The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-15
AN EXPEDITION
LANDS IN CUBA.
They Had a Cargo Of Munitions of
War and Met With Sharp Fighting.
ONE KILLED AND ONE WOUNDED.
Captain Winthrop Chanier. OF New
York, Shot i'm the Arm-The Span
iards Led Them Into Ambush
and Opened Deadly Fire.

mas been landed. attetl a 2 sharp
light. and after the cost OF one life tnat
OF Colonel Nunez. brother Of the CUBAN
general. and the wounding of Captain
Winthrop Chanler. OF New YORK. Inc
Spanish loss is unknown The debarka-
tion was effected on July Sd, at Palo Alto
on the southern coast Of cuba, but hsht-
ing occurred before them.
The Florida and Fdnita left Key West
on Saturday June 18th. under the con-
voy OF the Peoria commanded by Lieu
tenant T.. w Ryan. Fifth of the Cuoans
aboard her were armed with Mausers and
the others had Springfields For the
insurgent officers were provided 200 army
Colt revolvers and q 600 cartridges. TWO
hundred books OF United States cavalry
and infantry tactics. translated into
Spanish were taken along. In the expe-
dition were also Las saddles go saddle
cloths and 40 brides. For the Cub1ns,
there were 1868 uniforms. 1888 brown cam
vass OF {he army fatigue and the ball
ance cotton and linen of the pattern OF
the Mexican troops. $3.50 pairs Of army
shoes. 1875 army blankets. 400 shirts, 40
hats and go hammocks.
COAfMIsSARY STORES.
These were the commissary store car
riod. calculated by pounds: Bacon, sI.275;
cornmeal. 81 go: roasted coffee. 10 300.
ana beef. $500; canned beef. 1900; beans
1880; hard tack. 1850: cans OF corn. 1880.
The expectation was that the landing
would be effected at San Juan point on
the south coast Of cuba. midway between
Cienfuegos and Trinidad but the enemy
appeared in force and the project was
abandoned. on June 3Oth they arrived at
Las Tunss forty miles away. Four miles
west Of the town az the mouth Of the
Talabacoa river stood a large fort built
Of railroad iron and surrounded by earth
works. The Peoria ran boldly in and FIR
ed several shots from her three pound
ers, but brought no response
scouting party was organized. This
was made mp of fifteen volunteers under
Winthrop Chanler and as many Cubans
under Captain Nunez.
THE AMBUSH
The Peoria took position within short
range Of fort. The boats were beached
and their occupants cautiously scrambled
toward the brush. At almost the moment
they set foot on the sand the fort and
entertainments around It burst into fame
and shot and shells screamed about the
little band Of invaders. Captain Nunez
was stepping from his boat when
shot struck him between the eyes and
he fell dead Chanler fell with a broken
arm The other gained the thicket and
replied with sharp fire directed at the
entertainments.
THE PEORIA AT WORK.
Meanwhile the Peoria set her guns AT
work and rained shells upon the fort until
treat was ordered. and the party
rushed for the boats. but volley and
Volley came from the shore. and they
We're compelled 10 throw themselves into
the water and paddle alongside the boats,
with only their heads exposed. until the
chips Were reached
The Spaniards had the range. however,
and five Cubans were wounded. though
none seriously. Returning 10 the Peoria,
they reported that a vicious fire had come
itom a grove OF cOcOanut palms. which
extended TO the eastward of the fort.
The Peoria opened fire on the place. and
must have killed many Spaniards, for her
shells dropped into the moke and flash
OF the adversarys fire, silenced II at
once and forced them 10 send up rockets
THE HELENA ARRIVES.
The next day the gunbOat Helena ar
rived, and Friday morning she and the
Peoria steamed i'm toward Las Tunas,
which the Spaniards has been vigorously
terrifying. Tunas is connected by ran
with Sancu Spiritus. a town OF consider
able, and relnfOrcements and artillery
had been rapidly coming in. Range buoys
these. the ships drew in close. and opened
fire. The Spanlards had several krupp
nelL vieccs OF three or four Inches
mounted on earthw0rks along the water
front and they began a vigorous but Ill
49, TaE MEN ABOARD.
on the steamers were l3J Cubans under
Nunez. 80 United States troopers under
Johnston and Ahern. and - Rough
Riders under Winthrop Chanler. brother
OF Colonel William Aston Chanler. The
cargOes were enormous. Topping the
list of arms were two dynamite guns,
with 40 3-pOund DrOjectiles TO lit them,
and two fun batteries Of light field pieces,
ten 3-inCh rifles of regular ordnance pat
tern, with harnesses that go with them,
and 1900 cartridges. In the matter of
infantry rifles there were 1000 Spring
fields with Jj4.Ov cartridges. and 30
Mausers. with 10000 of the wicked shells
they swallow.
The ire Of our ships was accurate and
destructive. The Spanish gunners had
not fired more than fifteen or twenty
shots before their guns were flying In the
air their earthwOrks "A mass Of blood
stained dust. and their gunners running
for their lives. Both the Peoria and He
lena were struck several times but no
one on either ship was injured. Ihat
afternoon both ships again turned their
attention 10 the fort and the entre:ch-
ments az the mouth OF the Tallacoa river,
and for half an hour poured u wicked
BURNED A WHARF.
That night the Spaniards burned large
wharf and the adjacent buildings, evi-
IDENTIFY expecting "A landing in force the
next day. 10 was learned from various
sources that reinfOrcements were pour
ing into Las Tunas from all directions.
IN was determined 10 proceed during me
night with the landing expedition TO Palo
Alto nifty miles 10 the eastward the
Helena remaining at Las Tunas TO make
the Spaniards believe an attempt was 10
be made 70 land there.
Al 10 o'clock Saturday. July Cd, the
Peoria Florida and Fanlta, with all ngnts
out. slipped silently away There was
moi a Spaniards seen when they reached
Palo Alto at daybreak. and the men and
cargo were put ashore without an OBJ
'''- GOMEZ APPEARED.
Gomez. with 1900 men, was known 70
be in the vicinity. and scouts hurried 70
his lines. on Monday. July ATM the
grizzled old warrior appeared In person
over the end OF an abandoned wharf, ana
"a conference was held. There were pres
snf beside General Gomez Lieutenant
Rvan and Ensign ". g. David. OF the
Peoria. Lleutenants Johnson and Ahern.
of Inc Tenth United States Cavalry;
VRidi,or-C;eneral Freye. OF the provisional
.,oyerEment. General NuneZ. Colonel MI
nez and Major kole;r,,,, nr,cr,rr
~ PLEASED AT THE RESULT.
The veteran COMMANDMENT chief SAID
no vas greatly pleased AZ the successtui
resuIt OF the expedition. which he thought
would exercise an important influence
49, the war lie outlined a plan OF
camnaign. which he later submitted IN
,rrifinp 10 Lieutenant Ryan Tor trailSihis-
sion M President Mckinley.
II was subsequently learned tnat az" n
,rg the fight at Las Tunas that nve