The Portland daily press., 1898-05-06
THE LEYDEN REPORTS.
Expedition on North Coast of Cuba Safely
Landed After Few Brushes.

Key West, May 5.--The government
tug Leyden. Capt. Angus, steamed into
port this morning and told the following
story of a desperate encounter with
Spanish troops on the northern coast Of
Cuba. The Leyden left here Monday
afternoon with a party of insurgents
under General Acosta and including five
Cuban scouts under the leadership of
Capt. S. R. Dorst of the United States
cavalry.
The Leyden also carried large guam
tity of arms and ammunition. The tug
proceeded to certain spot and landed
five men with tour boxes of ammunition
and two horses. General Acosta also
landed and penetrated to the interior
where he communicated with the insur-
gents. The Leyden lay to outside the
harbor until o'clock in the morning,
observing troop of Spanish infantry
approaching she put to sea and got safely
away. The same night she proceeded to
Matanzas and Tuesday afternoon landed
another small party near there. Fearing
attack by the Spaniards she looked for
the monitors Terror and Amphitrire,
which are on the blockade in that vicin-
ity, but being unable to locate them the
Leyden returned to the original landing
place, reaching there early yesterday
morning.
Here she was met by Acosta and about
200 Cubans half whom were armed with
rifles. They united with the men on the
tug and an attempt was made to land
the remaining arms and men when a
troop of 200 of the Villa Vicosa cavalry
swooped down On them and fierce en-
gagement of half an hours duration fol-
lowed
The Cubans finally repulsed the enemy
driving them into the woods. During
the engagement several rife bullets went
through the Leyden's smokestack, but
no one was injured. The plucky little
tug then went in search of the flagship,
found her lying near Havana, and re-
ported the story. Rear Admiral samp-
son sent the gunboat Wilmington back
with the Leyden. The two vessels
reached the scene of the landing yester-
day afternoon and found the Spanish
cavalry in waiting to welcome another
attempted invasion.
When the Spanish cavalry discovered
the Leyden they promptly opened fire.
The tug was taken at disadvantage,
having no cannon aboard; but Com
mander Angus decided upon desperate
bluff. He mounted an old flag pole and
another round piece of timber in the how
of the boat and stationed @'gunners''
there; but the ruse was of little avail
The Spaniards took shelter near the
blcckhouse and poured in fusiliade
of bullets Meanwhile the Cubans at
tempted to draw the Spanish fire with
view of diverting the cavalry and CIV
ing the Leyden chance to slip out.
The Wilmington promptly opened fire
on number of small houses marking
the entrance to the place. The gunboat
fred four shots which drove back the
Spaniards and Capt. Dorst with the am
munition landed safely last night.
The Leyden did not leave, however,
until she had taken General Acosta
aboard. He reported that he had reached
his destination and made an exchange OF
valuable information concerning future
movements.
\ The loss of life In the engagement. If
any, was on the Spanish side. Thanks to
poor craftsmanship not an American or
Cuban was hit and the only battls scars
are the bullet holes in the Leyden's
smohestack.