The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-14
I EXPEDITION FAILED

10 MhRe Successtull Landing In Cuba,
but tho United States Troops XIII
Twelve Spanish Soldiers sBcforo They
Retire Without Suffering Amy Loss.
Copyright. 1888. by tho Associated Press.)
KEY WEST. May 13.-Information of
vague character reached here this
morning OF the attempt to land on Gu.
ban soil of the cargo OF the arms and
ammunition taken over by the steamer
Gussie on Wednesday. The Gussie
came from Tampa with 1000 rifles and
large quantity Of ammunition, cloth
ing and provisions for the Cuban insur-
gents. The expedition was in charge OF
Captain J. H. Dorst. OF the United
States cavalry who recently landed a
similar one from the Leyden, after an
engagement with the Spanish troops on
shore. With him in this latest enter
prise were about one hundred members
OF the first infantry OF the regular army
and ten Cuban scouts. Arrangements
had been made to have q body ot In
surgents meet the Gussie at Cabanas to
receive the expedition and carry It to
the lnsurgent troops.
~ When the Gussie reached Cabnnas
yesterday, however, there was no one
there to meet her but q body OF Spanish
soldiers, who opened fire from the
shore. The auxiliary gunboats Wasp
and Manning had met the Gussie on
the way over and acted as escort. They
returned the fire OF the Spanish troops
and are said to have killed many,
though this, OF course, Is largely con-
jectural. Under the protection of the
gunboats, the scouts and detail OF
soldiers made landing, but they were
driven back by the Spanish troops, who
maintained vigorous attack. One OF
the American party was shot In the
arm, but none OF the others we-e In
jured. iit
The Gussie eventually abandoned the
attempt to land her cargo and at last
accounts was still cruising along the
coast awaiting a favorable chance to do
so.
Another Account.
NEW YORK, May 13.-The Evening
Post prints the following, dated on Ca
banas, Cuba, May IL. VIA Key West, May
49,: In ON effort to land Companies Z
and G, OF the First United States infan-
try, on the shore OF Plnar del Rio this at
ternoon. with GOO rifles. 5000 rounds Of
ammunition and some food supplies for
the insurgents, the first land fight Of the
war took place Each eide may claim a
victory, for II the SpanIards frustrated
the effort to connect with the insurgents,
the Americans got decidedly the better
OF the battle, killing twelve or more Of
the enemy and on their own part suffer-
Ing not wound.
After dark last evening the old-fash-
Ioned side wheel steamer Gussie, of the
Morgan line, with the troops and corgo
mentioned, started for the Cuban cnast.
AllinIght she allowed the tug on which
was your correspondent, to pilot her. At
sunrise she fell in with the Vlcksburg
on the Blockade off Havana. III Other
blockadlhg vessels came Zip also. Tho
converted revenue cutter Manning, Cap
| tain W. NJ. Munger, was detailed 10
convoy the Gussie and three abreast the
steamers moved along the coast. =. e
No doubt Moro Castles defenders OBJ
served the strange vessel and sent the
| alarm ahead. Spanish soldiers were
seen grouped on the shores near Mariel.
and the Manning's guns were trained
upon them. suSDecting a maslted bat
terry. M shots were fired, however.
| The Cuban guides on the Gussle took
| their. machetes to grlndstone on the
hurricane deck. Our soldiers gathered
around to Gee them shrapen their long
knives. but only one could be induced to
test the end OF these barbaruus instru-
limcnta with his thumb. Then they with
drew ATTIC play craps until a body of
cayal-y on a hill west Of Marlel brought
them 10 their rifles.
Il For some minutes tho cavalry watch-
ed us, then galloped over the hill In the