New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-11
THE UNCAS rs A BUSY BOAT.
LANDS EXPEDITIONS FOR CUBANs. AND
HAS MANY EXCITING EXPERIENCES
ON THE NORTHERN COAST.

ON THE NORTHERN COAST.
Key West. Fla. AIg. 10.-The tug Cncas,
commanded by Lieutenant +. r. Brainard re-
turned here this morning after another exciting
fortnight Of blockade duty on the North Cuban
coast The Uncas. which has been 1ocularly
termed the flagship Of the Mosquito feet.
holds the record Of the three smaller boats FOR
continuous blockade service and interesting ex-
rerences. She carries Cuban expeditions. and
lands them almost under the enemys guns: she
chases almost anything. from a raft TO battle
ship, and occupies spare moments by knock
ing over Spanish blockhouses and capturing
prizes
on this. her lates, trip. the Uncas put ashore
another expedition for Gomez, and had a dan
gerous fire in her own hold. just above the
magazines. In spite of all this she looked none
the worse when she steamed into Key West
Harbor to-day for more coal and provisions.
When the Uncas left here two weeks ago she
carried Captain Stabl. Of Gomez's staff with
six other Cubans and five hundred Reming
ton carbines and ammunition for the insurgent
commanders forces. The mex; morning an
overturned cookstove in the forecastle started
fire. She then only two or three miles OF
Havana and as the flames ragged hercely for a
few minutes a welldrected shell from any or
the land batteries would have sent her to the
hot,orn Those on board could see troops OF
Standards about the guns on shore. but no
deadly messengers came their way. and after
the fire had been extinguished by chopping
away the woodwork. the tug proceeded 10 Cay
Confites near Caibarien. where she put her little
Cuban party ashore without encountering a
Spaniard.
Then she steamed toward Natanzas. andIon
her way there while near Cardenas. torpedo
boat was sighted. close TO the shore. sending up
rockets. The natural supposition was that she
was a Spanish vessel attempting to communi-
cate with the shore. and the Uncas promptly
headed in her direction. AS she drew near the
torpedo boat turned and came out to meet her
She was then recognized as the Talbot.
1t was while lying off Matanzas. a day or two
ago. that the Uncas was fred upon. She was
within two miles Of the shore when. without
warning a sand battery OF 6 or inch guns be-
gan firing shells at her Fully twenty OF these
missiles fell around the tug. within a radius
of a hundred yards before she could get out Of
range AS she steamed away the Uncas re-
turned the fire with her three forward and after
6pounders.
Then occurred a little incident illustrating the
superstitions Of seamen The last shell from
the Uncass stern gun had just screamed its
way across the waters when a gaudy- winged
butterfly. which had blown off the shore. how
cred over the still smoking gun and settled down
on its muzze. A horny listed Irshman who
manned the gun saw 1t. threw UP his hands
and shouted 10 Lieutenant Brainard:
Say Captain. that settles II. That's the last
shot we'll fire in this war.
And there is not the tug who IS
not thoroughly convinced that the but,ernys
visit was sure forerunner Of peace