The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-01
About Three Hundred Cubans and
One Hundred Americans, All Well
Equipped, in the Party.
Conveyed BY WAR VESSELS
THE INVADERS WELCOMED BY
BAND OF THE INsURGENT ARMY.
Spanish Ship Loaded with Coal Cap
tured by an American Cruiser
Garcia's Men Well Armed.
tcouyriebt. 1895 bv the Associated Press,

KEY WEST, Fla, May 31.-The steamer
Florida returned here at a. m. to-day from
Cuba, after having successfully landed
most important expedition on the island,
about twenty-five miles east of Havana.
Over four hundred men with a pack train
and large quantity of arms and ammuni-
ton sailed for Cuba on the Plant line
steamer Florida on the might of May 81.
These men and the equipment constituted
an expedition able to operate independently
and to defend itself against any body of
Spanish troops which might oppose it. The
expedition was under the command of Col.
Joseph Lacret, formerly insurgent COM
mander in Matanzas province. He as
sumed the direction of affairs Immediately
on the landing of the expedition. Until
then Gen. Joaquin Castillo was in control.
In the landing of the expedition the United
States army was represented by Capt. j. A.
Dorst. and Tomas Estrada Palma was rep
resented by j. E. Cartaya, who has been the
landing agent of nearly every filibustering
expedition for more than a year. Messrs.
Castillo. Cartaya and Dorst returned to-
day to Key West Gen. Julio Sanguilly, on
the way to report to Gen. Maxine Gomez,
was also on the boat
This is the most powerful anti-Spanish
expedition ever sent to Cuba. About three
hundred of the men were Cubans; the others
Americans. The engineer corps of the ex-
petition was composed entirely of Ameri-
cans under Aurelian Ladd, and with the
party were Americans. The men were
dressed in canvas uniforms furnished by the
United States government, and the COM
missary department. had rations enough to
last fourteen days after the landing. The
pack train consisted of seventy-five mules
and twenty-five horses. The expedition car
ried 1900 rifles and 100000 rounds of am
munition for Gen. Calixto Garcia. The ex-
petition was composed of hardy young fell
lows who looked fit for anything.
!, The landing was effected on Thursday
morning, May &c. When the Florida, es-
corted by the auxiliary gunboat Osceoa,
drew up close to the shore at the place Sc
lected for the landing, she sent scouts to see
If all was clear. These scouts were greeted
by Generals Ferd and Rojas with some 1,5OO
armed insurgents Consequently, far from
there being any hostile demonstration on
the part of the Spaniards, the landing was
in thesnature of a triumphal invasion. The
Cubans who were in waiting for the party
had brass band and welcomed the new
corners with national airs. The work of
unloading the cargo of the Florida was
men composing the expedition. There was
nothing in the nature of interruption until
the work was finished on Friday. While
the cargo was being unloaded the Osceola
with her guns ready, secuted about the vi
cinity looking for an enemy, but the Span
iardS apparently had no suspicion of what
was taking place. So easily was the dam
gerous mission accomplished that while
some members of the party were getting
the supplies ashore others were providing
themselves with fruit sugar and other
products Of the landing place, a large stock
of which was brought back for Key West
friends. Nevertheless, precautionary meas
ures were not neglected, and the moment
the work was concluded the Florida and the
Osceola slipped away, leaving the insur-
gents to convey their reinforcements into
the interior, which, it is confidently ex-
pected, was done without hindrance. The
returning Florida party brought with them
several hundred private letters, which, it is
understood, give complete insight into the
present conditions prevailing in the block
AIDED island. The local Cuban colony is
elated over the astonishing success of the
expedition.
At the Cuban landing place people crowd
ed about trying to exchange fruit for clothes
and shoes, of which they stand in great
need. When the Florida arrived at Key
West she had large Cuban flag hanging
over the railing of her upper deck and
yellow flag flying The health officers de-
layed the Landing OF Captain Dorst and
General Castillo and others for several
hours The expedition landed large guam
tity of bacon, as well as army rationS. The
Florida was conveyed by the cruiser Mar
blehead, the torpedo boat destroyer Eagle
and other war ships. Two younger brothers
of the late Lester Arangueren went with the
expedition.
remarkable incident in his extraordinary
career. His. gallant services in the ten
years war: his arrest in Havana at the
beginning of the present Instruction, his
sentence to death and his release at the in
tercession of Secretary Sherman on
promise to remain outside of Cuba have
made him q conspicuous man. About six
months ago General Gomez ordered him to
report for duty and he did not obey Now
he is going to humble himself before the
old man. and Cuhans say that General
Gomez is likely to receive him gruff1y, take
away his sword and order him to fight in
the ranks General Gomez is a stickler for
obedience. Gen. Enrique COLLAGE, through
the failure of the Junto to land him in
Maceo was unable to take the command
TO which he had been assigned. When he
petition General Gomez reduced him to the
rank of colonel as a punishment for his
failure to obey the previous order. This
action was taken Notwithstanding the fact
that Collazo and Gomez are dear friends.
When the present revolution in Cuba be-
gan General Jose Lacret Moriot. by which
title he is popularity known, secured passage
on the steamer Mascotte for Jamaica on
his way to Cuba. The English government
had information regarding Lacret's move
ments and prevented him sailing for Cuba
from Jamaica. He then went TO Mexico
and later to. New York: At the. latter place
he consulted with the Junto and returned to
Tampa Here he embarked on the steamer
Oliyette for Havana in the garb of a priest.
Still in the garb of priest he boarded a
train for Sagua la Grande. Accompanying
him were a large number of Spanish sol
ders. Being highly educated and man of
good appearance he was given entree into
the best Spanish society of Sagua la Grande.
Lacret stopped at the finest hotel and when
in the cafe sat at the alcalde's right hand.
After communicating with the insurgents
the padre suddenly disappeared from the
hotel. He Joined the insurgents and. throw
ing Off his prlestIy disguise. has since per-
formed valorous services for the cause OF