The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-15
Two Shipioads of Men, Munitions of
PalO Alto for Gen. Gomez.
SOME SERIOUS FIGHTING
CAPT. NUNEZ KILLED, WINTHROP
CHAMBER AND OTHERS WOUNDED.
Many Spaniards Slain by Shells from
the GunbOats Peoria and Helena
-BnttIe at Las Tunas.

KEY WEST Fla, July A.-Those cham
pion filibusters, the Florida and the Fanita
under convoy of the little auxiliary gunboat
Peoria, which proved herself a very dare
devil, have landed the largest and probably
the last expedition sent to the aid of the
insurgents. 1t was a task beset with peril
and difficulty, costing one man his life and
wounds to half dozen others. Capt. Jose
Manuel Nunez, brother of Gen. Emilio
Nunez, was killed. Winthrop Chanler, OF
New York, was shot through the right ell
bow and five Cubans suffered trifiing in
Juries. How many Spanish lives answered
for this will never be known, but there were
enough to more than balance the score.
The debarkation was effected on July g.
at Palo Alto, on the southern coast of
Cuba, but lighting occurred before then
The consummation of the job was without
n!ishap. To the Peoria, one of the newest
of the acquisition to the mosquito fleet goes
the full glory of the achievement Until
lately a pilot boat at Philadelphia, she has
shown that her fang is as keen and biting
as that of the most seasoned of her VEN
omous sisters.
The Florida and Fanita left Key West on
Saturday, June %, under the convoy of the
Peoria, commanded by Lieutenant T. w.
Ryan. On board the steamers were thirty
five Cubans under General Nunez, fifty
troopers of the Fifth United States Cavalry,
under Lieutenants Johnson and Ahearn and
twenty-five Rough Riders under Winthrop
Chanler, brother of Col. William Astor
Chanler. The cargoes were enormous.
There were horses of the cavalry with nine
sacks of oats and 216 bales of hay to feed
them. Topping the list of arms were two
dynamite guns with $50 thirty pound pro-
jectiles to fit them and two full batteries
of light field pieces ten three-inch rifles of
regular ordnance pattern, with harnesses
that go with them and 1,500 cartridges. In
the matters of infantry rifles there were
1000 Springfields with $4,000 cartridges and
go Mausers with 100000 of the wicked shells
they swallow. Fifty of the Cubans aboard
were armed with Mausers and the others
had Springhelds.
For the insurgent officers were provided
200 army Colts and 1900 cartridges. Two
hundred books of United States cavalry and
infantry tactics, translated into Spanish,
were taken along. In the expedition were
also LAYS saddles, $50 saddle cloths and 450
brides. For the Cubans there were taken
1853 uniforms, 1888 brown canvas of the
linen of Mexican troops; $3.50 pairs of army
shoes, 1875 army blankets, 4O0 shirts, 400
hats and $50 Eammocks.
These were the commissary stores carried,
calculated by pounds: Bacon. 67,275; corn
meal 81, go; roasted coffee, 1920; raw cof-
fee, $780, sugar, 2I425; mess pork and beef.
9,GO0 canned beef, 24,OO0; beans, 1880; hard
tack, 1,25O cans of corn, 1850.
SOOTHING PARTY REPIJIsSED
1t was a mighty precious cargo for the
little boat to guard, but how well she did it
the sequel shows. The expectation was that
the landing would be effected at San Juan
Point, on the south coast of Cuba, midway
between Cienfuegos and Trinidad. This
place was reached Wednesday evening,
June 20. scouting party put off in
small boat and pulled towards shore, but
had made only half the distance when there
came a lively fire from what had been taken
to be an abandoned blockhouse near the
point. They had not reckoned on this, and
the men were called back and the three
sLips moved to the eastward.
About 4 o'clock the next afternoon they
arrived at Las 1unas, about forty miles
away. Four miles west of the town, at the
mouth OF the Tallabacoa river, STOOD large
tort built of railroad iron ana surrounded
bv earthWorks. The Peoria ran boldly in
and fired several shots from her three
Founders, but brought no response ana no
signs OF lite. Here was thought TO be the
desired point, and another scouting party
was organized. This was made up OF hf-
teen volunteers under Winthrop Chaner
and as many Cubans under Captain Nunez.
The Peoria took a position WlthlIl snort
range of the fort to protect landing or
cover a. retreat, as events might determine,
and the small boats headed for the shore.
They reached ii five hundred yards east or
the fort, the boats were oeacheo ana tnelr
1U
bush But again they had reckoned without
their hosts. At almost the very moment
they set foot on the sands the Iort ana tne
intrenchments around it burst into iiame
and shot and shell screamed about the 1T
tie band of invaders. Captain NuneZ was
stepping from his boat when shot struck
him clean between the eyes and he went
down dead Chanler fell with broken
arm The others safely gained the thcket
and replied with sharp nre olrecteo at the
intrenchments.
SHELLS RAINED ON THE FORT
Meanwhile the Peoria set all her guns at
work and rained shells upon the fort until
the enemy's fire ceased. A retreat was
ordered and the party rushed for the boats,
but volley after volley came from the shore
and they were compelled to throw them
selves into the water and padding beside
the boats with only their head exposed until
the ships were reached. The Spaniards had
the range however. and five CuDans were
wounded though none seriously.
Returning TO the Peoria the men reported
that "A vicious fire had come from grove
of cocoanut palms which extended to the
eastward of the fort. The Peoria opened ner
guns on the place Indicated and must have
killed many Spaniards, for her shells
dropped into the smoke and flash OF the
adyersares' fire, silenced it at once ana
forced them to send up rockets for help.
When the small boats reached the ship 1t
was dark Then the discovery was made
that beside Captain NuneZ. whose body was
Chanler, Drs. Lund and Abbott, Lieutenant
Agramonte and TWO Cubans. 1t was reported
that ChanIer had been mortally wounded
and was kept afioat in the bushes along
the shore by the two doctors. Rescue par
ties were Immediately organized and no less
than four parties were sent ashore during
the night. Towards morning Lieutenant
Ahearn, in charge of one of these. found
Chanier and his companions. chanler's
wound proved to be in the right elbow Aft
er sunrise Agramonte and his cubans were
discovered and brought Off.
The next day the gunboat Helena arrived
and on Friday morning she and the Peoria
steamed in towards Las 1unas. which the
Spaniards had been vigorously fortifying.
1ilnas is connected by rail with Sancti Spir-
itus. q town of considerable size, and REIN
forcements and artillery had been rapidly
the bay but avoiding these the ships drew
into close range and opened fire. The Span
iards had several Krupp field pieces Of
three or four inches mounted on earthworks
along the water front and they began a
vigorous but ill-directed reply with she'll
most accurate and destructive. The spanish
gunners had not fired more than fifteen or
twenty shots before their guns were fvine
in the air. their earthworks a mass OF