The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-19

vessel was twice chased IN the EIor1Ga
Straits and both times narrowly escaped.
The latter Of these races, and the most
exciting one. was witnessed from Key
West Hundreds Of people thronged the
water front as the Three Friends passed,
far out, pursued by a cruiser Al who
saw the race Jumped TO the conclusion
thatthe pursuing vessel was Spaniard.
and ali on the Three Friends were o. the
same opinion The Maine fred up 10
come 10 the rescue. and the black smoke
from the battleship was watched with
hope from the decks Of The flibuster,
where il usually would have been watched
with fear. The Three Friends ran in over
the reef. however, ahead Of her pursuer,
where the water was so shallow that the
latter could not follow. Then, as the pur-
suing vessel passed, a small United States
flag was seen. and the hlibusters knew
they had been chased By the Raleigh.
On the south side OF the island, how
ever. the danger was greater. but races
on the open sea were not so much dreaded
as the danger Of being caught in a trap.
AS the vessel would go in between the
jutting headIands TO land its men and
cargo. no one could feel certain of coming
out again. On her frst expedition the
Three Friends ran into a trap Of this kind
She was in a cove near Cardenas. and
had nearly finished landing her cargo,
when the searchlight OF a vessel was seen
approaching and flashing here and there.
The anchor was Immediately cut loose,
and the vessel started for the open sea,
but out in the entrance light was seen
shining up on a military mast. severe
storm was raging, and the thick clouds
that were flying fast across the heavens
threw the most intense darkness over the
waters. In front all was black save the
glimmer Of light, but thai was enough 10
tell the hlibusters that a cruiser OF large
gunboat blocked their way Of escape.
The Three Friends were headed to the
eastward of this vessel, and the light was
seen to move eastward, showing that her
direction was known. When the vessels
were not more than two hundred yards
apart the Three Friends turned al a right
angle and crossed the wake Of the Span
lard. The Spanish vessel for q short time
continued in her course, and when she
turned the Three Friends was out Of the
cove and TOO far away TO be overtaken-
The Three friends landed her fourth ex-
petition near Havana, under the guns OF
Moro Castle. Everything had been put
ashore, and while waiting for the return
Of the boats that had carried the last load
the light OF ship was seen coming from
behind MORO Castle, and 1t came straight
for the place where the flibuster was an
chored. The boats returned and no time
The
anchor was cut loose and the vessel start
ed in flight, but TO get out II had to pass
so close to the boat that was approaching
that it was difficult to avoid collision.
The boat which had caused such a fright
proved to he only a fishing smack which
had come out for an early morning catch
for the Havana market.
The Three Friends never went prepared
for fighting. but she sometimes carried
cannon in her cargo. and one one occasion
had to use one The flibuster had gone
into a river near Corintes to land an ex-
petition. Farther Up the stream a small
vessel was seen, Il was night. but per-
fectly clear, and the moon was nearly
fun. and objects could be seen almost as
clearly as by day The small vessel.
WHICH proven 70 DG q sopdilASA4 SuiASNhb>
pursued the Three Friends out OF the river
and commenced firing a little cannon at
the ilibuster, which was attempting to
escape to the south. The little gunboat
was swift. and the Three Friends was
not able TO gain on her. The pursuit and
the firing was continued but a short time
when another Spanish vessel was seen
coming from the southwest and stin an
other from the southeast. The smaller
gunboat was not more than half mile
distant and the vessel coming from the
southwest a mile and half or two miles
away also began 10 fire at the Three
Friends. The third vessel did not get in
range Something had TO be done or the
Three Friends would he caught between
the two and sunk. 4 cannon that fired
ffty-pound solid shot was in the cargo.
and a gunner who had seen service on
board n battleshiD In the Uniter States
navy vas also on board The gun was
placed in position. and the order TO fire at
the nearest gunb0at was given The first
shot took effect. and the little gunboat
showed signals Of distress. The other
gunboat went 70 It's assistance, continuing
to fire. but making no effort 10 get nearer
70 the Three Friends
The Three friends made six trips %
Cuba. all successful except one.
A s. HoUGH.