The Portland daily press., 1898-07-26
THU FIRST SKIRMISH.
The Landing Easily Made and the
Prospects Now Good.

Thursday evening with the Massachu-
setts, Capt. f. j. Higginson. leading.
Capt. Higginson was in charge of the
naval expedition which consisted of the
Columbia, Dixie, Gloucester and Yale.
Gen. Miles was on board the last named
vessel. The troops were on board the
transports ssNeuces, Lampasas, Comanohe,
Rita, Unionist, Saltwater, City of Macon
and Specialist. This was tho order in
which the transports entered the harbor
here. The voyage from Guantanamo bay
10 this port was uneventful.
Early this morning the Gloucester, in
charge of Lieut. Commander Wainwright,
steamed into Guanica harbor in order to
reoonnoiter the place. With the feet
waiting outside. the gallant little fight
sng yacht Gloucester braved the mines
which were supposed to be in this harbor
and, upon sounding, found that there
were five fathoms of water in shore.
Guanica Bay is q quiet place, surrounded
by cultivated lands. In the rear are high
mountains and close to the beach nestle q
village Of about 90 houses.
The Spaniards were completely taken
by surprise. Almost the first they knew
Of the approach of the army of invasion,
WIS the ring of gun from the Glouces-
ter saucily demanding the Spaniards
haul down the flag OF Spain, which was
floating from Flagstaff in front of a
blockhouse standing to the east of the
village. The first couple Of three pound
ers were fired into the hills right and left
of the bay and in order to scare the
enemy. The s1ghtlng yacht purposely
avoided firing into the town. She then
hove to within about GOO yards of the
shore and lowered launch, having on
board Colt rapid-ere gun, and 30 men
under the command Of Lieut.. Huse, and
she was sent ashore without encountering
any opposition.
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacy to haul down the Spanish
flag. which was done, and then raised on
the flagstaff, the first United States flag
70 float over Porto Rico soil.
Suddenly about 80 Spaniards opened
fire with Mauser rifles upon the Ameri-
can party. Lieut.. Huse and his men
with great gallantry, the Colt
gun doing effective work.
Norman, who received Admiral Ger
yera's surrender, and Wood, volunteer
lieutenant, shared the honors with Lieut..
Huse.
Almost Immediately after the Spaniards
fired on the Americans the Gloucester
opened fire on the enemy with all her
three and six pound guns which could
be brought to bear, shelling the town and
also dropping shells into the hills to the
west of Guapica, where number of
Spanish cavalry were to be seeS hasten
ing towards the spot where the Ameri-
cans had landed. Lieut.. Huse then threw
up littlesfort and laid barbed wire in
the street in front of it in order to repel
the expected cavalry attack. The fieu-
tenant also mounted the Colt gun and
signallsd for reinforaements, which were
sent from the Gloucester.
While the Mausers were pepperiug all
round, Lieut.. Commander Wainwright
called to the Associated Press corre-
spondent and said: "They fired on us
after their flag was down and ours was
up, and had spared the town for the
sake of the women and children The
next town I strike I will blow up"
Presently q few Spanish cavalry joined
those who were fighting in the street of
but the Colt barked. to pur-
pose, killing four of them.
By that time the Gloucester had the
range of the town and of the blockhouse,
and all her guns were splitting fire, the
doctor and the paymaster helping to serve
the guns.
Soon afterwards galloping cavalry
men were seen climbing the hills to the
westward and the foot soldiers were
sourrying along the fences from the
town. By a.35, with the exception of
few guerilla shots, tho town was won and
the enemy was driven out.
Tho Red Cross nurses on the Lampas-
as and detachment ofgregulars were. the |
first to land from the transports.
After Lieut.. House had captured the |
place he deployed his small force into
the suburbs. But he was soon reinforced
by the regulars, who were followed by |
Co. 6 of the 9th Illinois and then by 9TH |
er troops in quick succession. All the
boats of the men of war and the trans |
ports were used in the work of landing
the troops. each steam launch towing
four or i've boats loaded to the rails with
soldiers.
Gen. Miles went ashore about noon
after stopping to board the Gloucester and
thank Lieut.. Commander Wainwright
for his gallant action. He said to cor
that Guanica and Cinga are
in the disiufected portion of the island. Ss
Matteo, the insurgent leader, lives at
Yuoao,a few miles inland. Had we land
ed al Cape San Juan line Of rifle pits
might have stopped our advance.
1here is no doubt that Gen. Miles's
plans are being kept absolutely secret
The spirit Of the troops, men and Off
GERS, is admirable. The Illinois and
contingents will be de-
lghted to get ashore and all will be well
protected by artillery before @ serious ad-