West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1898-08-15

LIEUTENANT CUSHING. the province of
Santiago, where there were then no
United States warships. Being in dis
guiSe, capture by the enemy would mean
for him and his party the death of
spy. knowledge Of the language and
ways of the West India islands made it
comparatively easy for him to pass as a
native, and he was helped out in the
end by chance acquaintances who would
have given him wide berth had they
known his true character.
Captain Dorst's expedition with the
Gussie was one of the widest adven-
ture. His orders were very broad He
was to land at some point on the north
coast Of Pinar del Rio, near Mariel or
Cabanas, and meet a band of insurgents.
The Spaniards were alert all along the
coast, for that region is covered by the
United States blockaders and the enemy
kept good lookouts on shore. The steam
er Gussie is large side wheeler, paint
ed red, and as she sailed past Havana in
plain sight Of MORO Castle, strict Sc
crecy was impossible.
The Gussie beat along the coast for
some time. Finally when about a mile
and half from Cabanas, a storm came
ON, almost yelling the land A reef
with double line of breakers shut off
access to the beach, but in other re-
spects the place was SO favorable that
Captain Dorst decided to risk his small
boats In attempting to land. The steam
er anchored near the reef. While the
men took to the boats two ships of the
auxiliary navy shelled the shore. Cap
tain Dorst's men found that their boats
could not pass the last breaker and
without hesitation leaped into the water
and waded to the beach
After several boatloads of soldiers had
been put ashore the Spaniards opened
fire upon them from ambush. With the
aid OF the gunboats the land party drove
the enemy from cover. Then was ap-
parent the good fortune of Captain Dorst
in having flexible orders The insur-
gents were not on hand to receive the
supplies brought for them in the Gussie.
Darkness was coming on, and the SOL
dlers could get no help from the ships
III requesting night attack. The cap
tain re-embarked his force and returned
to the fleet having braved the worst
dangers of the coast in attempting to
carry aid to the fighting insurgents.
Special bodies of troops like Roose-
velt's rough riders never lack for re-
cruits Their leaders can have the pick
OF good men. 1t is a very tempting pros
pect to be foot loose with free range
over the enemy's country. Morgan was
the great rough rider of the civil war,
and his corps Of Blue Grass Kentuckians
left traditions as romantic as those
clinging about the Green Mountain bows
and Marion s swamp angels of the Revo-
luton.
Morgan's orders were generally very
simple. He was to haraSs or stampede
the enemy across the border. His genius
and his reckless daring were given full
play The Kentuckians who rode after
him were fitted by nature for their ro-
mantle career They were born to the
saddle, to quick shooting, to hardy life.
If the Spaniards fight the war our as
Shey threaten to do in the West Indies,
III the Philippines and even in the
mountains of Spain, the last stages of
the conflict will bring into the field
scores and hundreds of American rough
riding bands. GEORGE L. KII.MER.