The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-17

Madrid. May 15-10 a. ma dispatch
from Havana says: Three American
warships have re-bombarded Cardenas
with shell and have destroyed the
British consulate. The Americans at
tempted to land men and ammunition
when the cannonnading was the hot
test. The Spaniards, drawn up on
shore, replied hotly to the American
fire. inflicting severe loss on the enemy.
Seven Spaniards were wounded
1 p. m.-The impartial this morning
publishes a dispatch from Havana,
giving another extraordinary Spanish
version of war episode. 1t says:
''On Friday the gunboats Conde de
Venadito and Neuva Espana steamed
out of the harbor and attacked an Am
erican squadron of two cruisers and
five auxiliary cruisers which were out
side. The Spanish vessel fired twenty
shots and the Americans eight, the lat
ter apparently retreating damaged.
Three crowded tugs followed the gun
boats, the people on board cheering
them
upon which the Imparciars dispatch is
based are to be found in the dispatch
from the Associated Press dispatch
boat Kate Spencer, filed at Key West
today and sent out early this morning,
telling of Blanco'S unsuccessful ruse
CAPTURE OF ONE OF OUR CRUZ
SERS REPORTED.
Washington, May 15.-No news of the
reported capture of the auxiliary
cruiser Yale, formerly the American
line steamer Paris, has been received
here and the report is discredited.
THE GUSSIE EXPEDITION FAILS.
Key West, Fla, May 15-The steam
er Gussie, which left Tampa, Fla, May
10th with two companies of the First
infantry on board, in charge Of seven
thousand rifles and two hundred thous-
and rounds of ammunition, intended
Tor the insurgents in the province of
Pinar del Rio, remained off the coast Of
Cuba Thursday, Friday and yesterday,
conveyed by the auxiliary gunboat
Manning, in vain attempt to land her
cargo. Captain J. H. Dorst of the
staff of General Miles, and formerly
United States military attache at Vien-
ma, headed the expedition, which re-
turned here this morning. He says the
Gussie will go to Tampa, Fla. Previ-
Gus to leaving Cuban waters, the Dorst
expeditionary force had skirmish
with Spanish cavalry near Cabanas,
fifteen miles west of Havana, where an
attempt was made to land part of the
cargo. On Friday morning Captain
DOrSt abandoned the attempt at the
point and steamed eastward to Matan-
ZaS, where an arrangement had been
made with the insurgents to send the
supplies ashore at Point Maya a mile
or so east of the entrance Of the har-
hOr- The (yucSip and her
terday morning steamed until about
two miles off shore, when the rattle of
muSketry from considerable force
Of Spanish soldiers concealed behind
underbrush ashore, warned them that
they would receive a lively welcome IL
they landed. The Spanish troops SEEM
ed to have been furnished with infor-
nation of the contemplated landing at
both points.
After this second failure Captain
Dorst decided to abandon the attempt
to land the arms and ammunition and
returned to Key West. A more dis
gusted looking lot of troopers than
those aboard the Gussie this morning
it would be hard to find. They had re-
ceived orders not to speak Of their trip
and sullenly lined the rail Of the Gus
sic as the Associated Press launch ran
along side of her. But grunts were the
only answers which could be obtained
to the questions asked.
Soon after the arrival of the Gussie,
Captain Dorst was rowed ashore and
reported the failure Of his expedition
by cable to the war department.
Naval officers here say that IL Cap
tain Dorst had secured the co-opera-
ton of some OF the ships of the block
aiding squadron at the point selected
for the landing the Spanish troops
ashore could have been shelled and a
way would have been cleared for the
landing of the soldiers and the cargo
they had in charge, but no instructions
were given to the ships to cooperate
with Captain Dorst's expedition and
the Gussie was several times compell-
ed to heave-to, while cruising up and
down the coast by the blockade vessels
whose commanders were under the ap-
prehension that she was trying to run
the blockade. The United States gum
boat Machias. which was lying OF
Matanzas Friday night, reported that
signal lights were seen ashore east Of
Point Sabilla and some Of her officers
say they believe the insurgents. having
ascertained that the rendezvous at
Point Maya had been discovered by
the enemy. desired a landing to be
made at another point, but Captain
Dorst held to his original plans and
found the Spanish troops awaiting him.
He did not return empty handed, how
ever. At Cabanas the American party
captured a prisoner Of war in a shack.
Captain Dorst says the failure Of the
expedition was due to the fact that the