newspaper from Sancti Spiritus saying
| that 1000 men had been despatched from
the nearest trocha. 1t was determined to
proceedkduring the nightawith the land
ing expedition to Palo Alto fifty miles to
the eastward, the Helena remaining at
Iunas to confirm the Spaniards in the be-
lief that an attempt was to be made to
land there. At ten O'Clock Saturday
night, July 2, while the Helena lay off
shore making lively play with her search
lights toward the shore, the Peoria, the
Florida and the Fanita, with all lights
was reached at daylight There was not a
SpaDiard to be sean and the men and
cargo were put ashore without single
obstacle.
Gomez with 1000 men was known to be
In the vicinity and scouts hurried in to
his lines. On July 4 the old warrior ap-
peared in person at Palo Alto. An avn
abandoned wharf and conference was
held There We're present besides General
Gomez, Lieut.. Ryan and Ensign W. G.
David of the Peoria; Lieuts. Johnson and
Ahearn of the tenth U. S. cavalry; Audi
tors General Eroyre Andrade of the pro-
yisional government; General Nunez,
Col. Nunez and Major Rojo.
The veteran commander in chief said he
was greatly pleased at the successful re-
suit OF the expedition which he thought
would exercise an important influence
upon the war. He outlined plan of
campaign, which he later submitted in
writing to Lieut.. Ryan for transmission
to President Mckinley. The tenth cavalry
have dubbed the Peoria "The Little
Dewey because of her valor. She had
arrived from the north only q few days
before taking out the expedition and this
was her first war experience, under fire
| four times in 48 hours. Her batteries
are four Hotchkiss three Founders, two
Rotchkiss revolving cannon and one Colt
repeating rifle.
1t was subsequently learned that during
1uo lt2Il6 dU hoS uIltS3 1--we UululURS III
| the own were completely destroyed by
! the fire from the American guns while
twenty three were partly destroyed and
eight schooners which happened to be in
range were sunk and burned.
When Winthrop Chsnler fell wounded,
| Doctors Lund andAb bott carried him into
| the brush and all three sank up to their
| necks in a swamp. DR.. Lund who was
| formerly German army surgeon and
who is giant in stature, managed to ex.
tricate him self, stripped off his clothing
with the papers and eatables which he
carried, and which still lie somewhere in
| the thtoket, and swan naked and in the
darkness to find the ships.
| A boat from the Florida picked him up
and he was taken over to the Peoria. AS
| the strange figure clambered up the
| ladder the sentry on guard at the gang
way challenged him; but DR.. Lund
brushed past him and strobe in all his
nakedness up to Lieut.. Ryan, gave the
customary formal salute and, with the
utmost gravity, said: ~ have to report
| that the men ashore require assistance"
| When Chanler and Abbott were rescued
| they were still in the water up to their
| necks, but except for CHAMBERS slight
wound in the elbow they were none the
| worse for their experience.