The herald., 1898-05-06
AN EXPEDITION LANDED
DESPITE RESISTANCE OF THE
SPANISH CAVALRY
INSURGENTS FIGHT SAVAGELY
By Winning the Battle Secure Arms
Brought by the United States
Tug Leyden
Associated Press Special Wire

| Associated Press Special Wire
KEY WEST. Fla, May 5.-Ths govern
ment tug Leyden. Capt. J. H. Angus.
steamed into port this morning and told
tha following story Of a desperate encoun-
ter with Spanish troops on the northern
coast of Cuba
The Leyden left here Monday afternoon
with party Of insurgents under General
Baldamore Acosta. and included i've Cuban
scouts under the leadership Of Capt. J. H.
Derst of the United States cavalry. The
Leyden also carried a large quantity of
arms and ammunition. The tug landed
FIVE men with four boxes Of ammunition
and two horses. General Acosta also land
ed and penetrated to the interior where he
communicated with the forces Of the In
surgents. The Leyden lay to outside until
| 5 o'clock in the morning when observing q
troop of Spanish infantry approaching she
lput to sea and got safely away. The same
night she proceeded to Matanzas and
Tuesday afternoon another small party
landed near there. Fearing attack by the
ISpaniards she looked for tae monitors
Terror and Amphitrite. which are on the
blockade in that vicinity but being unable
Ito locate them the Leyden returned to the
original landing place, reaching thers early
yesterday morning. Here she was net by
Acosta and about two hundred Cu,ans,
half of whom were armed with rifles. 1hey
united with the men on the tug andan
jattempt was made to land the remaining
arms and men when a troop Of 200 of tie
Villa Vicosa cavalry swooped down o
them and a fierce engagement of han
hours duration followed. y
| When the Spanish cavalry discovered the
Leyden they promptly opened fire. The
tug was taken at a disadvantage, having
no cannon aboard, but commander Angus
decided upon a desperate bluff. He mount
ed an old flag pole, another round piece OF
timber in the bow of the boat and stationed
l"gunners" there, but the ruse was Of little
avail. The Spaniards took shelter near
the blockhouse and poured in fusillade Of
bullets
Meanwhile the Cubans attempted to
draw the Spanish fire. with view OF d.
Iverting the cavalry and giving the Leyden
a chance to slip out.
The Cubans finally repulsed the enemy.
driving them into the woods. During this
engagement several rifle bullets went
| through the Leyden's smokestack, but no
one was injured. The little tug then went
in search of the flagship, found her lying
near Havana and reported this story.
Rear Admiral Sampson sent the gunboat
Wilmington back with the Leyden. The
| two vessels reached the scene Of the land
| ing Yesterday afternoon and found the
Spanish cavalry in waiting to welcome an-
other attempted invasion. The Whining
| ton lost no time in preliminaries buh
promptly opened fire upon number Of
small houses marking the entrGnoe to the
place. The gunboat fired four shots. which
| Immediately drove back the Spaniards.
and Capt Derst, with the ammunition,
landed safely last night. the Leyden re-
| turning here.
News reached here today Of the arrival
at Havana yesterday Of tho British cruis-
| er Talbot, to take off British subjects who
desired to leave the city. The Talbot was
held by the blockading vessels, but finally
asked permission of the flagship to go in.
which Rear Admiral Sampson readily
granted. Admiral John Richardson COM
mandiug the West Indian naval station.
was on board the Talbot.
The censorship of the dispatches here
continues very strict. Capt. Lyons OF the
gunboat Dolphin, which has been cruising
for eleven days along the western coast Of
Cuba says there Is great activity on shore
throughout that section and especially In
Bahia Honda. Groups Of Spaniards can
be seen working on improvised fortifca-
tions of all kinds. Earthworks have been
thrown up all along the coast and appar-
entity preparations against invasion are be-
ing made. During her cruise the Dolphin
| held up eighteen vessels, all Of which
were released except the Spanish fishing
schooner Leolo, which was sent in hero
the other day. The Dolphin had previously
taken the Leolo but had released her on the
captains promise to go in shore and re-
main there. Not long afterward the Dol.
phin again found the Leolo cruising. ap-
parently signaling information to some one
on shore. The Spaniard was then cap
tured despite the captains protestations
that he was not signaling.
News of an Engagement
KEY WEST Fla. May. 5.-A dispatch
boat which arrived here today brought
intelligence of an engagement between
Spanish troops and insurgents in Havana
province, in which Col. Juan Delgado. the
insurgent leader, and four men were k'lled
49, Cv, xtcI, Loot fwontv-ona