The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-13
A SPANISH ACCOUNT
Of Events Recently Transporting il
Cuba


Spanish accounts of recent events in
Cuba:
About O'Clock on Sunday afternoon,
July 10, the American forces com
tiago de Cuba, by way of the heights of
San Juan. They opened a fire of mus
kerry and artillery which continued for
one hour. The American fleet stimuli
taneously bombarded the city, ceasing
fire at p. m. 1t was without advan-
tage to the Americans, who did not
gain ground. while the Spanish forces
maintained their positions.
On July 5, an American ship lowered
a boat having on board an officer and
some men at Carapichive, Isle of Pines,
and captured the schooner Gallite,
loaded with cedar, honey, pigs, wax
and fowls The schooner's crew took
refuge on shore and opened fire on the
boat. It is believed the officer in charge
was wounded The ship fired ten Shots
A detachment of Spanish troops
which was in ambush on the railroad
between Aiguin and Guira Nelena,
province of Havana, has surprised an
insurgent force, killing three of the
latter. A search of the neighbOrhOOd
later resulted in finding traces of blood
which led to a hut where the troops
found an American citizen named Paul
Torres F'undora and another man. They
were both made prisoners on suspicion
of having formed part of the insurgent
band.
Spanish troops at T4erras Negroes
province of Matanzas, have been en-
gagged with the insurgents of that
neighbOrhood, killing five of the latter
On Saturday, July 9, the insurgents
dynamited the railroad between Can
de1eria and Punta' Bravo province of
Pinar del Rio. The explosion occurred
the moment an observation train was
passing. The engine was damaged, a
culVert was destroyed and an armOred
car was derailed. One soldier of escort
was wounded and communication over
that part of the island was interrupted
until Sunday.
The Norwegian steamer Bergen, which
recently left Sagua for st. Thomas, car
ried, in addition to five hundred pas
sengers three million cigars, 800 900
packages of cigarettes and 500 bales of
On Friday July 8, the German cruiser
GER arrived at Cienfuegos.
The local newspapers publish long
articles giving details of the lombard
ment of Las TunaS, province of Santa
Clara. They seem to confirm the re-
port that an effort was made to land an
American expedition at TaybacOa, on
the south coast of that province. The
Spaniards say the Americans were
obliged to reimbarI1 owing to the stub
born resistance made by the local fort,
which is said to have been garrisOned
by only so men. An American warship
is said to have fired 200 shots at the
fort. The expedition, it was seen was
finally landed at Punta Diamante, on
bad ground, the neighborhOOd being
thick with IagOOns and swamp land
and the only outlet closed by fort.
On july L, II Is IuTIn6T asserted, an
American expedition made an attempt
to land at Punta Caney and was obliged
to retreat, leaving one man killed on
the field. Some documents fell into the
hands of the Spaniards. it is added, and
from them it was learned that the man
killed was IncaleciO NuneZ, a brother of
the leader of the expedition insurgent
brigadier general Emilio Nunez. This
is believed to be the second division of
the expedition which attempt to land
at the San Juan river, between Casalce
and CienfuegOs.
The mem bers of the expedition i'm
mediately cut the telephone une, COM
pelling the Spaniards to use rocket sig
nails in order to communicate with the
forts until the telephone line was re-
paired. Meanwhile one of the American
auxiliary cruisers went aground in the
shoal water off Punta Caney. After
great deal of work on the part OF the
gunbOat breaking the two lines at least
seven times. it was found to be i'm
possible to float the ship. The Ameri-
can gunbOat Machias then went out
for help and soon after returned with
a monitor which fired about thirty-hve
shots at Taya bacOa. Later the Ameri-
can cruiser was floated off with the
rising tide.
"On the nights of June 80, and July l.
the Americans kept strict guard over
the coast and evidently fearing a sur
prise from the Spanish gunboats, they
kept fierce searchlight blazing over
the whole vicinity.
1t is impossible to describe the ter
rible bOmbardment of Las TunaS. The
American monitor moved up to within
a thousand yards of the fort and Span
fsh battery. The monitor was decked
out with an American flag flying and
with an officer at every available point
on the deck from stern to poop with
battle flag in each hand" The ac-
commanding gunboat steamed in behind
the monitor and opened a fierce fire,
sending not less than two thousand
shells.
Meanwhile the Spanish battery open
ed III reply vigorously. The Spanish
General Estruet, with his staff, seemed
everywhere in the most dangerous
places, giving orders with great delib-
GRAFTON and apparent uncOncern. About
three hours after the firing began, find
ing the attack a hopeless one, the
American vessels retired. The Spanish
lost one killed and thirteen wounded,
chiefly among the volunteers and clt1-
zens.
monitor advanced again accompanied
by a gunbOat and an American auxil-
iary cruiser. The people of the village
disappeared into the country after
burning the wharf so as to prevent the
invaders from making landlng as
they had intended The Spanish pat
teries opened first, directing their nre
against the monitor. The American
boats answered and destroyed a num-
Der of houses, but fortunately the only
ones of these which were OF consldera-
BILE value belonged to American cltl-
zens formerly residents of the city.
The last dispatch received from Santf-
apo said that the Spanish troops during
the fierce attack on the city continued
firm and enthusiastic and stood resOlutely
at their positions with increasing deter
n1ination to resist and repel the enemy.
No citizen of Santiago was injured.
Among the Spanish forces one soldier was
killed and one officer and fifteen soldiers
were wounded.
The local papers of Havana publish long
editorials -extolling Spanish heroism at the
siege of Corona, Sara gOssa, Bilbao and
Havana. and exciting the enthusiasm and
the patriotism of the people, urging them
to initiate the glorious achievements of