The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-03

Il
take. In addition the water at Ponce
is too shallow for the transports to be
able to get close in shore. Then,
again, Ponce itself is some little dis
tance from where the troops would
have been able to land if that point
had been selected for the debarkation
of the expedition. One advantage of
this place is that it is situated close
to the railroad connecting with Ponce,
which means of transportation our
troops hope to secure to-day.
Early this morning the Gloucester,
in charge of Lieutenant Commander
Wainwright, steamed into Guanica
harbor in order to reconnoitre the
place. With the feet waiting outside,
the gallant little fighting yacht braved
the mines which were supposed to be
in this harbor, and found that there
was five fathoms of water close IN
shore.
Guancia Bay is quiet place, sur
rounded by cultivated lands. In the
rear are high mountains, and close to
the beach nestles village Of about
twenty houses.
The Spaniards were taken by sur
prise. Almost the first they knew OF
approach Of the army of invasion was
in the announcement contained in the
firing Of gun from the Gloucester
demanding that the Spaniards haul
down their flag, which was floating
from flag staff in front Of a block
house standing to the east of the vii
lage. The first couple Of 3-pounders
were fred into the hills, right and left
of the bay, purposely avoiding the
town, lest the projectiles hurt women
or children. The Gloucester then
hove to within about six hundred
yards Of the shore, and lowered a
launch, having on board Colt rapid
fire gun and thirty men under the
command Of Lieut. Huse, which was
sent ashore without encountering op-
position.
! Ouartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacey to haul down the Span
/ ish flag, which was done, and the first
United States flag to float over Porto
Rico soil was then raised on the flag
staff.
Suddenly about thirty Spaniards
opened Ase with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieut. Huse and his
men responded with great gallantry,
the Colt gun doing effective work.
| Norman, who received Admiral Ger
vera's surrender, and Wood, volun-
teer lieutenant, shared the honors
with Lieot. Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Span
| iards fred on the Americans the
Gloucester opened fire on the enemy
with all her 3 and 6-pounders which
could be brought to bear, shelling the
town and also dropping shells into the
hills to the west of Guanica, where a
number of Spanish cavalry were to be
seen fastening toward the spot where
the Americans had landed.
Lieut.. Huse then threw up little
fort, which he named Fort Vain
wright, and laid barbed wire in the
street in front Of it in order to repel
the expected cavalry attack. The
lieutenant also mounted the Colt gun
and signalled for reinforcements, which
were sent from the Gloucester. The
Associated Press dispatch boat Cynthia
II was the only boat in the harbor ex-
cept the Gloucester.
While the Mausers were peppering
all around Lieut.. Commander Vain
wright, he called to the Associated
Press correspondent and said: "They
fred on us after their flag was down
and ours was up, after I had spared
the town for the sake Of the women
and children. The next town | strike
I will blow up"
Presently few of the Spanish
cavalry joined those who were fighting
in the street of Guanica, but the Colt
barked to purpose, killing four Of
them.
By that time the Gloucester had
the range Of the town and of the
block house, and all her guns were
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