Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
Narrated by CAPTAIN JOHN
O'BRIEN to HORACE SMITH


TT was arranged that the expedition should leave on
Sunday night. The one thing Of which our friend
Baltzell was specially fond draw poker One Sun
day afternoon Napoleon Broward, Of the 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 in. At about the time that this pleasant
little affair arranged the Three Friends left Jack
sonvile with schooner in tow. She reached the bar
late the afternoon and after casting off the schooner
stood the coast apparently search OF another tow
Soon after dark General Morales and his men,
and two at time, slipped unnoticed into two unghted
passenger coaches standing dark sidetrack at the
old F. c. & p depot at the foot of Juliast, which
not than one hundred yards from Fritot's city
office Promptly at nine o'clock engine coupled onto
the apparently "dead coaches and took them round the
city the belt line Frtot and boarded it at a
ing, after having eluded the detectives
On our arrival at Fernandina unobtrusive signal
told the poker game in full swing and there
nothing for to worry about. The special train
run out dock to which the Three Friends had
quietly tied up an hour before. The cargo trans
erred to her without unnecessary noise delay, and
at daylight out of sight of town.
Baltzel raised great ruction when he discovered
what had happened.
OUR destination the San Juan River, east of
~ Cienfuegos, 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 Spanards. The loss of these had
nterfered with the operations of General Gomez who
scattering death and destruction through Santa
Clara Province and he wanted Others place of them
However much he was in need of supplies, it was a
great mistake to send them to San Juan: it was
tremey bad place to make landing.
We off CienfuegoS the morning of December
49, and laid there all day. fifteen miles out, be
safe from observation from the shore. As it
was dark steamed full speed for the mouth of the
river. When within two miles of shore Span
ish grnboa came sneakng slowly of the For
wonder she showing no lights. Pagluchi picked
her UP first stopped the engines until made out her
smoke; then it Hard aport and full speed to SEAL
Colonel Carlo and of the other Cubans, who
lacked sharp had not the Spaniard and were
skeptical
aYou are running away from shadow, said Carbo
throwing out his chest.
"Do you think so?' | inquired with some sarcasm.
well wait and see.
jerked the bell with stop signal; but before we had
lost way the gunboat banged away at us with one
pound SHE'LL which splashed not far ahead of us.
"That's what you might call animated shadow
suggested to the subdued Carlo | hooked her up
again full speed, without the falntest sign of obec
ton from anyone
A moment later made out two more gunboats six
miles away, coming up from the east and west
to head off Their appearance made it plain that
there had been treachery in camp. Someone who
knew where were bound for had communicated with
the enemy and the trap had been nicely set for
When | the fix were IN | ordered the Hotch-
kiss tweve-pounder, which was lying boxed up on the
forward deck into immediate service. All the deck aft
where could have been used to much better advantage
was taken up with the dores which the cargo
be landed. There several adventurous Americans
on board, and among them praiseworthy person
named Mike Walsh, who had been gunner in the
United States navy When Mike heard that the big
box contained brand new gun he came forward and
offered his services.
"If you'll let handle it., he said, "Ill guarantee
to produce whole lot of Spanish stomachache with its
pills"
@Shoot it often you like and fast you know
how, told him.
"G1orv be-" shouted Mike. He shook his fist at the
Spaniards and yelled at them the command prepare
for burials at SEAL
DAGLUCHI and Walsh superintended the setting up
of the gun, with the mechanism of which they
familiar and made Quick work of it. They were ably