New-York tribune., 1912-03-17
Narrated by CAPTAIN JOHN
O'BRIEN to HORACE SMITH

to accompany the expedition as the representative OF
Palma
TT was arranged that the expedition should leave on
Sunday night. The one thing Of which our friend
Baltzell was specially fond was draw poker One Sum-
dav afternoon Napoleon Broward one Of the owners Of
the Three Friends and afterward Governor Of Florida
happened to be in Fernandina, and, as he could not
leave until the next day, he had trouble in fixing up
poker game for that evening, at which Baltzell was
to sit At about the same time that this pleasant
little affair arranged the Three Friends left lack
sonvie with schooner in tow She reached the bar
late in the afternoon and after casting of the schooner
stood up the coast apparently search OF another tow.
Soon after dark General Morales and his men, one
and two at time, slipped unnoticed into two unghtcd
passenger coaches standing dark SldetraCk at the
old F. &. & p depot the foot Of Julia-St which
not more than one hundred yards from FritotS city
Office Promptly at nine o'clock engine coupled onto
the apparently "dead coaches and took them round the
city on the belt line. Frto and boarded it at a
ing after having eluded the detectives.
On our arrival at Fernandina unObtrusivc signal
told the poker game was IN tull SWING and there was
nothing for to worry about. The special tram
run out on a dock to which the Three Friends had
quietly tied up an hour before The cargo was trans
fcrred to her without unnecessary noise delay and
at daylight were out Of sight of town
Baltzell raised great ruction when he discovered
what had happened.
OUR destination was the San Juan River, east Of
~ Cienfucgos where the DauntleSS had landed her
last cargo much of which, account Of the delay in
getting it away from the beach, had fallen into the
hands Of the Spaniards. The loss OF these had
intcrcrcd with the operations Of General GomcZ, who
was scattering death and destruction through Santa
Clara Province and he wanted others in place If them
However much he was in need Of supplies, il was
great mistake to send them 10 San uan: II
tremelv bad place to make a landing
We were off CenfucgOS on the morning Of December
l9 and laid there all day fifteen miles out 20 be
safe from observation from the shore As soon as 1t
t,,l ..,7,,, ,.sr r,.
river When we were within two miles Of shore Span
sh gInboat came sncakng slowly out Of the river For
a wonder she showing no lights. Pagluchi picked
her no first | stopped the engines until made on her
smoke; then it Hard aport and full speed TO car
Colonel Carbo and some Of the other Cubans, who
lacked sharp eyes had not seen the Spanlard and were
skcptical.
you are running away from shadow, said Carlo,
throwing out his chest.
"Do YOU think SO; ! inquired with some sarcasm.
"Wc'll wait and see
crked the bell with stop signal; but before We had
lost way the gunboat banged away at us with q one-
pound Shell, which splaShcd not far ahead OF rs.
"That's what YOU might call an animated shadow
| suggested to the Subdued CarbO as hooked her up
again at full speed, without the aintest sign Of obcc
ton from anyone
\ moment later made out two more gun5oa's six
or seven miles away coming up from the east and west
to head us off Their appearance made it plain that
there had been trcaChcry in our camp Someone who
knew where we were bound for had communicated with
the enemy and the trap had been nicely set for US.
When saw the fix we were in ! ordered the HOtch-
kiss twclvc-poundcr which was lying boxed up on the
forward deck into immediate service Nj the deck ait,
where could have been used 10 much better advantage
was taken up with the dorics in which the cargo was to
be landed There were several adventurous americans
on board, and among them was praiscworthy person
named Mike Walsh, who had been a gunner IN the
United States navy. When Mike heard that The big
box contained a brand new gun he came forward and
offered his services.
III You'll let me handle it, he said "II guarantee
to produce whole lot Of Spanish somachache with its
pills.
how" told him.
GLORY be-" shouted Mike. He shook his E d. the
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