Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-15
SHARP FIGHT IN CUBA
EXPEDITION LANDED AT POLO
ALTA, on THE SOUTH COAST.
WINTHROP CHANLER WOUNDED
Captain Nunex, BROTHER Of the Cuban
Generals, kiiIed-EnOrmous Cnr-
and Clothing Delivered to Gomez.

been landed. after a sharp fight. and
after the cost OF one llfe-that Of Captain
Nunez. brother Of the Cuban generals.
and the wounding Of Winthrop Chaner,
Of New York. The Spanish loss is un-
known.
The debarkation was effected on July
81. at Palo Alto, on the southern coast
of Cuba, but the fighting occurred before
then.
The Florida and Fanita left Key West
on Saturday. June 25th, under the con-
voy Of this Peoria. commanded by Lieu
tenant f. w. Ryan. On board the steam
ers were 135 Cubans, under Nunez, fifty
United States troopers, under Lisutenants
Johnston and Ahern, and twenty-five
Rough Riders, under winthrop Chanler,
brother OF Colonel William Astor Chan
Ter.
CARGOES ENORMOUS
The cargoes were enormous. Topping
the list OF arms were two dynamite guns,
with $50 S-pound projectiles TO fit them,
and two full batteries of light field
pieces, ten 3-inch rifles of regular ord
nance pattern, with harnesses that go
with them, and 1850 cartridges. In the
matter OF infantry rifles there were 1900
Springfields, with $4,000 cartridges, and
900 Mausers, with 10000 of the wicked
shells they swallow
Fifty of the Cubans aboard were armed
with Mausers, and the others had Spring
fields For the insurgent officers were
provided 200 army Colt revolyers, and
y OOe cartridges Two hundred books OF
inf arfnfr tor
tics. translated into Spanish, were taken
along.
In the expedition were also / .E5 saddles.
$50 saddle clothes. and 450 brides For the
Cutans there were 1868 uniforms, 2,535
OF brown canvas of the army fatigue
pattern, and the balance cotton and
linen, of the pattern of the Mexican
troops; $3.50 pairs Of army shoes. l,2'5
amy blankets, 400 shirts, 4j0 hats and go
hammocks.
These were the cOmmissary stores car
rled, calculated by pounds: Bacon, 6f,2'J;
corn meal, 81 $50: roasted coffee, 1920;
raw coffee, $3.50; sugar, 2i25; mess
pork and beef. 5000; canned beef, 2l,UO;
beans, 1890; hard tack, 1880; cans OF
corn, 1850
SAN JUAN TOO STRONG.
The expectation was that the landing
would be- effected at San Juan Point, on
the south coast of Cuba, midway be-
tween Cienfuegoes and Trinidad, but the
enemy appeared i'm force, and the pro-
ject was abandoned. on June 3Oth.
they 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 earthworks. The Peoria
l.sa1 ulx al =
from her Founders, but brought no
response. A scouting party was organ
lied. This was made up Of fifteen vol
unteers under Winthrop Chanler, and as
lrary Cubans under Captain Nunez.
The Peoria took position within short
range Of the fort. The boats were
beached, and their occupants cautious
lv scrambled toward the brush. At al
most the moment they set foot on the
sand the fort and entertainments around
il burst into flame, and shot and shells
screamed about the little band OF In
vaders. Captain Nunez was stepping
from his boat when a shot struck him be-
tween the eyes and he fell dead Cham
Ter fell with n broken arm. The others
gained the thcket, and replied with
sharp fire directed at the entrenchments.
RETREAT IN GOOD ORDER.
Meanwhile the Peoria set her guns at
work and rained shells upon the Tort
until the enemy's fire ceased. retreat
was ordered. and the party rushed FOR
the boats but volley after yolley came
from the shore. and they were COM
pelled TO throw themselves into the water
and paddle alongside the boats WIN
only their heads exposed until the ships
were reached. The SpaniardS had no
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 cocoanut palms, which extend
ed TO the eastward Of the fort. The Peo-
ria opened fire on the place, and must
have killed many Spaniards for her shells
dropped into the smoke and fash Of the
adversaries' fire, silenced it at once, and
forced the men to send up rockets for
help.
LAS TUNAS TOUCHED UP.
The next day the gunboat Helena ar
rived. and Friday morning she and the
Peoria. steamed in toward Las Tunas,
which the Spaniards have been vigorously
fortifying. Tunas is connected by rail
with Sancti Spritus, a town OF consider
able size, and reinfOrcements and artillery
had been rapidly coming in. Range buoys
had been placed in the bay, but avoiding
these, the ships drew IN close and opened
fire. The Spanlards had several Krupp
heldpieces OF and inches mounted on
earthworks along the waterfront. ana
they began a vigorous but .l-directed
reply.
The fire of our ships was accurate and
destructive. The Spanish gunners had
not fred 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.
sPANIARDs oUTwITTED.
That afternoon both ships again turned
their attention TO the fort, and the en-
trenchments at the mouth OF the Talla-
bacoa river, and for half an hour poured
a wicked fire upon them. That night
the Spaniards burned a large wharf and
the adjacent buildings, evidently expect
ing a landing In force the next day. IL
was learned from various sources that re-
were pouring into Las
Tunas from all directions. II was de-
termined to proceed during the night with
the landing expedition 20 Palo Alto fifty
miles 10 the eastward the Helena re-
naming at Las Tunas TO make the Span
iards believe an attempt was 10 be made
TO land there
At 10 O'Clock Saturday. July I'd. the
Peoria, Florida. and Fanlta. with all
lights out. slipped silently away. There
was not a Spaniard seen when they reach
ed Pal0 Alto at dsybreak. and the men
= ~. r.rnna unrA r,atf aahnrl. wit hntif 4,