Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10
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He tried to the Dauntless reef, and if | had
not been keeping sharp lookout, partly as result of
what had seen of Cuban pilots on the Bermuda, he
would have piled us up high and dry. | saw there was
water where he was heading for and was not sec
ond too soon in signaling the alert Paguch to 60 full
speed Just the tug lost way her bow struck
the reef and stuck FAST but by getting all hands att we
managed to back her off
As in the previous instance the perfdious pilot
killed by the Cubans the moment he LANDED, and his
partner narrowly escaped the same fate. No native
pilot accompanied me on expedition after that
preferred to take chances finding my way into
strange places rather than run the risk OF repeated
treachery.
THE coast was clear when we made out the landing
place; went close inshore before dark and
began to unload; though 1t was an extremely danger
Gus place. for there cover of any kind Between
nine and ten o'clock, when getting the rifles
ashore Spanish gunboat, all lit up like excursion
steamer hove in sight round point miles to the
eastward. We not showing any sort of light but
it certain that if we stayed where she would
see as she went BY huggng the Shore SO we had to
get out hurry. The situation such that we had
to take parallel with hers for several miles be-
fore could get far enough ahead to cross her bow
without being Then h wa hau a out to SEA- ana
shore until daylight, and then went back IN and I'm
shed the unloading.
sYouve got lot of cheek said Funston who had
stayed board to help get the into the landing
dories, when l started back for the shore
@Youve got to have cheek to succeed in this bust
ness" told him.
Two hours after we had cleared away another gum
boat showed up from the Westward but its officers
must have been sound asleep, for they detected
of the evidences of the landing that had just been made
1t took three days get the field gun and all the
back into the bush but part of them was lost The
cartridges packed in typound boxes, lined with
tin and sealed they could be dumped out shallow
water and taken ashore when it was convenient.
From Nuevitas went to Navassa Island to meet
the Laurada arriving there thirtysx hours ahead of
time. She showed up exactly at the appointed time
and anchored close to the rock. We took off half her
party of Cubans and half her cargo, which landed
in broad daylight on the afternoon of Saturday. Au
gust o. at Santa de Argo Niaco little twelve
miles west of Santiago There were several warshps at
Santiago, and the city full of Spanish troops; but
had discovered that the gunboats which patroled the
made practice Of running into large port
about Saturday and lying there until Monday
morning. During this unmatched interval it
sonaby safe to make landing at almost any place that
not in plain sight of some Spanish blockhouse
watch station. We returned at once to the Laurada
and took the rest of her cargo which landed at
the same place early Monday morning.
Thus it turned out that in three days less than
month from the day Mr.. Cleveland sounded the warn
ing that put mette the entire expedition had
been landed in Cuba without the injury of man or
the loss of cartridge and the Dauness had paid for
herself The landing OF three cargoes by the same ship
within week gave the authorities something to think
about, in both Washington and Madrid. What
important, it showed the American people that
the war in Cuba real, red blooded rebellion and
not merely outburst of oratory.
With the landing of our last cargo the Laurada went
to Jamaica to load fruit for Charleston and the Daunt
less headed up for Key West.
WHEN the Laurada reached Charleston with her
W load OF fruit the detectives got hold of the six
Jamaicans who were in her and in return for
their evidence agreed to pay them seventeen dollars
week until the case was disposed OF. General Nunez,
John D. Hart (owner OF the Laurada) and Ed Murphy
Cher commander We're indicted for tilbusering Hart
tried in Philadelphia before Judge Butler the
who hated hbusters, and convicted. He sentenced
to sixteen months in the penentiary and eventually
served four months before pardon could be secured for
him. VI all the men who engaged in hhbusterng during
the Cuban Revolution, Hart was the only one Who was
convicted, and his only ofenses consisted of owning
two ships that We're used, and employing to take
command of the Bermuda