La Junta tribune., 1898-06-18
FIGHT ON CUBAN SOIL
MARINES LANDED AT oUANrAN-
AMO.
Eight Hundred Men Drive on the Span
iards aud Plant the STAR and 2tsip<s.
hut Afterward Have = Hot Tims-F0as
Marines Killed.

Dcnvcr, June PA New York spe-
cial to the Republican says
A cable To the Herald from on board
the Herald dispatch boat on Guantan-
amo, via Mole ST. Nicholas. Hayti,
says:
After n brief gagement In which
regiment OF Spanish infantry was
driven headlong from Its position. so
American marines were landed on the
eastern side of the harbor OF Guam
tanamo yesterday afternoon. The
landing was made under the protection
OF the guns of the Oregon. the Marble
head and the Yosemite.
By this stroke the American forces
gained most desirable base. They
will now be able TO seize the rlilroad
which runs from Guantanamo To Cal
mancra, and they can take, without
trouble, several Spanish ships loaded
with coal now lying In the harbor
whenever the coal is needed for the
American fleet.
This first landing In the vicinity OF
Guantanamo was accomplished in
broad daylight. The Spaninrds made
feeble attempt M resistance. but
they were forced TO flee under the
heavy fire of the American vessels. SO
hasty was their departure that. when
the Americans landed their first duty
was TO haul down the Spanish Nag
left by the enemy. In Its place was
raised the stars and stripes. Mt the
sight OF which the marines became
wildly enthusiastic.
Captain Goodrell. with sixty marines
from the Oregon, landed mt IL O'Clock
TO select n camping place. Crest
Heights, n post overlooking the hnrbor
chosen and made ready for the
marines who We're coming on the Pan
iher. This Is a fine site. the climatic
conditions being favorable, and the
point being impregnable against at
tack by the enemy.
Before Captain Goodrell and his men
had finished their work. the Yosemite
and the Panther appeared on the
coast II was then ] o'clock In the
afternoon. Awaiting the vessels from
Santiago. besides the Oregon and the
Marblehead were the Dolphin. the Vix-
en- and two colliers. the Sterling and
Kingston. The work of landing the
men from the Panther began mt once.
In whaleboats. fowed by launches. the
entire force OF $50 men was quickly
put ashore. They formed under com
mand OF Lieutenant Colonel Hunting
ton, and went up to Crest Heights.
The landing was effected in an hour.
without accident. 1t was known that
5000 Spaniards were assembled with
In five miles OF Crest Heights. and the
work of fortifying the base was begun
forthwith.
The spirits OF the Americans were
high. and the work OF mounting the
guns went forward so rapidly that by
half-past three O'Clock the camp OF the
Americans was capable OF resisting
any force the Spnninrds would he able
to send against II.
On Board the Associated Press Dis
patch boat Dauntlcss. of Guantanamo,
Sunday. June II. via Mole St Nicholas,
June l2-I.ieuienanf Colonel X. w.
Huntng,on's battalion OF marines,
which landed from the transport Pan
ther on Friday and encamped on the
hill guarding the abandoned cable sta
ton Mt the entrance to the outer har-
bor OF Guantanamo. has been engaged
in heading of n rush attack by Span
ish guerrillas and regulars since j
o'clock Saturday afternoon. The fight
ing was almost continuous for thirteen
hours, until q o'clock this morning.
when reInforcements We're landed from
the Marblehead. Four of our men
were killed and one wounded. The ad-
vance pickets, under Lieutenanis Ne
vile and Shaw. are unaccounted for.
Among the killed is Assistant Sur
geon John Blair Gibbs, son OF Major
Gibbs OF the regular army. who fell in
the Custer massacre. His home was nt
Richmond, Virginia. but he has been
practicing In New York and entered
the service since the war began. He
was very popular officer. The others
killed are Sergeant Charles II. Smith
of Smallwood; Private William Dun
ply of Gloucester. Massachusetts. and
Private James McColgan OF Stoneham,
Massachusetts,.
Corporal Glass was accidentally
wounded in the head.
The Spanish loss IL unknown. but II
is was probably considerable. The
splashes of blood found at daylight ut
the positions the Spaniards occupied
Indicate fatalities. but their comrades
carried of the killed and wounded
The engagement began with desul-
tory firing mt the pickeis n thousand
yards inland from the camp. Captain
Spicer's company was doing guard
duty and was driven In, finally rally
Ing on the camp and repulsIng the enc
my by o'clock. The bodies of Pri-
Yates McColgan and Dunphy We're
found. both shot In the head. The
large cavities made by the bullets
which, inside n range Of 500 yards,
have a rotary motion. Indicated that
the victims were killed at close range.
The bodies were stripped of shoes, hats
and cartridge belts and horribly multi
Iated with machetes.
When they were brought in the
whole battalion formed three sides Of
a hollow square about the caGip on the
hilltop. Below In the bay the war
ships were at anchor. Inland from the
camp Is a deep rayine and beyond this
are high hills. The adjacent country
Is heavy with thicket growth.
The sky was bIanketed with clouds
and when the sun set a gale was blow
| ing seaward. Night fell, thick and i'm