Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-15

| was done to the ships and thov
withdrew. 'ffr
That night, the spaniards burned
large wharf and the adjacent builiin,s
evidently expecting a landing in So
the next day
~ was learned from various so,,.o..
that achievements were pouring -
Las Tunas from all directions. n nom,
paper from Sancti Spirltus saving ~.
1000 men had been dispatched from the
nearest trocha. II was determined to pro.
coed during the night with the lan1,n,
|cxpediti0n to Palo Alto, 30 miles IN ~.
eastward. the Helena remaining ~ Ia,
Tunas to confirm the Spaniards in ,ha
belief. that an attempt was to be mads
to land there.
AT 10 o'clock Saturday night. JrIv !,
while the Helena lay off shore. MAKING
lively play with aler searchIights toward
the shore, the Peoria. the Florida and
the Fanita. with all lights out. slipped
silently away. Palo AHo was reached AZ
daybreak. There was not a Spaniar1 to
De seen and the men and cargo we're put
ashore without n single obstacle
Gomez with 2o0 men, was known to be
in the vicinity, and scouts hurried into
his lines. On July 4, the old warrior an
pcared in person at Pafo Alto. An avn
ing was spread over the end Of the aban-
doned wharf and a conference was held
There We're present besides Gen. Gomez
Lieut.. Ryan and Ensign W. c. David Of
the PEORIA Lieuts. johnson and Ahearn
OF the 10th T. S. Cavalry; Auditor Cen
eral Froyrea Andrade of the provisional
Gen. Nunez, Col. Nunez and
Mai. Rojo.
The veteran ommander-ln-chief said he
was greatly pleased with the success of
the expedition, which he thought would
exercise an important influence upon the
war. He outlined a plan of campaign.
which he later submitted In writing to
Lieut.. Ryan for transmission to President
The 10th Cavalry have dubbed the Peo-
ria "the little Dewey because of her
yalor. She had arrived from the North
Dnly a few days before taking out the ex-
petition and this was her first war ex-
under fire four times in IS hours.
Her batteries are four Hotchkiss 3-pound-
FRS. two Hotchkiss revolving cannon and
me Colt repeating rifle.
Il was subsequently learned that during
he fight at Las Tunas. five buildings IN
the town were completely destroyed by
ne fire from the American guns. while
q were partly destroyed. and eight
,chooners which happened to be in range
were sunk and burned.
When Winthrop Chanler fell wounded.
Drs. Lund and Abbott carried him into
he brush and all three sank up to their
lecks in a swamp. Dr. Lun1. who was
formerly German army surgeon and
who Is giant in strength, managed to
y ricatc himself. stripped off his cloth
ne with the papers and eatables which
ne carried. and which still lie somewhere
n the thckrr. and swan naked and in
darkness 20 find the ships.
y boa, from the Florida picked him up
tn4 he was taken over TO the Peoria. As
he strange figure clamberel up the lad
Ter. the sentry on guard at the gangway
hallenGcd him, but DR. Lund brushed
,aSt him ana strobe in all his nahedness
~ % Lieut. Ryan. gave the customary
ormal salute, and with the utmost gray
IL said: II have to report that the men
shore require assistance"
When Chanier and Abbott were res
utd 4. they were still in the water up to
heir necks. but except for Chanler's
sight wound in the elbow. they were
lant the worse for their experience.