New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-15
LANDING AID FOR CUBANS.
THE LITTLE PEORIA COVERS HERSELF
WITH GLORY.

Key West. Fla. July 14.-T'hose champion
f1ibustsrs the Florida and the Fanlta, unoer
convoy Of the little auxiliary gunboat Feoria'
which has proved herself a daredevil. nave
landed the largest and probably the last expe-
dition sent to the aid Of the insurgents 1t was
task beset with peril and difficulty. costing one
WAN his life and wounds 10 half a dozen
Others
CAPTAIN Jose Manuel Nunez brother OF Cen
eral Emilio Nunez, was killed; Winthrop Chan
Ter Of New-York was shot through the right
allow and FIVE Cubans suffered trihing inju-
ries How many Spanish lives answered FOR this
will never he known but there were enough 10
make the score more than balance
The debarkation was effected on July 8. at
palo Alto on the southern coast Of Cuba, but
the fighting occurred before then. and the con-
summation Of the task was without mlsnap. 10
the Peoria one Of the newest OF the acquisi-
tons 10 the mosquito feet, goes the full glory
OF the achievement She was until lately
pilot boat at Philadelphia
The Florida and the Fanita left Key west on
saturday. June % under the convoy Of the
Peoria commanded by Lieutenant I. W. Ryan
On board the steamers were $50 Cubans. under
General Emilio Nunez. fifty troopers OF the
10th United States Cavalry. under 1leutenants
johnson and Ahearn, and twenty-five Rough
Riders under Winthrop Chaner brother OF Col
onel William Astor Chanler. The cargoes we're
enormous There were the horses OF the cav
airy. and 1s9 sacks OF oats and COG bales Of
hay TO feed them. Topping the list Of arms were
two dynamite guns with $50 30-pound pro-
jectles to fit them and two full batteries or light
field pieces ten 3-inch rifles OF regular ordnance
pattern. with harnesses that go with them. ana
$500 cartridges. In infantry rifles there were
1000 Springfelds with $4,000 cartridges. and
200 Mausers with 900 OF the wicked shells
they throw.
Fifty Of the Cubans aboard were armed with
Mausers, and the others had SprinShelds For
the insurgent officers we're provided 200 Army
Colts and $1,000 cartridges. Two hundred hooks
OF United States cavalry and infantry tactic,
translated into Spanish were taken along. In
the expedition were also 40 saddles. $50 sad
dle-cloths and 400 brides For the Cuban SOL
ders there were taken 1868 uniforms. 2.'"3
brown canvas Of the Army fatigue and the rest
cotton and linen OF the Mexican troops: o,oso
pairs Of army shoes. 1910 army blankets. GOD
shirts $50 hats and go hammocks.
These were the commssary stores carried. cal
culated by pounds: Bacon. GI2i5; cornmeal.
1850: roasted coffee 10000: raw coffee. 32oo
sugar, 1926; mess pork and beef $500; canned
beef. "a 900 beans 1890: bareback. 1850
cans Of corn. 1.250
LANDING THE CARGO
It was a precious cargo for the little boat 70
guard but how well she did II the sequel shows.
The expectation was that the landing would he
effected at San Juan Point. on the south coast OF
Cuba midway between Cienfuegos and Trini-
dad This place was reached Wednesday even
ing June % A scouting party put off In a
small boat and pulled toward shore. but had
made only half the distance when there came
a lively fire from what had been taken TO he an
abandoned blockhouse. near the point. They had
not reckoned on this. and the men were called
back and the three ships moved 10 the east
ward About 4 o'clock the next afternoon they
arrived at Las Tunas. forty miles away. -Four
miles west OF the town. at the mouth OF the
Tallabacoa River stood a large fort built or
railroad iron and surrounded by earthworks
The Peoria ran boldly in and fred several shots
from her 3-pounders. but brought no response
and no signs of life. Here thought to be
the desired opportunity. and another scouting
party was orgarized. This was made up Of NJ
teen volunteers under Winthrop Chanler. and as
many Cubans under Captain Nunez
The Peoria took a position within short range
Of the fort to protect a landing or cover a re.
treat, as circumstances might determine. ano
the small boats headed for the shore They
reached II 500 yards east OF the fort; the boats
were beached. and their occupants cautiously
scrambled toward the brush. But again they
had reckon.d without their host At almost
the moment they set foot the sands. the
fort and the entertainments around IT burst into
flame, and shot and shell screamed about the
little party of invaders.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN SUNEz
Captain Nunez was stepping from his boat
when a shot struck him clean between the eyes
and he went down dead Chanler fell with
broken arm The others safely gained the
thicket and replied with sharp fire directed
at the intrenchments. Meanwhile the Peoria set
all her guns at work and rained shells on the
fort until the ensmy's fire ceased. The moment
the gunboat slackened fire however the Spanish
fire was renewed with fury. and IL became ev:-
dent that their forces were too large to attempt
landing there A retreat was ordered. and
the party rushed for the boats. but volley after
volley came from the shore. and they were COM
PEELED To throw themselves into the water and
paddle alongside the boats with only their heads
exposed until the ships were reached. The
Spaniards had the range. however and even at
this distance five Cubans were wounded. though
mono seriously.
Returning 10 the Peoria the men reported
that a vicious fire had come from a grove OF
cocoanut palms which extended to the eastward
OF the fcrt. The Peoria summary opened her
guns on the place indicated. and must have
killed many Spanards. for her shells dropped
into the smoke and flash Of the adversaries'
fire sllenced It at once, and forced them TO
send up rockets for help. number OF volleys
were sent at the Peoria. with view TO disabling
her gunners. but they were badly directed. and
fell against hey side and into the water
tba
dark Then the discovery made that. be-
sides Captain Nuncz, whose body was left on
the beach. there missing Chaner Lund
and Abbott. and Lieutenant Agramonte and two
Cubans 1t was reported that Chanler had been
IN: u:crdad and knr.t in thu h,,shas