The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-06
.CUBANS WERE VICTORS
THE SPANISH CAVALRY WAS
FORCED TO RETIRE.
The WILMINGTON TO THE RESCUE
The Gun Boat Opened Fire Without any Pre-
Iiminaries and Dispersed The Span
lards.-The Tug Expedition
Then Landed Safely.
Then Landed Safely.

Key West, Fla, May 5.-The govern
ment tug Leyden, Captain j. Ii. Angus,
steamed into port this morning, and
those on board told the following story
of desperate encounter with Spanish
troops on the northern coast of Cuba:
The Leyden left here Monday after
noon with Il party of insurgents under
General Acosta, and including five Gu
ban scouts under the leadership of Cap
tain J. ii. Dorst, of the United States
cavalry. The Leyden also carried
large quantity of arms and ammunition.
The tug landed five men, with four
boxes of ammunition and two horses.
General AcOsta also landed and penetrat
ed to the interior, where he communi-
Gated with the forces of the insurgents.
The Leyden lay to outside until five
O'Clock in the morning, when, observing
troop of Spanish infantry approaching,
she put to sea and got safely away.
The same night she proceeded to Matan-
zas, and Tuesday afternoon landed an
other small party near there. Fearing
attacked by the Spaniards, she
booked for the Terror and Amphitrite,
which are Oh the blockade in that vi
entity, but being unable to locate them,
the Leyden returned TO the original land
ing place, reaching there early yesterday
morning. Here she was met 10y Acosta
and about 200 Cubans, half of whom
were armed with rifles. They united
with the men on the tug, and an at
tempt was made to land the remaining
arms and men when "a troop of 200 of a
Villa Vicosa cavalry swOOped down OF:
| them. and fierce engagement of half
hours duration followed The Cubans
finally repulsed the enemy, driving them
into the woods During this engagement
several rifle bullets went through the
| Leyden's smoke e-stack, but no one was in
| jured. The plucky little tug then wenI
in search of the flagship, found her ly
| ing near Havana, and reported the story.
| Rear Admiral Sampson sent the gun
boat Wilmington back with the Leyden.
| The two vesscsl reached the scene of
| the landing yesterday afternoon, ana
| found the Spanish cavalry in waiting to
| welcome another attempted invasion.
| The Wilmington lost no time in prelimi-
naries, but promptly opened fire on a
number of small houses, making entry
to the place. The gun-boat fired fom
shots, which Immediately drove back the
| Spanish, and Captain Dorst, with the
ammunition, landed safely last night, the
| Leyden returning here.
COURTESY TO ENGLAND.
News reached here to-day of the ar
rival at Havana yesterday of the British
Icruiscr Talbot. to take off British sub
| jects who desire to leave the city. The
Talbot was held by the bloekading YES
sells, but asked permission of the flag
ship to go in, which Rear Admiral
Sampson readily granted. Admiral Sir
John Richardson commanding the
British West Indian Naval station, was
on board the Talbot. The Britishers
had not heard the news of the Manila
victory, and when they learned it they
heartily congratulated Admiral Sampson
and the other officers of the fleet.
Further information from the besieged
island is to the effect that General
BIanco is urging the provincial authOri-
ties in every locality to stir up the pa
triotism of the people, which is said to
be rapidly waning under the influence
of hunger and disease.
The Spanish soldiers captured on the
prize steamer Argonauta last week were
sent North this morning on the City of
Kew West They will be lodged III
Fort McPresOn. Five members of the
naval reserves arrived to-day on the
steamer Tarpon, and body of army en-
gineers from Willets Point on the Nal
ory Liner Alamo.
The monitor MiantOnOmab arrived
from Philadelphia to-day.
A dispatch boat which arrived here to-
day brought intelligence of an engage
ment between Spanish troops and insur-
cents in Havana province, in which Col
Juan Delgado. the insurgent leader. and
four men. were killed, and Spanish lost
u No further details are known; and
oven these are obtained from hearsay in
Havana. Even the date of the engage
ment is not given, although it is under
stood to be of recent occurrence
The steamer Olivette will reach here
Tonight but will not be permitted to en- |
for the inner harbor owing to the new
mort regulations governing the movement |
of vessels here during the war. Com |
modore Watson is a passenger on tn, |
Olivette.
naval officer of high rank told the
oorrosnondent of the Associated Press to-
n;abt that the division of Admiral Samp- |
snn,s souadron. already indicated from
washington. will. in all probability. 20 |
INTO effect forthwith. Commodore Wat
son SON will raise his flag on the cruiser
cincinnati. and his command will in
clnda other cruisers and gunboats.
Commodore Remey, who will COM |
1;uicinn af thp Honf