The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-20
Enemy.


Cabanas, Cuba: In an effort to land
Companies E and G Of the First Unit
ed States infantry on the shore Of
Pinar del Rio yesterday afternoon
with 5000 rifles, COCO rounds of am
munition and some food supplies for
the insurgents, the first land fight Of
the war took place. Each side may
claim a victory, for if the Spaniards
frustrated the effort to connect with
the insurgents, the Americans got de-
cidedly the better of the battle, kill
ing twelve or more of the enemy. and
on their own part suffering not a
wound. After dark last evening the
old-fashioned side-wheel steamer Gus
sic. 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
correspondent, to pilot her. At sunrice
she fell in with the gunboat Vicks-
burg, ON the blockade. off Havana.
Other blockading vessels came up Also. >,
The converted revenue cutter Man.
ming. Capt. William NJ. Munger, was
detailed to convoy the Gussie, and,
three abreast, the steamers moved
along the coast. No doubt Moro cas-
ties defenders observed the strange
vessel and sent the alarm ahead.
Spanish soldiers were seen grouped
on the shore near Mariet, and the
Manning's guns We're trained upon
them. suspecting a musket battery.
No shots We're 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 could be induced to
test the edge of these barberous in
struments with their thumbs. Then
they withdrew aft to play craps I'M
til body of cavalry on hill west Of
Mariet brought them to their rifles.
us. then galloping over the hill in the
direction we were heading. BY the
ruined walls Of an old stone house
further on Spanish troops were gath
cred.
Several Shots Were Fired
by the gunboat Manning and present
ly no troops were visible. 1t had been
decided to land near here, but the
depth of water was not favorable
Just west of Port Cabanas harbor the
Gussie anchored. the Manning cover
ing the landing place with her guns
and the torpedo boat Wasp came up to
assist. The first American soldier to
step on the Cuban shore from this ex-
petition was Lieut.. Crofton, Capt
O'Connor. with the first boat, having
gone a longer route. A reef near the
beach threw the men out and they
stumbled through the water up to
their breasts. When they reached
dry land they Immediately went into
the bush to form picket line. Two
horses had been lowered to swim to
land. when suddenly rifle shot, fol-
lowed by continuous sharp firing.I
warned the men that the enemy had
been in waiting. The captain of the
transport signalled to the warships
and the Manning fired into the woods
beyond our picket line. Shrapnell
Missed through the air like hot iron
plunked in water. The Wasp opened
with her small guns. The cannonade
lasted a quarter of an hour. then our
pickets appeared. the ships circled
round, and being told by Capt. O'Con-
nor, who had come from shore, where
the spaniards were, one hundred shots
more were fred in that direction.
anybody hurt. captain" asked
your correspondent. None of our
men. but we have shot twelve Span
iards.'' he shouted back. The soldiers
on board the Gussie heard the news
without word, but hearing where
the enemy was situated gathered aft
on the upper deck and sent several
vollies into the spot. The pickets re-
turned to the bush. Several crept
along the beach, but the Snaniards
had drawn back. 1t was decided that
the soldiers should embark on the
Gussie and that the guides should
take the horses and seek the insur-
gents and make new appointment.
They rode off to the westward and
disappeared around point.
Say shouted a man from Company
G. after them, You forgot your
grinlstonc."