The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-14
MET BY THE SPANlARDS
BATTLE FOLLOWS IN WHICH
BOTH MAY CLAIM VICTORY.
OUR BOYS COULD NOT REACH INSURGENTS
But While they Killed Twelve Of The Enemy
They Lost not Man The Span
ards Withdraw and Our
Men Re embark.
Men Re embark,

New York, May 13.-The Evening
Post prints the following:
of Cabanas, Cuba, May l., via key
West. May 13.--In an effort to lahu
Comnanies Il and G of the First United
States Infantry on the shore of Plnar
Jel Rio this afternoon with 800 rifles,
six thousand rounds of ammunition ana
some other supplies for the insurgents,
the first land fight of the war took place.
Each side NAV ciam II victory, for if
tho Snaniards frustrated the effort 10
connect with the insurgents the Amerl-
cams cot decidedly the better of the bat
tie. killing twelve or more of the enemy,
and on their own part suffering not a
wound
After darkness came on the Old-faSh-
toned sile-wheel steamer GuSsie, of the
Morgan Line. with the troons and cargo
mentioned. started for the Cuban coast.
All night she allowed the tug on which
was your CORRESPONDENT. to pilot her.
At sunrise she fell in with the gunboat
Eickshurg on the blockade off Havana.
Other blockading vessels came up also.
The converted revenue cutter Manning.
Captain w NJ. Munger, was detailed
to convoy the Gussie.
No doubt MORO Castles defenders OBJ
served the strange vessel and sent the
alarm ahead Spanish soldiers were
seen grouped on the shore near Mariel.
and the Manning's guns We're trained
upon them, suspecting a masked bat
terry No shots were fired, however.
BY the ruined walls of an old stone
house further on Spanish troops were
gathered. Several shots were fired by
the gunboat Manning and presently no
troops were visible 1t had been decided
to land near 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
torpedo boat Wasp came up, eager 10
assist.
The first American soldier to step on
the Cuban shore from this expedition
was Lieutenant Crofton. Captain 0'Con-
nor, with the first boat load, having gone
a 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 i'm
mediately went into the bush to form Il
picket line. Two horses had been led to
swim to land when suddenly rife shot,
followed by continuous sharp firing.
warned the men that the enemy had
been in waiting.
The captain of the transport signalled
to the war ships, and the Manning fired
into the woods beyond our picket line.
Shrapnel Kissed through the air like
hot iron plunged in water.
The Wasp opened with her small
guns. The cannonade began at 3;~J and
lasted n quarter of an hour; then our
pickets appeared, the ships circled around
and, being told by Captain O'ConnoI
who had come from shore with the
clothing torn from one leg, where the
Spaniards were. 100 shots more were
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. bu,
hearing where the enemy was situated
gathered aft on the upper deck ana
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 decided that the soldiers should
fe-embark on the Gussie and that the
guides should take the horses andaseek
the insurgents and make a new apnoint-
ment. They rode off to the westward
and disappeared around n uOint