Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-20

OK that afternoon they threatened TO POM
bard him and his troopers with dynamite
guns.
DYNAMITE GUNS IN THE STREET..
III appearances are worth anything.
the cuban Officers intended 10 be as sood
as their word. The dynamite guns were
planted in the street and the range ixeu
Tor effective work. Meantime, Cupahs
ana Ienth Cavalry troopers were scah-
ming watch dials with feverish interest
Il am free TO admit" explained Colo
mel Decker, that did not care to remain
In the fort. knew something about the
destructive character OF dynamite guns
and / did not care to experiment with
them from the muzzle end. Moreover,
was certain i could do more toward pla-
eating the enraged Cubans If i labored
with their officers. AS the situation
grew more and more intense with the APP
proach OF o'clock the negro troopers be-
gan gradually to sneak away from the
fort, and when the critical hour had al
most arrived. every mothers son Of them
had deserted and gone over to Jose
Gomez's camp. where they were discuss
ing the aspect OF affairs. There was
quite an amusing feature In the indiifer-
ence OF Lieutenant Johnson to his rate
for, while his troopers were sneaking
away, he himself, worn out with exhaus-
ton. had fallen asleep in the fort
1.-THE upshot of II all, after the desertion
OF the troopers. was a promise from
Jose Gomez that the Americans could
have the fort for five days. This ola
not, however, placate Lieutenant john
son and the Cuban officers. After dark
some very hot compliments were passed.
Then the troopers who had deserted
learning that a compromise was in pros
pect, returned to the fort. Later In the
evening after their return, While Lieu
tenant Johnson and myself were taking
the deserters rode along in tours. turned
and as they passed back they drew their
revolvers and fired in the direction where
the Lieutenant was supposed TO be. The
bullets whizzed all about us, and the
cursings of the soldiers, who disliked
Lieutenant Johnson, could be heard plain
" as they discharged their revolvers.
There can be no doubt Of their intention
TO Kill him. because several bullets struck
all around him.
ARREST OF LIEUTENANT JOHNSON.
1.-The friction between the Lieutenant
and Jose Gomez continued; and, soon a.
ter the former was fired upon by his own
soldiers, he was placed under arrest and
negro troopers were then commanded by
Captain Richard b. Clews, an English
man, who was serving in the Cuban army,
and a nephew OF Henry Clews, the New
York banker. He retained tho command
from the latter part Of July Till near the
close of the war. Since leaving Cuba !
have heard that Lieutenant Johnson sub
sequently made his way to the north
coast Of Cuba, and that he has reached
Tampa with only twelve men Of his
troopers.
1.-THE negroes Lieutenant Johnson com
manded," concluded Colonel Decker,
were about the worst characters in the
Tenth Cavalry. 1t was a skeleton com
pany, made up after it was decided TO
send Lieutenant Johnson on scout duty
in Cuba. When the company officers were
asked to furnish a quota OF men for this
expedition they naturally gave up the
men that had caused them the most
trouble. It is easy 70 see what kind OF
soldiers the valiant Lieutenant received"