The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-15
FILIBUSTERS IN A FIGHT
FIND SPANIARDS CONCEALED
IN THE UNDERBRUSH

thrOp ChanIer, of New York,
Seriously Wounded-Expedi
Failed to Land Supplies for Gu
bans at Various Protected Points,
but Succeeded MT PaIO Alto.
KEY WEST, Fla, July 14.-Those
champion filibusters, the Florida and
auxiliary g'unboat Peoria, which prov
ed herself very daredevil, have
landed the largest and, probably, the
last expedition sent to the aid of the
insurgents. 1t was a task with peril
and difficulty, costing one man his
life and wounds to half dozen others
Capt. Jose Nunez, brother Of Gen.
Emilio NuneZ, was killed; Winthrop
Chanler, Of New York, was shot
through the right elbow, and five Gu
pans suffered trif1ing injuries. How
many Spanish lives answered for
these will never be known, but there
We're more than enough to balance the
score.
The debarkation was effected on
July 4, at Palo Alto, on the southern
coast OF Cuba. but fighting occurred
before then.
LII Tie ESOIld, one Oh the newest ac-
QUESTIONS to the mosquito fleet, goes
the glory Of the achievement. Until
lately she was a pilot boat at PhiladeI-
phia.
The Florida and Fanita left Key
West on Saturday, June 25. The Pc
orla was commanded by Lieut.. T. W
Ryan. On board the steamers were
thirty-fiye Cubans. under Gen. Nunez;
fifty troopers of the Fifth United
Try
and Ahearn, and twenty-five rough
riders. under Winthrop Chanler,
brother of Col. William Aston Chan
Ter. The CargOeS were enormous
There were the horses of the cavalry,
with nine sacks OF oats and PIG bales
of hay to feed them. Topping the list
OF arms were two dynamite guns, with
$50 thirty-pound projectiles to fit them,
and two full batteries of light field
pieces, ten three-inch rifles of regular
ordnance pattern and harness that go
with them, and 1900 cartridges.
The expectation was that the land
ing would be effected at San Juan, a
point on the south coast of Cuba, mid
way between Cienfuegos and Trinidad.
This place was reached Wednesday
evening. June 80.
SPANIARDS ENCOUNTERED.
A scouting party put off in a small
boat and pulled towards shore, but had
made only half the distance when there
came lively fire from what had been
taken to be an abandoned block house
near the point. They had not reckoned
on this, and the men were called back
ard the three ships moved to the east
ward. About o'clock the next after
noon they arrived at Las Tunas, forty
miles away Four miles west of the
town at the mouth Of the Tallaboca
river stood large fort built Of rail-
road iron and surrounded by earth
works. The Peoria ran boldly in ard
fired several shots from her three
FOUNDERS, but brought no response and
no signs Of life.
Here was thought to be the desired
spot. and scouting party was organ
lied This was made UP of fifteen vol
rnteers under Capt. Chanler, and as
many Cubans under Capt Nunez. The
Peoria took position within a short
range of the fort. to protect landing
or cover retreat, as events might de-
termlne. and the small beats headed for
the shore. They reached it 500 yards
east of the fort, the boats were beached
and their occupants cautiously scram-
bled towards the brush. At almost the
very moment they set foot on the sand,
the fort and the entertainments around
it burst into flames and shot and shell
burst about the little band of invaders.
Capt. Nunez was stepping from his
beat when shot struck him clean be-
tween the eyes and he fell dead.
Chanler fell with a broken arm The
others safely gained the thicket and
sponded with a sharp fire against the
entertainments. Meanwhile the Peoria
set all her guns at work and rained
shots on the fort until the einemy's fire
was silenced. The men ATTEMPTED to
return in the boats, but the enemy's
shot came so thick and fast that they
were compelled to throw themselves
into the water and paddle along until
the ships were reached. The Spaniards
bad the range, however, and five men
were wounded, though not seriously.
MISSING MEN FOUND.
Returning to the Peoria the men re-
ported that vicious fire had come
from a grove of cocoanut palms which
extended from the east side of the fort
The Peoria opened her guns on the
place Indicated and must have killed
many Spaniards, for her shells broke
into the flash and smoke of the ad-
Versary's fire, silencing it Immediately
and compelling them to call for help.
When the boats returned to the
Peoria it was dark. The dead was
Capt. Nunez, whose body was left on
the beach. There were missing Chan
Ter, Doctors Lund and Abbott, Albert
Agramont and two Cubans. 1t was re-
ported that Chanler had been fatally
wounded and was kept afloat in the
bushes along the shore by the two doc
tors. Rescue parties were immediately
organized and notwithstanding the
danger two parties We're sent ashore
during the night. Towards morning
Lieut.. Ahearn, in charge of one party,
found Chanler and his two companions.
CHAMBERS wound proved TO be in the
right arm. Towards sunrise Agramonte
and his Cubans were found.
Towards morning the gunboat Helena
arrived and the Helena and Peoria
headed towards Las Tunas, which the
Spaniards had been defending Las
Tunas is town connected with Sancti
Spiritus by rail, a town of consider
able size, with supplies of artillery and
reinforcements. The boats got withl,.
range and found the Spaniards had
three or four Krupp pieces on mounds
along the water edge, and they began
an ill-directed reply with shot ami
shrapnel. The fire of our ships was
sharp and effective. The Spaniards
had not fired many shots before their
guns were flying In the air. their earth
works a mass of bloodstained dust and
their gunners running for their lives
Both the Peoria and Helena were
struck several times, but no one on
either ship was injured. AS they with
drew several buildings on shore were
in flames.
That afternoon both ships turned
their attention to the fort and the en-
f,o,, oh, 70