The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-06-03
TO BLOW UP MORTAR.
Men Discovered While Making an
&s Attack on Key West
FortlfICationa.

Key West, Fla. May 27.-s:35 a. m.
"A sergeant of artillery on duty at a
mortar battery near Fort Taylor, was
fired upon early this morning by three un-
known men, whom he says he knows to
be spaniards: The fire was promptly re-
turned, but the men escaped.
The affair, which is involved in a good
deal of mystery, began yesterday after
noon, where three swarthy men made an
attempt to enter the gate of the reserva-
ton, but were summarily turned off by
the sentry. No further attention was
given to the incident until last night,
when, between 10 and II o'clock the SER
g e ut Of the artillery guard. near the NOR
men a few yards ahead of him. Almost
simultaneously with the discovery they
opened fire upon him with pistols. Three
bullets whizzed harmlcssly past the ser
geant, but a fourth lodged in the feshy
part OF his left arm, just above the elbow.
The three men then turned and fed out of
range. The sergeant sent several shots
after them and then went for the guard.
A sharp lookout was kept for the stran-
gers, and, soon after midnight, suspi-
clous noise was heard outside the gate
near which the mortar battery Is located.
An investigation resulted in the discovery
OF carriage in the street just outside the
gate. The sergeant gave orders to fire
and a volley was sent at the vehicle A
moment later, 1t appears, three men were
seen running UP the street and the fire of
the soldiers was directed upon them, but
the suspects escaped apparently un-
harmed.
The sergeant declares that on the occa-
sion OF the last visit of the strangers one
OF the latter carried suspicious-looking
packages about three feet long,
The ,hn %ho
the adventure with the three strangers, is
Charles w. Richards, Battery B, First ar
tillery.
1905 a. m.--Sergt. Richards told the
Associated press correspondent the story
of the affair. He said that at 10 o'clock
yesterday morning three men, who looked
like Spaniards, attempted to enter the
gate at the reservation, but were turned
away on three different occasions. Later
in the day he saw them lettering about
various entrances and at one of these
they fingered for nearly two hours
At $40 o'clock last night Richards,
when walking over to Fort Taylor, across
the reservation heard sounds coming from
the mortar battery close to the roadway
Getting his rifle ready he crept stcalthily
up to the path and when close by heard
voices say: "Jim, get the package"
The sergeant then entered the pit and
saw a man who was coming out with
three-foot package in his hands. Richards
aimed his rifle at the man and ordered
Hands up" but without an instants hest
tation the stranger blazed away with a
revolver. Two shots flew past the soldier
and he dropped to his knees as d third
bullet ploughed through the flesh of his
arm, above the elbow.
After the three shots, the mysterious as
sailant of the sergeant turned and fled at
top speed towards the road, Richards fir
ing one shot after the fugitive, missing
him. He saw the man leap into car
riage just outside the gate in which were
ted two other men, and the trio drove
furiously away.
The suddenness of the attack caught
Richards unawares, and the men were
out of range before he could bring his
rifle to bear upon them effectively.
Shortly after midnight Sergt. Richards.
with several artillerymen, returned to the
mortar pits to see if all was right As
they drew near ii figure darted out and
sped to the road. Richards recognized
this figure as the man who had shot at
him, and ordered Private Gates to fire.
But the suspect was again too agile and
the one shot fred went wild.
I'VE chased him some distance" said
Richards, but he got away. At the
road we found long Cuban cigarette
dropped by him and Still burning He
was about 6 feet tall, had very black
mustache and wore pillow coat. l am
satisfied that all three men were Span
iards, and that the package contained
dynamite with which they intended to de-
stroy the battery
Richards, whose wound is of a trif1ing
nature, was emphatic in his assertions of
treachery, and added: There are other
details which I am not permitted to re-