The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-05-19

New York. May II. The Evening
Post Prints the following. dated off
CabanaS. Cuba: In an effort TO land
Companies T. and g Of the First Unit
ed States infantry on the shore OF
Pinar del Rio Yesterday afternoon
with 1000 rifles. 5000 rounds Of am
munitiOn AMI some food supplies for
the insurgents, the first land fight OF
the war took place. Each side may
claim Il victory. for If the Spaniards
frustrated the effort 10 connect with
the insurgents, the Americans got de-
cidedly the better of the battle, kill
ing twelve or more of the enemy, ana
Oh their own part suffering not
wound. After dark last evening the
Old-faShioned Side-wheel steamer Gus
sic. of the Morgan line. with the
troops and cargo mentioned, started
for the Cuban coast. All night she
allowed the tug Oh which was your
correspondent. 10 pilot her. At sunrice
she fell in with the gunbOat Nicks-
burg. on the blockade. off Havana.
Other hlockading vessels came up also.
The converted revenue cutter Man
ming. Capt. William NJ. Munger, was
detailed to convoy the GuSSie, and.
three abreast, the steamers moved
along the coast. Ne doubt Moro cas-
lies defenders observed the strange
vessel and sent the alarm ahead.
Spanish soldiers were seen grouped
on the shore near Mariet. and the
Manning'S guns were trained upon
them, suSpecting a muskct battery.
No shots were fired. however. The
Cuban guides on the GuSSie took their
machcteS to "rindStOne on the hur-
riCanc deck. our soldiers gathered
around 10 see them sharpen their long
knives. but only could he induced to
test the edge of these barherOus in
StrumentS with their thumbs. Then
they withdrew aft TO play craps un-
Ill body of cavalry on Il hill west of
Marict brought them 10 their rifles.
For some minutes the cavalry watched
us. then galloping over the hill in the
direction we were heading. BY the
ruined walls of IN old stone house
further Oh Spanish troops were gath.
cred.
Several SHOTS We're Fired
10y the gunboat Manning and present
~ no troops were visible 1t had been
decided to land near here, but the
depth of water was rot favorable.
Just west of Port Cabanas harbOr the
Gussic anchored the Manning cover
ing the landing place with her guns
and the torpedo boat Wasp came up to
assist. The first American soldier to
step on the Cuban shore from this eX-
petition was Lieut.. CrOfton, Capt.
O'COnnOr. with the first boat having
gone a longer route. \ reef near the
beach threw the men out and they
stumbled through the water up to
their breasts. When they reached
dry land they Immediately went into
the bush 10 form Il picket line. Two
horses had been lowered to swim 10
land. when suddenly rife shot. fol-
lowed by continuous sharp firing,
warned the men that the enemy had
been in waiting. The captain Of the
transport signalled 10 the warships
and the Manning fired into the woods
beyond our picket line. ShrapneH
Missed through the air like hot iron
plunkcd in water. The Wasp opened
with her small guns. The cannonadc
lasted Il quarter of an hour. then our
pickcts appeared. the ships circled
round, and being told by Capt O'Con-
nor. who had come from shore. where
the spauiardS were. orc hundred shots
more were fired in that direction.
anybody hurt. captain" asked
your correspondent. None Of our
mcR. but we have shot twelve Span
iardS," he shouted back. The soldiers
on board the GusSic heard the news
without II word. but hearing where
the enemy was situated gathered aft
on the upper deck and sent several
vollcS into the spot The pickctS re-
turned 10 the bush. Several crcDt
along the beach. bat the Standards
had drawn back. Ii was decided that
the soldiers should embark on the
Gussic and that the guides should
take the horses and seek the inSur-
gents and make Il new appointment.
They rode off To the westward ana
disappeared around a point.
say" shouted man from Company
g, after them. You forgot Your