The Cubans found that the vessel anchored at night, at a spot from which
she could easily be attacked from the shore.
[Illustration: Attack on Spanish Gunboat.]
One night they opened fire on the vessel, struck her in several places,
and damaged her. During the confusion on the ship, several boat-loads of
Cubans put off from the shore and boarded the _Cometa_.
A terrible fight took place. The commander and half the sailors were
killed, and the rest surrendered. The Cubans then burned the vessel.
This news comes from the Cuban side.
The Spaniards deny that any such fight took place, and the Admiral of the
fleet declares that he will have the _Cometa_ come into Havana harbor,
with all her flags flying, to show that she has not been burned.
It is so difficult to get at the truth of these reports.
The news of General Weyler is, that he has left Havana once more, and is
marching through the western end of the island, to convince himself, and
the authorities in Spain, that the rebellion is over, and the island has
been pacified.
He declares that he has not met a single Cuban in all his marches, that
there are no insurgents round Havana, and that sugar-grinding will be
begun very shortly.
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