South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-29

We made out in time the low man
grove-covered coast, and could see fan
away the dim outline Of the hills OF
the interior. We stood on deck with
beating hearts and tense faces as the
little steamer drew near the inlet
known as Las Neuvas, on the coast
Of the province Of Puerto Principe
or Camaguey.
Smoke ArOuses Fears.
No vessel was in sight, but we were
troubled by the appearance from time
to time of bit of smoke far to the
eastward. All who were supplied
with glasses kept them trained on
that part of the horizon. IT was
plain to be seen that Captain O'Brien
and Generals Nunez and Cabrera
were anxious. The smoke might be
from a fire on shore or from YES
sci bound eastward. the latter suppo-
sition being in favor from the fact
that it was not seen for the last half
hour before darkness settled down
over land and sea.
Las Nuevas Crandes is merely an
indentation in the coast and in no
sense a harbOr. and when we were
about half a mile from the surf the
engines were stopped The Daunt-
less carried two regular sea boats, but
these were not used in landing our
cargo. Instead, she had brought
piled upon her deck, eight broad,
fiat-bottOmed skiffs, each with two
pairs of oars and a steering oar.
Each Of US five Americans" as we
were called, to distinguish us from
the Cubans, was put in charge of a
boat, while the others were intrusted
to three Of our Cuban fellow-voyag-
ers.
The crew of the steamer went be-
low deck and passed up Ae cargo.
which was tossed into the boats with
feverish haste. / was able TO get
away first. and with a crew or four
at the oars pushed toward the surf,
which, owing TO the darkness, could
not be seen, but was distinctly audi
BILE.
There was a lot Of pitching and
bucking, was a wave or two broke
over us, but as soon as we struck,
oars were dropped and overheard we
went up TO our waists, caught the
boat by its sides, and ran up onto the
beach with il on the next wave. For
tunately, il was a perfectly clean,
shelving, sandy beach, and we got
through with nothing worse than a
superb ducking and boat half full
of water.
Surf Proves Troublesome.
On the way back we met several
others. and gave them the informa-
ton that the beach was a good one
but the surf troublesome. All lights
on the steamer had, of course, been
screened or extinguished, but a light
ed lantern had been hung over the
shire side for the purpose of guiding
returning boats.
My boat was nearing the Dauntless
for it's sixth load when We heard an
excited exclamation from the bridge,
and saw to the northward. over the
mangrOve bushes on the point, a
peculiar white light sweeping the
horizon. The steamer had not an
chored, but was keeping her ap-
proximate position by means Of her
screw, and had had on a full head OF
steam ever since approaching the
coast, ready to do her best in case
she had TO run for II.
There was no time TO lose. as to be
caught in this little pocket of bay
meant disaster. The engine bell rang
viciously. a black column Of smoke
poured from the funnel OF the Daunt-
less, and the race for life began.
The Dauntless plunged through the
water. and for a couple Of miles we
could trace her by the SNAKE and
sparks from her funnel. In order to
clear the point she had to run