The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-29
How a Flllbusrerlng Expedition Is
Landed.


we first sighted Cuba. The was like
mirror; the gorgeous tints II the GAVIN
mingled with the azure of the gulf wnter
and spread over 1t myriad colors. In the
distance the green coast 4omed through
u purple haze. The picture was so thrill
| ing that all dan ger was for gotten in the
rapture of the scene. Near us are two
sailing vessels, bnt Of those We
| taks no noie. A veteran OF the ton
years war is at The bow. Eiess Ia fand.
lie orders are to gst resdv for the land
ins. While approaching the shore the
lookout man reports. 'Smose Oh the
starboard quarterl'' Instead OF teat NO
a hasty retreat we wait tn investigate,
and presently discover that the stranger
Is a merchant man. so the coat is lowered
and party volunteer to 60 ashore and
reconnoitre. In a very short time they
come hack aud report everything favor
able, and all start 10 busy themselves
with unloading the precious cargo While
the work is proceeding, a voice Is heard
com ina from the bushes on shore. then
a shout Of "Viva Cuba Libre. to which
we answer. 'auba expedicioneros. At
once THREE coast guards mounted on little
mustangs make their appearances. and
are welcomed by us with chorus of
"yiva Cuba Libre." The Joy seems to
have intoxicated Us all, for we are sure
now that the expedition will never fall
into the tauds OF the Spsniaris. One Of
the. .ccast guards has already started to in
form Cuban force, encamped close bv.
Of the arrival Of tho expe iition. 1he
steamer which we had sighted while sp-
pr. aching the land is by this time
plainly seen to be nm English tramp as
she cores Gloss in shore to satisfy her
cariosity. Guessing our mission she
hoists her colors and salutas us with
three blasts OF her whistle, which we
minutes after reaching the coast the car
90 has reen landed. tue toats are hoisted.
and wo sail away, amid the hurrahs Of
these on board heartily answered by
those who ara left behind.
The barometer had begun to fall, but
as yet caused little anxiety on board, ns
IL might portsnd merely squally. weather.
and next dsy We wers oncs more lying
alongside Of orr supply ship. On account
of the rolling of the two vssrels we were
obliged to proceed very slowly In the
transfer of our cargo, and 1t was the fol-
lowing day before we were able to start to
land our second expedition. The nearer
We approached the Cuban shore tho worse
the weather became. some OF us hnd re-
tired 10 the cabin to secure . little rest.
when we wers arou sed at about an hour
pleasant awakening on n vessel carrying
three tons of Dynamite. A lamp had
exploded, but WAS fortunately thrown
overheard witout ocrnsioning further
damage, and quietness was oncs more re-
stored. The supsrstitious sailors were
inclined to look on this ibcident ms m
evil omen, but the effect was counteract-
oan eagle wrioh majesticNlly landed on
our foren asa
The following night ut about 10 o'clock
we sighted the light OF Morro CASTLE aud
ait ring our course, beaded for tho land
ing Jlsce, which was not far from the
city OF Hdvara. Unfortunately, owing to
the darkr ess and the rough westhsr we
were unable to make our port and were
compelled TO put To sea again. The look
out man announced a vessel approaching
on our port bow. and at this interesting
moment our steering gear gave way.
Fortunately. the accident was not serious
and was quickly msnde5. and we put TO
ssa without further incident. Next dav
We lay TO out of sight Of land. and that
hight once more headed for the light NJ
MORO castle. This time In order to
avoid rerestins our error of the night
before We vent sonoar % Havana that
we were able riai-iy q dis insuish tho
electric lights IA Central Park. Two
hours later We arrived at our distina-
tion. Ia two houis more, ana in the
midst Of n driving rain. We had lanced
our second curso aud had asaiu left the