The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-19
PUCKY UTIlE gJNBOAIS
Experience of Two on
the Cuban Coast.
CONVEYING SUPPLIES

| ism Guns DssmOunte0 Iney slip
NAway in the Night and succeed In De-
nvering to Gomez at Another Point
All the Supplies.
Key West, Fla, July H.-Those
champion filibusters, the Florida and
| Fanita, under convoy Of the little aux
Hilary gunboat Peoria, which proved a
veritable daredevil, have lande the
largest and probably the last expedi-
ton sent to the aid Of the insurgents.
It was a task beset with peril and diff
fculty, costing a man his life and
wounds to half a dozen others.
Captain Manuel Nunez, brother OF
General Emilio Nunez, was killed and
five Cubans suffered trifing injuries.
How many Spanish lives answered for
this will never be known, out there
were enough to more han balance the
score.
The Florida n Fanta left Key
West Saturday, June 18th, under the
convoy Of the Peoria, commanded by
steamers were 135 Cubans under Cen
eral Nunez, fifty troopers of the Fifth
United States cavalry under Lieuten-
ants Johnson and Ahearn and twen-
ty-fve rough riders, under Winthrop
Chanler brother of Colonel William
Aston Chanle The & were
Topping the list of arms
were W. dynamite guns with $50 30
pound projectiles to fit them and two
full batteries of light field pieces, ten
3-inch rifles of regular ordnance pat
prn with harnesses that 90 with them
and 800 cartridges. In the matter of
infantry rifles there were 1000 Spring
field, with 954, 900 cartridges and 200
Mausers with 200, 600 of the wicked
shells they swallow.
On June Goth the arrived at Las
Tunas, forty miles away. Four miles
west Of the town at the mouth Of the
Tallabacoa river, stood a large fort
built of railroad iron and surrounded
by ~earthwork. The Peoria ran boldly
in and fired several shots from her g.
Founders, but brought no response. A
scouting party was organized. This
was made up of fifteen volunteers I'M
der Winthrop Chanler and as many
Cuban under Captain NuneZ. The
Peoria took a position within short
range of the fort. The boats were
beached and their occupants cauti-
ously scrambled oward the brush. At
almost the moment they set foot on
tHS SdIlOS Tic IOIl anu lie cltIO1lCu-
ments around it burst into flame and
shot and shell screamed about the lit
tie band of invaders.
J. Captain NuneZ was stepping from
his boat when a shot struck him be-
tween the eyes and he fell dead. Chan
Ter fell with a broken arm. The others
safely gained the thicket and replied
with a sharp fire directed at the en-
trenchments. Meanwhile the Peoria
set all her guns at work and rained
shells upon the fort until the enemy's
fire eased Retreat was ordered and
he party rushed for the boats, but
volley after volley came from the
shore and they were compelled to
throw themselves into the water and
paddle along side the boats with only
their heads exposed until the ships
were reached The Spaniards had the
range, however, and five Cubans were
wounded, though none seriously.
Returning to the Peoria the men re-
ported that a vicious fire had come
from a grove of %cacOanut palms which
extended to the eastward Of the fort.
The Peoria opened fire on the place
and must have killed many Spaniards
for her shells dropped into the smoke
and flash Of he dversaries' fire, ST.
fenced it at once and forced them to
send up rockets for help.
The next day the gunboat Helena
olAo 4looy IlOI1llIS BIC LIN
the Peoria steamed in toward Las
Tunas which the Spaniards had been
vigorously fortifying. Tunas is con-
nected by rail with Santi Spiritus, a
town of considerable size and rein
forcements and artillery had been
rapidly coming in. The Spaniards had
several Krupp field pieces Of 8 or 4
inches, mounted OF earthworks along
the water front and they began a Wig
orous, but ill directed reply to the
ships fire. The Spanish gunners had
not fired more than fifteen or twenty
shots before their guns were flying in
the air, their earthworks a mass of
blood-stained dust and their gunners
running for their lives. Both the
Peoria and the Helena were struck
several times, but no one on either
ship was injured.
That afternoon both ships again
turned their attention to the fort and
the entertainments at the mouth Of
the river and for half an
hour poured a wicked fire upon them.
That night the SpaniarGS burned a
large wharf and the adjacent build
ings, evidently expecting a landing in
| force the next day.
1t was learned from various sources
that achievements were pouring into
Tunas from all directions. 1t was de-
termined to proceed during the night
with the landing expedition to Palo
Alto, fifty miles to the eastward, the
Helena remaining at Las Tunas to
make the Spaniards believe an at
tempt was to be made to land there.
At 10 o'clock p. m. Saturday, July I'd.
the Peoria and the Fanita, with all
lights out, slipped silently away.
There was not a Spaniard to be seen
when they reached Palo Alto at day
break and the men n cargo were
put ashore without an obstacle.