The herald., 1898-05-10
STEAMER GUSSIE SAILS
CARRYING A CARGO OF ARMS
FOR CUBANS
A HUNDRED YANKEE SOLDIERS
Will See That the Munitions Are Duly
Delivered Into the Hands
Of Insurgents

TAMPA, Fla, May g. Capt. Dorst,
after a long conference with Gen. Wade
this evening, left on special train at II
p. m. for Port Tampa, going at once on
board the Gussie.
The steamer Gussie, one of the Mallory
line boats, chartered by the government
for use as a transport, will sail for Cuba
before morning, loaded with arms, am
munition and supplies furnished by the
government for the use of the Cuban in
surgents. A company of 100 United States
troops from the First regiment OF in
fantry will accompany the expedition and
aid in guarding the landing of the valuable
cargo, and will, if necessary, penetrate
into the interior far enough to place the
supplies in the hands of the insurgents.
The expedition will be in charge Of Capt.
W. H. Dorst, Gen. Miles aide, who has just
returned from Cuba.
The Gussie has on board between 5000
and 1000 Springfield rifles, about 100000
rounds Of ammunition and several hum
dred boxes Of provisions, consisting prin-
cipally Of canned meats and hard tack
The utmost secresy is maintained regard
Ing the point of landing, but in view Of
Capt. Dorst's recent landing near Havana,
where he communicated with the insur-
gent leader, Gen. Delgado, it is believed
that the expedition, will be headed for a
point not far from Havana. The Gussie
had mounted on her forward deck today
a one-pounder rapid-flre gun. 1t Is UNDER
stood, however, that she will be met at
some point not far from Key West by a
gunboat from the blockading squadron
and escorted to the designated landing
place.
The Whitney, the sister ship of the
Gussie, which sailed for Dry Tortugas
Saturday, with two companies Of the Fifth
infantry, returned today. 1t is inrimated
that she will follow the Gussie to Cuba
as soon as the arms, ammunition and sup
plies can be loaded. Before week has
passed it is believed the insurgent leaders
will have been furnished with arms enough
for at least 1900 men, and with base
of supplies established on the coast, a
vigorous campaign against the Spanish
forces will be inaugurated.
Large amounts of powder and projectiles
for the blockading squadron are now ar
irving here. On Picnic island there are
twelve cars loaded with dynamite torpe-
does, powder and other ammunition, which
will be sent to Key West, and as many
more cars are on the wharf tracks. An
extra heavy guard has been placed around
the cars. Hundreds Of carpenters are at
work today fitting up the big transports.
1t is believed now that all of the boats
here will be in readiness for loading by
Wednesday night.
The engineer corps today were drilled
in the use of the big canvas pontoons
which are part of their equipment. In
the capacious hold of the Alamo are stored
enough of these pontoons to form bridge
several hundred feet in length. They will
be carried with the expdition.
KEY WEST, Fla, May 9.-The Spanish
fishing smack Santiago Apostal was cap
tured by the gunboat Mayflower Off Ha-
vana yesterday and brought in by a prize
crew this afternoon. She was bound from
Yucatan for Havana with a cargo of fish
and crew of ten men. She was rounded
up with one blank shot.
This was the only incident of the day.
which was largely devoted to the circula.
tion of alarming rumors of the sinking OF
American ships OF the Cuban coast. Up