The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-14

KEY WEST, May 13.-The transport
Gussie. which left here Wednesday
with 1000 rifles for the insurgents. was
late this afternoon still cruising off
Cabanas. having been unable to locate
any insurgents or to land her cargo.
OFF CABANAS, Cuba, May II (via
Key West, May 13).-In an effort to
land Companies E and G, Of the First
United States infantry. on the shore
OF Pinar Del Rio, this afternoon, with
5000 rifles, 5000 rounds Of ammunition
and some food supplies for the insur-
gents, the first land fight Of the war
took place.
Each side may claim a victory, for.
If the Spaniards frustrated the effort
to connect with the insurgents, the
Americans got decidedly the better Of
the battle, killing twelve or more of
the enemy, and on their part suffering
not a wound.
After dark last evening. the old-fash-
Toned side-wheel steamer Gussie, Of the
Morgan line, with the troops and cargo
mentioned, started for the Cuban coast.
All night she allowed the tug on which
was your correspondent to pilot her.
At sunrise she fell in with the gun
boat Vicksburg. on the blockade off
Havana. Other blockading vessels
came up also. The converted revenue
ger, was detailed to convoy the Gussie,
and, three abreast, the steamers moved
along the coast.
MORRO SENT WARNING.
) No doubt MORO castles defenders
observed the strange vessel, and sent
the alarm ahead. Spanish soldiers were
seen grouped On the shore, near Mariet,
and the Manning's guns were turned
upon them, suspecting masked bat
terry. No shots were fired, however.
The Cuban guides on the Gussie took
their machetes to a grindstone on the
hurricane deck. Our soldiers gathered
around to see them sharpen their long
knives, but only could be induced to
test the end Of these barbarous instru-
ments with the thumb. Then they
withdrew aft to play craps until a body
Of cavalry on a hill west Of Mariet
brought them to their rifles.
For some minutes the cavalry watch
ed us, then galloped over the hill in the
direction we were heading. By the
ruined walls Of an old stone house,
further on, Spanish troops were gath
cred. Several shots were fired by the
gunboat Manning, and presently no
troops were visible. 1t had been
decided to land near here, but the depth
of the water was not favorable.
SOLDIERS EFFECT A LANDING.
Just west of Port Cabanas harbor the
Gussie anchored, the Manning covering
the landing place with her guns, and
the torpedo boat Wasp came up to as
sist.
The first American soldier to step on
the Cuban shore from this expedition
was Lieut.. Crofton, Capt. O'Connor
with the first boatload, having gone a
longer route. A reef near the beach
threw the men out, and they stumbled
through the water up to their breasts.
When they reached dry land they i'm
mediately went into the bush to form
a picket line. Two horses had been led
~ SWIM W fddu, WHEN suddenly q r11e
shot, followed by continuous sharp fir
ing. warned the men that the enemy
had been in waiting. The captain of
the transport signaled to the warships,
and the Manning fired into the woods
beyond our picket line.
Shrapnel Missed through the air like
hot iron plunked in water.
The Wasp opened with her small
guns. The cannonade began at Bis
and lasted a quarter Of an hour; then
our pickets appeared. the ships circled
round. and being told by Capt. O'Con-
nor, who had come from shore, where
the Spaniards were, 100 shots more were
fired in that direction.
TWELVE SPANIARDS SLAIN.
Anybody hurt, captain?" asked your
correspondent.
None Of our men, but we shot twelve
Spaniards," he shouted back.
The soldiers on board the Gussie
heard the news without a word, but
hearing where the enemy was situated
gathered aft on the upper deck and
cant cnvaroI UolIavs into the SnOt