The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-05-26
COMMUNICATED WITH GOMEZ.
Tie PerilOus Journey Of Captain DOrst, iii Com.
mand Of Scouting Party, to Cuba.
Efforts Two Battles Fought
Spanish Troops and Insurgents.

Umted States army has established
direct communication with the insur-
gent leaders III the interior Of Cuba at
two points along the bloch AIDED Cuban
coast one near MariaI and the other
near Matanzas. Six Cuban scouts, uu,
der direction Of the war department
have been landed on the coast and are
now working on the island in the in
terest of the government Of the United
States The difficult task Of bringing
these conditions about was given to
Capt. Dorst, of the 4th cavalry, United
States army. he arrived here on the
ist, and the following Thursday even
ing be took ship for Tampa, having aC.
complished in five days a task which
the war department thought might
cost him his life in attempting. The
story Of his work is not uninteresting.
Its value to the cause Of the United
States cannot be oyerestimated, al.
though the captains bravery may be
lost sight Of in the rush Of war events
in the east,
Capt Dorst is not man whose per
sonal appearance would attract atten-
tion. He arrived here dressed In civil
ian garb and wearing brown slouch
hat. His shoulders have a slight stoop
and his face is tanned deep brown
from exposure. Something in his ap.
pearance leads you to think Of an old
passenger train conductor rather than
military man He has light gray
eyes and a firm chin
He worked under the direct super.
vision Of the department at Washing
ton. Arriving here Sunday morning,
be consulted with the army officers
stationed here and was introduced to
the members Of the Cuban Junta.
Dispatches from Washington placed the
government tug Leyden at his disposal.
From the Cuban Junta he secured six
good and tried Cuban scouts, who had
served under Gomez and had long been
in the employ Of the iunta, These
mems names have been guarded care
fully, but were secured, and two Of
them have been seen and induced to
tell their story since their return here.
They are Antonio Leon Baldomero
Aeotas, Marcos Garcia, Alberto Guz
man, Laureano Prado and Ambrosia
Diaz, Accompanying them for the
Cuban Junta was j. E Cartaya AL
berto Guzman is but ~ years old, and
holds the rank Of Sergent He is as
black as the shades Of outer darkness,
and d native Of Borneo It is said he
has no superior as d bushman
Capt Dorst swore ID bis men and
completed his arrangements in time to
sail from here Sunday evening. The
Leyden was in charge Of Capt J. w.
Angus At the last moment the Cuban
Junta asked that It might be allowed
to send some stores and ammunition to
the Insurgents, and Capt Dorst secured
permission to do so When the Cubans
brought the ammunition out the resi-
dence Of one Of the leading citizens Of
Key West it was somewhat Of a sur
prise to the government officers located
here in the days Of flibustering, just
before the war broke out they had
been notified to look out for this identi
cal consignment from New York, and
they were not aware that It had been
landed. 1t consisted Of about fifty four
boxes Of ammunition, several kegs Of
powder and, it is said some rifles
Capt. Dorst had been intrusted to meet
one Of the reliable Cuban leaders and
through him secure some much desired
information about conditions in the
interior Of the island, also reports di
rect from the commander Of the insur
gent armies as to the strength Of his
forces then available In cooperating
with an invading force Of United States
regulars, and advice as to the best
place for landing troops In oil this he
succeeded.
The Leyden is one Of the fleet ten
ders, absolutely unarmed and capable
Of travelling about twelve knots per
hour 70 approach the Cuban coast in
such a craft in time Of war seemed to
be taking almost desperate chances.
The Leyden left The harbor at sundown
Sunday evening, and arrived off the
coast Of Cuba early Monday morning
She had aboard a Cuban pilot, but as
the night was daEk and cloudy and no
landmarks could Be made out, be was
unable to ten what part Of the Coast
they stood oiI Itappeara chat the war
4 nent had sent al army heuten
int up through the West Indies, and
be had joined Che insurgents. This
lieutenant had been heard from several
times, and had arranged for Capt
Dorst to meet Col. Pedro Delgardo one
Of the most trusted and reliable Of the
commanders Of Cuba, near Mariel at a
small place called salada dBanes
When morning broke, to the sur
prise and alarm Of every one, the ting
was found to be just Of Havana and
within Q mile q the guns Of Morro
Costle Allhaste was made to move to
the westward, and 1t o'clock Monday
morning the Cuban pilot pointed ont
the place and the tug was run within
1000 yards If The shore Capt Dorst