The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-29
FIRST FIGHT FOR CUBA
INDEPENDENCE DAY AN INTER
 ESTING ANNIVERSARY.
Patriots Early Move-Expedition Organized in New Orleans in 1s5O- Trip of the Creole
 Three Trials of Gen. To-
 peg and His Friends.


 Probably unintentionally. the day chos- en for the inauguration of President Pal ma, and as Cuba's Independence Day, was an interesting anniversary in the hls- tory of that islands struggle for freedom from Spain, says The New York Tribune On May 20, 1850. the Cuban flag foated over a Cuban city. For one day 1t was held there by dauntless Americans against repeated onslaughts of Spanish regulars At dawn that morning the blood of Cubans and Americans flowed together on Cuban soil for Cuba Libre
 Fifty-two years to the day that liberty was assured. The wish of the South could not then be realized because of the slave question involved, but it was ac. complished when the Union was united in sentiment as far as freeing the island from Spain is concerned. And those who think they know the people of Cuba best believe John C. Calhouns prediction VIII yet be fulfilled. and that by Cubas inl- tiative. at no very distant day Speaking to Gen. Ambrosia Jose Gonzales, who was representing the patriots in this country in 1S49. MT. Calhoun used these words:
 You have my best wishes. but what ever the result, as the pear when ripe falls by the law of gravity into the lap
 of the husbandman, so will Cuba eventu- ally drop into the lap of the Union A Southern man said yesterday: Cuba, from the inception of her ambition for freedom. looked to the United States. Fifty odd years ago she begged for an
 nexation. Her people realize that but | for the interpretation of this country the condition to be attained next Tuesday may well have not been reached for an- other half century of struggling. They are unquestionablv grateful; they have suffered much in their struggle for free dom. and know how to prize it. But II dissatisfaction arises with the experi- AlA., ok .An hAertn | accept Statehood in the Union as quick and easy solution of their insular prob- | lems."
 review of the events incident to the
 annexation ann % G to the the United states is ap- propriate at this time. The following facts are from the memoranda of those who took part in the first struggle for Cuba Libre. In 1S4S many of the wealthi- est Cubans were conspiring to free the | island from Spain. They were joined by Narcisso Lopez. retired spanish Major General, who had held high ofnces both 1 in Spain and Cuba. His connection with 1 the conspiracy becoming known LCpeZ | fled to this country. About the same time the secret Cuban Junta in Havana sent Ambrosio Jose Gonzales, then S years old to this country, with authority to engage the services of General Worth, then returning from the Mexican war, in raising an army of 1000 soldiers to fght for Cuba. Gonzales was authorized to
 
 reached New Orleans about August 5, 1S4S, and as General Worth had passed. he followed. overriding the American or ficer at Newport, R. l. The offer from Cuba was accepted General Worth took the Cuban Commissioner to his home In
 Hudson. N. Y. A few days later they proceeded to New York, and from there to Washington. where General Lopez and other Cubans conferred with them. The scheme to enlist the services of General Worth failing. the Cuban capi-
 talists withdrew their guarantee or funds
 However. the patriots believed II they could land a force of Americans on the island the natives would flock to their standard, and the United States would not prevent help being sent from these shores. Women sold their jewels and raised a fund. with which the steamers Sea Gull of New Orleans were chartered
 in New York. These were to carry an ex-
 petition which was assembled on Round Island, Miss. under Colonel White: Fut Spanish spies were active and Round Island wass soon b1ockaded by Command CT Randolph of the sloop-of-war Albany, and the chartered ships were held.
 The first Cuban Junta in New York was organized in 1S49. Lopez was President.
 The other members were Gonzales San chez Yanaga, Macias and Villaverde The
 military commission in Havana at once
 passed the death sentence on them. Up-
 on the invitation of Gen. John Henderson of New Orleans and Col. Theodore O'Hara. of Kentucky, General Gonzales,
 
 Lopez visited Kentucky and New Or leans, and issued commissions to Colonel OHara of Kentucky. Colonel Burch and Lieutenant Colonel Smith of Mississippi, and Colonel Robert Wheat of Louisiana
 to raise skeleton regiments. Colonel Wheat, in order to take part in the ex- petition. armed and equipped his men and furnished their transportation by chartering the brig Susan Loud.
 The Cuban Junta issued bonds in New Orleans and with the money raised pur- chased little steamer. the Creole, and chartered a sailing transport. There were about 500 men in the expedition. They rendeZvousei o:t the little islands of Con- toy and Mugeras on the Yucatan Coast,
 where they drilled. When ready to start
 for Cuba about forty men would not go further. They received permission to re-
 turn in one of the sailing vessels. The Creole proceeded to the Cuban coast and
 the deserters were picked up by Span ish war vessel and taken prisoners to
 Spain. Minister Barringer had difficulty in saving the lives of these prisoners and getting them returned to the United States.
 On the night of May 19. 1850. the Gre ole put into Cardenas. The steamer Tan aground when near the wharf. and as
 the result of the delay thus caused the
 Spanish garrison was aroused. The ob-
 ject of the Cubans was to take Cardenas,
 proceed by rail to Matanzas and surprise and capture that town. when the coun-
 try would rise in their support.
 The spanish UTeu Ou lIe vaders from their stone barracks, then retreated to the Governors building. The Americans rushed the lower story of this as they had done the barracks Gen erals Lopez and Gonzales went into the court to demand the surrender of the Governor when they were fired on and Gonzales severely wounded, receiving two musket balls in one thigh He was the first Cuban to shed blood h the cause. General Lopez then ordered the building fired, and the Governor and garrison surrendered The Governor and officers
 were sent aboard the Creole. Many of the enlisted men took off their uniforms and joined the Cubans. All that day Spa anish infantry and cavalry attacked Cardenas. but were everywhere repulsed. The presence of the filibusters was HOW known in MatanZas. however and a sur prise of that town was impossible. so 1t point on the east coast of the island.
 Bad luck pursued the expedition. The Creole ran aground before getting out of the harbor and remained stationary for seven hours. Those on board mo mentariy expecting the appearance of Spanish war vessels To get her off pro- visions and arms had to be sacrificed. land the Governor and his officers, as the plan of making another point in
 Cuba was abandoned since the provisions had been cast overheard. While inshore the Spanish war steamer Pizarro passed and went into Cardenas harbor.
 The little Creole was headed for Key West and that night, as she drew very
 little water. ran over the Florida reefs, getting on the inside. Next morning she found herself opposite the Pizarro. which was only four miles away, but unable to cross the intervening reefs. Barrels