Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-01
Nearly 400 Armed Hen Formed an
Expedition from Key West.
Col. Lacret in Command-The Elk
petition Comprised About 800
Cubans and 100 Americans and
Carried 1000 Rifles and 2,OOO,-
900 Rounds Of Ammunitlon-T
Men and Their Equipment Were
Carried to the Island by the
Steamer 7 lOrida.
Copyright, Associated Press.)

q
ton on the island.
Nearly 400 men, with a pack train
and large quantity of arms and am
munition, sailed for Cuba, on
the Plant Line steamer Florida on the
night Of May 81 These men and the
equipment constituted an expedition
able to operate independently and to
defend itself against any body of Span
1sh troops which might oppose it. The
expedition was under the command Of
Col. Jose Lacret formerly insurgent
commander in Mantanzas province. he
assumed the direction of affairs imme-
diately on the landing of the expedl-
ton. Until then General Joaquin Cas-
tillo was in control.
The expedition was landed on the
coast of Cuba on Thursday morning,
May &c.
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 Generals
Feria and Rojas. with some 1880 armed
insurgents. Consequently, far from
there being any hostile demonstration
upon the part of the Spaniards, the
landing CT the expedition was in the
nature of a triumphal invasion. The
Cubans who were in waiting 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, secuted
about the vicinity,
LOOKING FOR THE 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 them
selves with fruit, sugar and other pro-
ducts of the landing place, large
stock Of which was brought back for
Key West friends.
Nevertheless no precautionary meas
ure was neglected, and the moment the
work was concluded, the Florida and
the Osceola slipped away, leaving the
insurgents to convey their reinforce
ments into the interior, which, 1t is
confidently expected, was done without
any casualty.
The returning members of the Flor
ida brought with them several hundred
private letters which it is understood
give complete insight into the pres
ent conditions prevailing in the block
AIDED island.
The local Cuban colony is elated over
the astonishing success of the expedi-
ton.
In the landing of the expedition the
United States army was represented by
Capt. ]. A. Frost, and Thomas Estrada
Palma was represented by J. E. Car
taya, who has been the landing agent
of nearly every filibustering expedition
for more than year. Messrs Castillo,
Cartaya and Dorst 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
Spanish 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
Laid. The men were dressed
IN CANVAS UNIFORMS
furnished by the United States govern
ment, and the commissary department
had rations enough to last fifteen days
after landing. The pack train consist
ed of IS mules and % horses. The ex-
petition carried 1000 rifles and 2,000,-
coo rounds Of ammunition for Gen.
Calixto Garcia The expedition was
composed of hardy young fellows, who
locked fit for anything.
Gen. Sanguilly's return TO Cuba is a
remarkable incident in his extraordin-
airy career. His services in the ten
years war, his arrest in Havana at the
beginning of the present instruction,
his sentence to death and his release
at the intercession of Secretary Sher-
man. on a promise to remain outside
of Cuba. have made him conspicuous
man. About six months ago Gen.
Gomez ordered him 10 report Tor duty
and he did not OBEY Now he is going
TO humble himself before 1.-THE old
man" and CubanS say that Gen. Gomez
is likely to receive him gruffiy, take
away his sword and order him to fight
in the ranks. Gen Gomez is stickler
for obedience.
Gen. Enrique Collazo. through the fail
ure Of the Junta 10 land him in Cuba af-