Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-14
FIRST LAND BATTLE WAS By NO
MEANS DECISIVE.
THE EXPLOIT OF THE GussIE
TWELVE sPANIARDs KILLED AND
NOT AN AMERICAN HURT.
Attempt Of Americans to Communi-
cate With Insurgents, However,
Was Frustrated - Graphic
Story by = Newspaper
Correspondent.

KEY WEST, FLA, May 13.-The trans
port Gussie. which left here Wednesday
with 1000 rifles for the insurgents, was late
this afternoon still cruising off Cabanas
and Mariel, having been unable to locate
any insurgents or to land her cargo.
NEW YORK, May 13.-The Evening Post
prints the following, dated: on Cabanas,
Cuba. May u. via Key West, May 1s.-In
an effort to land Companies F and G, of
the First United States infantry, on the
shore of Pinar del Rio this afternoon. with
500 rifles. 5000 rounds Of ammunition and
some food supplies for the insurgents. the
first land fight of the war took place. Each
may claim a victory. for, If the spaniards
frustrated the effort to connect with the
insurgents. the Americans got decidedly the
better of the battle. killing twelve or more
of the enemy and, on their own part, suf-
fering not a wound.
side wheel steamer Gussie, of the Morgan
line. with the troops and cargo mentioned,
started for the Cuban coast. All night she
allowed the tug on which was your cor
respondent to pilot her. At sunrise she
fell in with the gunboat vicksburg on the
blockade off Havana. Other blockading
nj cd
| enue cutter Manning. Captain William NJ.
Munger, was detailed to convoy the Gus
sic. and. three abreast. the steamers moved
| along the coast.
No doubt Moro castles defenders OBJ
| served the strange vessel and sent the
| alarm ahead. Spanish soldiers were seen
grouped on the shore near Mariel and
the Manning's guns were trained upon
| them, suspecting a masked battery. No
| shots were fired, however.
The Cuban guides on the Gussie took
their machetes to a grindstone on the hur-
| ricane deck. Our soldiers gathered around
to see them sharpen their long knives, but
| only one could be induced to test the end
| Of these barbarous instruments with his
| craps until a body of cavalry on a hill
| west Of Mariel brought them to their rifles.
For some minutes the cavalry watched
| us, then galloped over the hill In the d.
| rection we were heading. By the ruined
walls Of an old stone house further on
| Spanish troops were gathered. Several
shots were fired by the gunboat Manning
| and presently no troops were visible. 1t
| had been decided to land near here. but
| tho depth of water was not favorable.
Just west of Port Cabanas harbor, the
| Gussie anchored, the Manning covering the
| landing place with her guns, and the tor
pedo boat Wasp came up. eager to assist.
The first American soldier to step on the
Cuban shore from this expedition was
| Lieutenant Crofton. Captain OConnor with
i the first boatload having gone longer
route. A reef near the beach threw the
men out, and they stumbled through water
! up to their breasts. When they reached
dry land they Immediately went into the
| bushes to form picket line. Two horses
| had been led to swim to land when, sud-
denly, a rifle, followed by continuous sharp
! firing, warned the men that the enemy
4
had been in waiting.
The captain Of the transport signalled to
the warships and the Manning fired into
the woods beyond our picket line.
| shrapnel Missed through the air like hot
| iron plunged in water.
The Wasp opened with her small guns.
| The cannonade began at S:16 and lasted
a quarter of an hour: then our pickets
appeared, the ships circled round, and.
being told by Captain OConnor. who had
| come from shore. where the Spaniards
were. 100 shots more were fired in that
direction.
Anybody hurt. captain?" hailed your
correspondent.
| "None of our men, but we shot twelve
| Spaniards," he shouted back.
The soldiers on board the Gussie heard
.the news without a word. but. hearing
! where the enemy was situated. gathered
aft on the upper deck and sent several
volleys into the spot.
The pickets returned to the bush. Several
crept along the beach. but the spaniards
| had drawn back.
1t was decided that the soldiers should
re-embark on the Gussie. and that the
guides should take the horses and seek the
insurgents and make new appointment.
| They rode off to the westward and disap-
peared around a point
Say" shouted a man from Company G
after them. you forgot your grindstone."
WASHINGTON. May 13.-During the day
General Miles received some dispatches
concerning the engagement. They were
brief, and agree with the press reports in
showing that the Spaniards were compelled
to withdraw, having suffered the loss Of a
captain and several men. the number not
being definitely known.
MORE MEN FOR THE NAVY.