The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-28
SPANISH SPIES AT KEY WEST

Key West, Fla, May PA sergeant of
artillery on duty at a mortar battery near
! Fort Taylor, was dred upon early this
morning by three unknown men, whom
he says he knows TO be Spaniards. The
fire was promptly returned. but the men
escaped.
The affair which is involved in a good
deal of mystery. began yesterday after
! noon when three swarthy men made an
! attempt TO enter the gate of the reserva-
ton but were summary turned off by
/ the sentry. No further attention was Civ
en- to the incident until last night. when
between 10 and i o'clock the sergeant Of
the artillery guard, near the mortar bat
terry, discerned the figures OF three men
a few yards ahead of him Almost sim
ultaneously with the discovery thew 3D.
ened fire upon him with pistols Three
bullets whizzed harmlessly past the ser
geant, but a fourth lodged in the feshy
part Of his lef. arm above the elbow. The
men then turned and fed ont of range.
The sergeant sent several shots after them
and then went for the guard.
sharp lookout was kent for The
strangers and soon after midnight sus-
picious noise was heard outside the gate
near which the mortar battery "a located
An investigation resulted in :hed tscoverv
Of carriage in the street lust outside
the gate. The sergeant gave orders TO
fire volley into he vehicle. A momer,,
later, it appears. three men were seen
running up the stree; and the fire Of the
soldiers was directed upon them. but the
suspects escaped epp4ttntlv unframed
Tie sergeant deeia-os that On the occa-
sion of the last visit OF the stranzc-s ore
OF the latter carried a suspiciaus !.aflng
package about three feet long.
The sergeant who was the DrInc:0a! in
the adventure with the three straugers Is
Charles w. Richards, battery b. First az
ti,lery.
Sergeant Richards told the Associated
Press correspondent the story Of The az
fair. He said tina tat 70 oclock Yesterday
morning, three men. who looked Tx,
Spaniards, attempted TO enter The gate D.;
the reservation but were turned away.
On three different occasions later in he
day he saw the lettering about various en-
frances, and at ore Of these .hev fingered
for nearly two hours. At Gas las; nsaht
Richards. when walking over - ro-t
Taylor. across the reservation. heard
A@'----NS NeAiA-t4S rum N44c sE9E-4r battery.
close to the roadway. Getting his rife
ready he crept s5ealthiIy up % the UT and
when close by heard voices say: Jim.
get the package"
The sergeant then entered The nit ana
confronted a stranger who was Corning
out with three-fot package in ais hand. /
Richards aimed his rife at The man ard
ordered hands up but WITHOUT an IN
stant's hesitation the stranger b.azed +
away with a revolver Nnica - appsr- 4
entity had drawn and ready. Two sho,s
few past the soldier and he dropped 10 rs /
knees as third oulle, ploughed through +.
the fieshy par; OF his ler: arm. ABOVE me /
elbow.
After the three shots. the mysterious I
assailant Of the sergeant turned ard ed
at top speed toward the road Richards .
hiring one sho, after the fugitive ard mss T!
ing him. He saw the man leap INTO 4
carriage just outside the gate in which (
were seated two other men and the trio +.
drove furousiy away.
The suddenGess OF the attack caught
Richards unawares and the men were o,is
Of range before he could bring his rife
10 bear upon them effectively.
Shortly after midnight Sergezn; Rich
ards. with several ars.llerymen. returned