The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-06
story Told by the Captain of n Gov
eminent Tug Concerning a Desper-
ate Encounter with the Enemy.
SEVERAL SCOUTS LANDED
ALONG WITH ARMS AND AMMUNITION
FOR THE INSURGENTS.
Guns of the WiImin gtOn Turned Loose
SpaniarIs Reported Killed.

KEY WEST. Fla. May 5.-The govern
ment tug Leyden. Capt j. Fl. Angus,
steamed into port this morning and told the
following story of a desperate encounter
with Spanish troops on the northern coast
of Cuba. The Leyden left here Monday
afternoon with a party of insurgents under
Gen. Baldamore Acosta, and including five
Cuban scouts under the leadership of Capt.
j. II. Dorst of the United States cavalry.
The Leyden also carried large quantity
of arms and ammunition. The tug landed
five men, with four boxes of ammunition
and two horses. General Acosta also landed
and penetrated to the interior, where he
communicated with the forces of the insur-
gents. The Leyden lay to outside until
o'clock in the morning, when, observing
troop of Spanish infantry approaching she
put to sea and got safely away. The same
night she proceeded to Matanzas, and Tues
day afternoon landed another small party
near there. Fearing attack by the Span
iards, she looked for the monitors Terror
and Amphtrite, which are on the blockade
in that vicinity, but, being unable TO locate
them, the Leyden returned to the original
landing place, reaching there early yester-
day morning. Here she was met by Acosta
and about two hundred Cubans, half of
whom were armed with rifles. They united
with the men on the tug, and an attempt
was made to land the remaining arms and
men when a troop of two hundred of the
Villa Vicosa Cavalry swooped down on
them, and a fierce engagement of a half
hours duration followed. The Cubans final
ly repused the enemy, driving them into the
woods During this engagement several rifle
bullets went through the Leyden's smoke
stack but no one was injured
When the Spanish cavalry discovered the
Leyden they promptly opened fire. The tug
was taken at a disadvantage, having no
cannon aboard, but Commander Angus de-
cided upon a desperate bluff. He mounted
an old fiagpole and another round piece of
timber in the bow of the boat and sta
toned "gunners' there, but the ruse was of
little avail The Spaniards took shelter
near the blockhouse and poured in fusil-
lade of bullets. Meanwhile the Cubans at
tempted to draw the Spanish fire with
view of dverting the cavalry and giving
the Leyden a chance to slip out.
The plucky little tug then went in search
of the flagship, found her lying near Ha-
vana and reported the story. Rear Admiral
Sampson sent the gunboat Wilmington back
with the Leyden. The two vessels reached
the scene of the landing yesterday after
noon and found the Spanish cavalry in wait
ing to welcome another attempted invasion.
The Wilmington lost no time in prelimi-
naries but promptly opened fire on a num-
Der of small houses marking the entrance
to the place. The gunboat fired four shots,
which Immediately drove back the Span
iards and Captain Dorst, with the ammu
milton. landed safely last night the Leyden
returning here.
News reached here to-day of the arrival
at Havana yesterday of the British cruiser
Talbot to take off British subjects who de,
sire to leave the city. The Talbot was held
up by the blockading vessels but finally
asked permission of the flagship to go in,
which Rear Admiral Sampson readily grant
ed. Admiral Sir John Richardson, COM
handing the British West Indian naval sta
ton, was on board the Talbot. The British
ers had not heard the news of the Manila
victory, and when they. learned it they
heartily congratulated Admiral Sampson
and other officers of the fleet.
Further information from the beSieged
island is to the effect that General Blanco
is urging the provincial authorities in every
locality to stir up the patriotism of the peo-
pie which is said to be rapidly waning UNI
der the influence of hunger and disease.
The Spanish soldiers captured on the prize
north this morning on the City of Key West.
They will be lodged in Fort Mcpherson as
prisoners of war until the government de-
cides what shall be done with them. The
prisoners are Col Vicente de Cortejo, of
the Third Cavalry of Puerto Principe; First
Lieutenant Lucas Saeyez, Of the Sixth Bat
Sincion Garcia Julien and Second Lieutenant
Luis Guion Tourmolle, Emilio Cabena.
Baldemore Apricio Zambrana and Juan
Gonzales Vergas, one sergeant and nine pri-
Yates Under the escort of ten men of the
Twenty-fifth Infantry, commanded by Lieut..
Moss, the Spaniards were landed in dock.
where they were surrounded by crowd of
Cubans and Americans, who. however, Of
fered no indignities. There they waited for
delayed steamer. The infantry detail ac-
companies them to Fort Mcpherson.
Other members of Companies A and G,
of the Twenty-fifth Infantry (colored), went
on government tugs to-day to the Tortu-
gas, where they will be stationed until fur
Their orders.
Five members of the naval reserve arrived
to-day on the steamer Tarpon, and body of
army engineers from Willet'S Point on the
Mallory liner Alamo.
The monitor Mantonomoh arrived from
The steamer Alameda. from New York,
arrived here at noon to-day having on
board detachment of five hundred engi-
neers from West Point. They belong to
Company f, of the battalion of engineers
Captain Lyons, of the gunboat Dolphin,
which has been cruising for eleven days
along the western coast of Cuba says there
is great activity on shore throughout that
section, and especially in Bahia Honda.
Groups of SDaniards can be seen working
on improvised Notifications of all kinds.
Earthworks have been thrown up all along
the coast and apparent preparations
against invasion are being made. During
her cruise the Dolphin held up eighteen yes
sells, all of which We're released except the
Spanish fishing schooner Lolo which was
sent in here the other day. The Dolphin
had previously taken the Lolo but had re-
in shore and remain there Not long aft
erwards the Dolphin again found the Lolo
cruising and apparently signaling informa--
ton to some one on shore. The Spaniard
was then captured, despite the captains
protestatons that he was not signaling.
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