Evening star., 1898-05-31
Cuban Patriot Lands Important Ex-
pedition for the Insurgents.
TOOK ARMS and AMMUNITION
Leader Of the Party Has Had a
Romantic Experience.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER

Cuba, having successfully landed a most
important expedition on the island.
TIE expedition was landed on the coast
of Cuba on Thursday morning, May 26.
When the Florida, escorted by the Os-
ceola, drew up close to the shore at the
place selected for the landing she sent
scouts to see If all was clear. These scouts
were greeted by GeEs. Feria and Rojas
with some 1,JO0 armed insurgents. Conse
quently, far from there being any hostile
demonstration upon the part of the Span
iaids, the landing cf the expedition was in
the nature of a triumphal invasion. The
CUbans who were in waiting for the party
had brass band and welcomed the new
comers with national airs.
The work of unloading the cargo of the
Florida was promptly begun and carried on
by the 49, men composing the expedition.
There was nothing in the nature of inter-
rCption until the work was finished on
Friday.
OsceOla Did Scout Duty.
While the cargo was being unloaded the
Osceola, an auxiliary gunboat, with her
guns ready for action. secuted about the
vicinity looking for an enemy, but the Span
iardS apparently hau no suspicion of what
was taking place. So easily was the dan
gercus mission accomplished that while
some members of the party were going
with the supplies ashore, others were pro-
viding themselves with fruit, sugar and
other products of the landing place, large
stock Of which was brought back for key
West friends.
Nevertheless. no precautionary measure
was neglected, and the moment the work
was concluded the Florida and the OsccoIl
slipped away, leaving the insurgents to
convey their reinforcements into the IN
terror, which, 1t is confidently expected, was
done without any casualty.
The returning members of the Florida
party brought with them several hundred
private letters. which, 1t is understood, give
a complete insight into the present condi-
tions prevailing in the blockaded island.
The local Cuban colony is elated over the
success of the expedition.
The Lacret Expedition.
Copyright, 1873. by the Associated Press.)
KEY WEST. Fla, May 31.-Nearly 400
men. with pack train and large quanti
ty of arms and amml milton, sailed for
Cuba on the Plant line steamer Florida on
the night 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. Jose Llcret, formerly insurgent
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. ]. A. Dorst, and Tomas Estrada
Palma was represented 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
will return to Key West. Gen. Julio San
gully, on the way to report to General
Maxine Gomez, was also on the boat.
A Powerful Expedition.
expedition ever sent to Cuba About 800
of the men are Cubans; the others are
Americans. The engineer corps of the ex-
pedition is composed entirely of Americans,
under Auredian Ladd. The expedition is
composed of hardy young fellows, who
look fit for anything.
The men were dressed in canvas uni
forms. furnished by the United States gov
had rations enough to last fifteen days af-
ter the landing The pack train consisted
of seventy-five mules and twenty-five
horses. The expedition carried 1000 rifles
and 2,000.O00 rounds of ammunition for
General Calixto Garcia.
General Sanguilly's return to Cuba is a
remarkable incident in his extraordinary
career. His gallant services in the ten
years war; his arrest in Havana at the
beginning of the present insurrection, his
sentence to death and his release at the
intercession of Secretary Sherman on a
promise to remain outside of Cuba have
made him a 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 Cubans say that General
Gomez is likely to receive him gruffiy take
away his sword and order him to fight in
the ranks. General Gomez is a great stick
Ter for obedience.
General COllazO Reduced
General Enrique Collazo through the fall
ure of the junta to land him in Cuba after
the death of General Antonio Maceo, was
unable to take the command to which he
had been assigned. When he did reach
Cuba later with an important expedition
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 Col
lazo and Gomez are very dear friends
The expedition was conveyed by the
cruiser Marblehead. the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Eagle and other warships
Two younger brothers of the late General
Nestor Aranguren are with the expedition
When the present revolution in Cuba be-
gan General Jose Lacret Morlot, by which
title he is popularity known, secured pas
sage on the steamer Mascotte for Jamaica.
The Cubans wished to go in large numbers,
but the steamship company refused to take
them, as the trip was especially designed
for tourists. Lacret and two companions,
however. obtained passage as Frenchmen,
under assumed names. The English gov
ernment had information regarding La
cret's movements and prevented his sail
ing for Cuba from Jamaica. He then went
to Mexico and later to New York. At the
latter place he consulted with the junta
and returned to Tampa, where he remained
for some time. vainly waiting for a prom
ised exDedition The stagnation in this