Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-03
FIL[BUSTERS SET SAIL.
GEN. AGUERO AT THE HELM
ARMED MEN AT HIS BACK.

A Belief that They Have Joined a Large
ExpeditiOn-The Start Made at Night
An Unsuccessful Chase by the Revenue
Cutter Dix-Key West Greatly Excited.
KEY WEST, FLA, 10 A. NJ, April RE
liable reports say that the schooner Sho-
hers left here last night with Gen. Aguero
and twenty men, weIl-armed. The reve-
nue. cutter Dix left this morning in pur-
SUIT, with the Spanish Consul. There is
much excitement here this morning.
WHAT THE SPANISH CONSUL SAW.
KEY WEST, FLA, April ?, 3 P. NJ
Gen. Aguero, with about a dozen men.
is said to have cleared out last night
about II O'Clock. a twenty ton schooner
is missing, which they stole or bought
The Spanish Consul declares that he was
near the beach and saw them 90 aboard.
He says that he then went to the revenue
cutter and requested that she should
chase the schooner, and was told that the
cutter would leave in pursuit at O'Clock
lie also visited both war vessels here and
was told that they had no boats ready.
The revenue cutter Dix went in pursuit
OF the schooner this morning.
THE CAUSE OF THE EXCITEMENT.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-InformatiOn
originating with the Spanish Consul at
Key West was received by Secretary
Folger through State Department chan
nels last Saturday evening to the effect
that Cuban revolutionary expedition
was being organized at Key West by Gen
Aguero; that he had collected l 900 we'll
armed men and stores of explosives. and
that the expedition might be expected to
depart from our shores at an early dav.
Orders were thereupOn telegraphed to the
commanders OF the revenue cutters Gov
Dix, supposed to be at Key West, and the
George ;. Boutwell,, at Savannah. to take
steps TO prevent any such violation of the
law, and instructions were also tele-
graphed to two special agents of the
Treasury Department-one in Florida and
the other in GeOrgia-to proceed to Kew
west and assist in any needed lnvestiga-
tiOn.
THE CUTTER DIX.
The Dix, however, had left Kew West
saturday for Cedar KEYS, 300 miles dis
tant, and the message to her commander
reached him only Monday when he ar
rived at Cedar Keys. The Dix then
started back Immediately, and nothing
has since been heard from her at the de-
partment, but no doubt is entertained
that she started in pursuit of the iilibus-
tering schooner, as stated in the press
dispatch from Key West early this morn
ing. The alleged delay in starting is ac-
counted for by the necessity of cOaling
alter the cruise TO Cedar KEYS. AS the
DIX IS under steam and capable of making
ten or eleven knots an hour, it is believed
she viii readily overhaul the small sail
ing schooner, unless the latter deviates
from the usual course to Cuba and eyades
direct pursuit by temporary cOnceGment
along our shore.
THE BOUTWELL,.
The Boutwell, has probably by this time
reached a position to aid in the work of
search or capture, but nothing has been
heard from her since her departure. Our
government was similarly informed sew
eral months ago thata tilibustering expe-
dition against Cuba was said to be
organizing at New Orleans, and several
or our revenue vessels have been con-
tinuously on the watch for it ever since.
but without discovering any attempt at
an evasion of the law.
GEN. AGUERo's PLANS.
Gen. Carlos Aguero, a few davs ago
having just returned from New Orleans.
in an interview at Key West with cor
respondent of the New York Herald. said:
'lf the Spanish government believed for
moment that in quitting Cuba | was
not to return to it, no greater mistake
could nave been made. Ever since land
ing in Key West ! have been in cOmmu-
nication with the Cuban revolutionary
centres throughout the United States de-
Vlslng plans and perfecting arrange
ments for an aggressive campaign. | am
in full accord with all the leaders. My
visit to New Orleans had this also for its
object, and | can assure YOU that within
a very brief period the Spanish papers
will have occasion to report my arrival
in Cuba. l cannot, of course, divulge
any OF our proposed plans; but, as Before
stated, 1 consider that the time has
arrived when renewed efforts should
be made and active measures
taken tending toward the liberation
OF Cuba from Spanish aggression. The
commercial affairs of that island have
reached crisis. Banks are suspending;
-Old-established business firms are daily
| beng dragged in the general m9lstrOm
of failures. From all the principal CEN
tres is heard the universal groaning
| against high taxes and hard times, which
| have been hanging over the island like an
| incubus for several years, while the gen.
eral government is not only pOwerless to
| offer any relief, but is unable to see its
way out of the dilemma. We should,
| therefore, be prepared when the OppOr-
tune moment arrives to strike the decisive
blow which will at once and forever blot
out Of existence the only remnant of
| Spanish rule in the Western Hemis-
phere."
THE DIX's CRUISE FRUITLEss.
KEY WEST, April 2, II p. M-The
revenue cutter Dix after cruising all day
in pursuit of the filibustering schooner.
returned this evening. Nothing was seen
of Gen. Aguero's craft. While the party
may have proceeded direct to Cuba on its
own account, the more probable theory,
and the one generally entertained here
is that Gen. AguerO had arranged to first
join some other and larger force which
would have escaped from some point on
| the gulf.