New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-06
HOW GTANICA WAS CAPTURED
ARRIVAL OF MILES'S ARMY -GLOUCES-
TER'S GOOD WORK IN CLEARING
THE WAY FOR LANDING

Guani,a, Porto Rico, July 25-When The
Associated Press dispatch boat Cynthia II ar
rived at Guantanamo Bay last Thursday. July
81. at p. m. and reported to Commander r. X.
McCalla OF the Marblehead and was promptly
ordered TO hoist the yellow Gag. as she had
touched at Santiago de Cuba those on board
Of her had no idea Of going Porto Rico. But.
some ships having been noticed in the ofing. the
dispatch boat hailed the flagship New-York.
asking for their Identification. which brought
back the reply ny megaphone:
That Is General Miles and his squadron. They
have started for Porto Rico
Thereupon the dispatch boat promptly put to
| sea and followed the transports and their con-
voyirg warships to Porto Rico.
| For four days and nights. through stormy
weather, abreast Of the Gloucester. the dis
! patch boat pitched and tossed into a head sea,
to the great discomfort OF those board.
The transports slower than the por-
poises that cumsily gamboed around them.
and there was a great feeling OF relief when
General Miles. en- Sunday morning. headed south
by west into the Mona Passage. and II became
known that the southern and not the northern
coast OF Porto Rico 10 be the scene OF tie
landing OF the American Army the island Of
Porto Rico.
Early on Monday morning the Gloucester. for
merly J Pierpont Morgan's steam yacht the
Corsair. commanded by LieutenantCommander
Wainwright, turned boldly toward the Porto
Rican coast end steamed into a harbor which
the chart showed to be that OF Guanica Stead
ilv the Gloucester went ahead Of the Massa-
chusetts. the Yale and the Columbia, not to
mention the tardy transports. her lead line con-
,ar ma N pOirfinQ
outside the points which embraced the harbor.
tho safest anchorage for the big warshps.
Az the Massachusetts and her consorts let so
their anchors Lieutenant Commander VAIN
wright headed the Gloucester into the port. and
FOR q time she was lost TO view. Shortly after
ward the reports OF her 6-pounde were heard
and then silence followed.
The dispatch- boat thereupon obtained perrfs-
sion 10 enter the harbor. and steamed in after
the Gloucester
The harbor OF Guanica is exquisite place
a vertable haven OF rest. with high mountains
for background. a bay Of considerable extent.
a plateau of cultivated meadowiand stretching
from the beach to the mountains. a sco.e or so
of prettily painted houses on the line or tho
shore a sugar mill on the right, tiockhouse
distant couple Of miles on the let. ana. de
rectlv in front of the place. a small log house
before which hoated the Spanish Tag.
LAUNCH LANDS THIRTY SAILORS
AS the dispatch boat entered the harbor those
on hoard of her saw the launch OF the Glouces-
ter with a rapd-fire Colt gun in her bow. land
about thirty sailors under Lieutenant Huse. The
little party promptly advanced on the run to the
snot from which the flag floating The red
and yellow of Spain quickly hauled down.
and then up went the stars and Stripes on the
Spanish flagstaff as a hearty cheer echoed over
plains and heights
few minutes later there n spiteful spat-
ter Of bullets around the Gloucester and the dis
on Itch boat from a squad OF Spanish soldiers
who we're concealed in the houses Up the main
street OF iuanica. which runs direct from the
beach In less time than it takes To tell II the
guerilla like foes who had not fired a shot
while their flag up. fleeing in every
direction before the answering fire OF the Amer
cans ashore, backed up by the guns u the
Gloucester. On board OF which even the doctor
and paymaster took hand in serving the
pieces.
The four 6-pounders OF the converted yacht
merrily shelled the blockhouse and the hills to
the west. sending some Spanish cavalry. who
were on their way to reinforce Guanca. scurry-
ing toward the mountains like jack-rabbits be-
fore a prairie fire.
OPENING FIRE ON sPANIARDs.
Ashore. Lieutenant Huse and his men had
not been idle. They threw up an intrenchment
across the street. mounted the Colt rapid-fre
gun on It's centre. tangled some barbed wire
in front OF the intrenchment to repel a possible
cavalry charge. signalled for reinforcements
and then opened fire on the spaniards with the
Colt. with the result that four of the enemy
were killed. while not one American was even
wounded.
It was only a skirmish after all. but It was a.
gallant little scrimmage a. one would wish