The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-14
The Coast Guards ShelIed by Vessels
of the Cuban Blockade Fleet, and
Number Reported Killed.
CARDENAS SHELLED AGAIN
FORTIFICATIONS REDUCED BY THE
GUNBOAT WILMINGTON.
Part of the Town Also Burned-Thc
Rowan to Key West.

NEW YORK, May 13.--The Evening Post
prints the following, dated: "On Cabanas,
Cuba, May IL, 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
500 rifles, 5000 rounds of ammunition and
some food supplies for the insurgents, the
first land fight of the war took place. Each
side may claim a victory, for if the Span
iards frustrated the effort to connect with
the insurgents, the Americans got decid-
cdly the better of the battle, killing twelve
or more of the enemy and on their own
part suffering not wound.
After dark last evening the old-fashioned
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 which was your corre-
spondent to- pilot her. At sunrise she fell
in with the gunboat Vicksburg on the
blockade off Havana. Other blockading
vessels came up also. The converted reve-
nue. cutter Manning, Capt. w. NJ Munger,
was detailed to convoy the Gussie, and,
three abreast, the steamers moved along
the coast
No doubt MORO Castles defenders OBJ
served the strange vessel and sent the
alarm ahead. Spanish soldiers were seen
grouped on the shore near Marie and the
Manning's guns were trained upon them,
suspecting a masked battery. No shots
were fired. however.
The Cuban guides on the Gussie took
their machetes to a grindstone on the hur-
ricane deck Our soldiers gathered around
to see them sharpen the long knives, but
only one could be induced to test the end
1T
thumb. Then they withdrew aft to play
craps, until a body of cavalry on a hill west
of Mariel brought them to their rifles. For
some minutes the cavalry watched u.s. then
galloped over the hill in the direction we
were heading. BY the ruined walls of an
old stone house further Spanish troops
were gathered. Several shots were fired
by the gunboat Manning, and presently no
troops were visible. 1t had been decided to
land here, but the depth of water was not
favorable.
Just west of Port Cabanas harbor the
Gussie anchored the Manning covering the
landing place with her guns, and the tor
pedo boat Wasp came up, eager to assist.
The first American soldier to step on the
Cuban shore from this expedition was
Lieutenant Crofton, Captain O'Connor. with
the first boatload, having gone 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 Immediately went into the bush
to form a picket line. Two horses had been
led to swim to land when suddenly a rifle
shot, followed by continuous sharp firing,
warned the men that the enemy had been
in waiting.
The captain of the transport signaled to
the war ships and the Manning fired into
the woods beyond our picket line. Shrapnel
hissed through the air like hot iron plunged
in water. The Wasp opened with her small
guns. The cannonade began at 3:15 and
lasted quarter of an hour; then our pick
cts appeared, the ships circled round and,
being told by Captain OConnor, who had
come from the shore where the Spaniards
were, one hundred shots We're fired in that
direction.
anybody hurt, captain?" hailed 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 sent several volleys
into the spot. The pickets returned to the
BUSH Several crept along the beach, but
the Spaniards had drawn back. 1t was de-
cided that the soldiers should re-embark on
the Gussie and that the guides should take
the horses and seek the insurgents and
make a new appointment. They rode off to
the westward and disappeared around a
point.
Say" shouted man from Company c.
after them, you forgot your grindstone."