The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-27

near Palo Alto, Comaguey, Wednes
day, July 6, 80 a. m.-Within 4C
yards Of NE, sitting in his hammock.
writing, is an old man called Maxine
Gomez. Camped around in the thick
cts and palm groves are 1000 Cuban
soldiers. Our expedition has succeed
ed. We have found and relieved Go
mez. And no one who is not here to
see and hear for himself can realize
how potential are those words "found
and relieved. y
I am one Of guard Of honor set
about the Cuban flag, raised a few
minutes ago to very sweet music from
three trumpeters, but have secured a
dispensation enabling me to finish up
my letters to-day, as the Florida may
start home tomorrow.
When the Florida dropped anchor
in the gray dawn Of Sunday it was
some three miles from a coast very
different from that we had skirted
from Cienfuegos to Tunas de Taxa.
It was low and swampy, and its banks
we,e densely enveloped in maugrove
thickets. But one open spot could be
seen, mud bank from which project
ed the ruins Of long and fine wharf,
built by the Yznaga family at cost
Of $50, 1000 for the export of the pro-
duce Of their estates, but burned
early in the present war by the insur-
gents to prevent the expectation Of
sugar.
A maze Of barbed wire and some
shallow graves were all that remained
to tell of Spanish fort here, stormed
by the insurgents about six months
ago. Seventeen Spaniards were ma
cheted in the assault. A shriveled
hand stuck out of an open grave. An
American on the steamer bore off a
Spanish skull. Ugh!
The Fanita had been in tow. She
was soon hauled alongside and while
an exploring party went ashore, the
Cubans. were put aboard of her in.
order that they might be taken nearer
in shore. The Peoria advanced as
far as the shoal water would permit to
cover the landing The reconnoiter-
ing party found no sign Of the Span
ish and soon the American and Cuban
flags were flying side by side on stats
erected on the broken posts OF the
pier. Then the Fanita steamed in to
within mile Of the bank and in the
two pontoons and the three boats the
Decentralization proceeded.
I landed from the charred and crazy
remnants of the pier. Seagulls perch
ed on the piles, as tame as pigeons.
There was no beach-only mud fat
leading to a sedgy marsh. Swamp
thickets were on either side and to the
northward a continuation of the marsh
for miles to distant view of woods.
It was blazing hot and the humidity
eeorfnl The only drinking water
near by was to be had from barrel
set in the shadows of the salt water,
where spring Of brackish water bub-
bled up.
I was not long at the shore. Re
turning from trip to the spring to
refill my canteen, l found that the
chief of staff withthe generals escolta
had pushed on across the marsh
toward the woods. A prospecting
party under Gen. Rafael Rodriguez Of
the Ten Years war had gone on and
the general had selected camp. Gen.
Nunez remained aboard to direct the
landing of munitions. The horses
would not be disembarked until next
day. My orders were to accompany
the chief Of staff, DR.. Nunez, the
generals brother. My impediments
was heavy No one was on the beach
to take charge of it. Finally Col.
Mendez detailed soldier, "likely"
negro lad, as my assistente or servant.
We divided the load, he taking my
saddle, hammock and hammock cover.
I my saddle bags, satchel with ammn-
milton, etc., and his Springfield rifle.
Then we started across the marsh.
With,my accroutrements my load was
fully 60 pounds, and was physically
overweight and not in condition. .
The marsh was full Of tall grass and
water and ankle deep in mud. The
sun was terri6cally hos. There was
little or no breeze. | will remember
that march to my last day. Without
such a load, or when seasoned, 1t
would be nothing-but last Sunday it
was as near hell as anything expect
to encounter this side of the real arti-
W., ,oo uoc uninformad ae