Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-29
A MODERN PIRATE.


An Exciting Chase and Capture I'm the Gulf
Of Mexico.
smuggler flying the Spanish Gag has been
captured in the Gulf Of Mexico by the revenue
steamer McLane, Capt. Thomas 8. smyth COM
handing and taken to Key West for adjudica-
ton. A special dispatch from Key West, Fla,
to the Philadelphia Press today says:
Reports of a large increase in Illicit trade BE-
tween the West Indies and the United States
have from time to time reached the ears Of the
officials at Washington since the passage by
Congress of the Mckinley bill. Therefore the
revenue steamer McLane was fitted out and
given sealed orders TO cruise diligently In the
gulf in search of depredating vessels. Vessels
Of a suspicious character had been frequently
sighted of Sanibel Island, but never had been
intercepted in their unlawful traffic. This
freedom from capture was mainly due to the
extreme artfulness of the smuggler captains
and the tricks Of the inhabitants of Sanibel
Island, who are supposed to be aiders and
abettors Of the smugglers.
BLACK sLooP APPEARS.
The McLane, after sailing from Key West on
the 10th instant. with Special Agent Williams
aboard, encountered heavy weather during the
night and put into Punta Rosa for q harbor
The following day the storm had by no means
abated and an armed crew under the command
OF Lieut.. Uberroth was dispatched to the inlets
and shallow streams about Sanibel. Soon
small black sloop was seen in the distance work
ing in toward land. Lieut.. Uberroth concealed
his crew in the lee Of the island and patiently
awaited the advent of the black sloop. Within
an hour the sloop had reached the entrance of
the harbor. The revenue boat ct once put of
for her.
Upon being discovered the captain of the
siooP. in the twinlAing Of an eye, put his helm
up, and went saiiISsg of before the wind. In
his excitement, however, he had missed his
bearings, and IN few moments his vessel struck
the shoal water and ran high and dry upon a
reef. Lieut.. Uberroth and his crew were soon
alongside the black sloop, but after a thorough
search OF her cargo and an examination of her
documents found nothing that would excite
suspicion, although 1t had been previously re-
ported that small black sloop had left Key
West to assist in loading a cargo of struggled
goods on board a vessel towering about Sanibel.
lhe captain Of the sloop appeared somewhat
reticent and contradictory in his answers to the
questions put to him by the young lieutenant.
This aroused the officers suspicion, and he de-
termined to stay by the sloop until he could as
certain by some means her errand in these shall
low waters. A paper resembling receipted
bill was finally discovered among the papers
produced by the captain of the sloop. 1t was
dated Sanibel December 16. and was a bill for
q large amount of new tobacco and cigarettes.
As these articles are not for sale on the island,
1t became at once evident that the sloop had
been trading with some vessel near the coast,
especially as the paper was signed by one
Julian Perez, /" and marked duplicate"
SPANISH DESPERATE.
Julian Perez is well known in Spanish waters
and is desperate and lawless man. He has
been master of numerous vessels engaged in
the smuggling business and although often seen
on our coast has by his shrewdness defied the
authorities and escaped them when at times
his capture seemed certain. Capracino. as the
master of the black sloop is named. appeared
very much agitated and uneasy upon the dis
covery of the paper and at once wished to prove
his innocence Of any intention to smuggle.
Lieut.. Uberroth, believing tina. by intimidating
him he would reveal the whereabouts of Julian
Perez, told Capracino that he would be put
under arrest and sent to Key West for trial.
At this he began to plead piteously, declaring
that he had nothing whatever to do with the
transportation of goods to the mainland. but
that Julian Perez, whose vessel now lay at
anchor one mile from the south point Of Sani-
bel, had tried TO employ him to land q cargo off
Bowditch's Point.
IN QUEST OF THE PIRATES.
Lieut. Uberroth had heard enough. Without
a moments delay he put off for the pirates"
hiding place. The gale had increased and,
finding that his six-oared boat made but little
Roadway, signaled the McLane to take him on
oooiu. oiuitu, upOH uestTlut, tAc utuleu-
ants report, put to sea with the greatest posi-
BILE dispatch and. upon rounding the south end
OF Sanibel Island, deserted schooner five miles
away. Upon coming up with her she proved to
be the Angelica. Lieut.. Uberroth, with his
armed crew, put off for her. Upon reaching
her deck man jumped into the rigging and dis
PLAYED the Spanish nag.
The captain. upon the demand for his sailing
papers, gave the officer grocery bill and said
he had 10 other. When asked if he was Julian
Perez he answered in the negative. The vessel
had evidently landed her cargo. for nothing
contraband could be found aboard She was
in ballast with a goodly supply of sea stores.
Having no manifest. clearance and register,
the captain was informed that he was under ar
rest and that his vessel would be seized and
taken to Key West.
He declared he would die rather than submit
to capture. Capt Smyth, turning to his men,
called tor volunteer officer to take the vessel
with her crew to Key West Lieut.. Uberroth
responded Picking his men from the cutters
crew, all well armed, the lieutenant took COM
mand of the smugglcr. As the smuggler cap
threatening language, even going SO far as to
urge the revenue crew to mutiny against their
officers and turn pirates. it was deemed advis-
able to take the menacing captain off to the cut
ter where he was retained for safe keeping.
The next morning at daybreak the schooner
got under way and sailed to Key West, a dis
lance of $50 miles. Upon arrival here she was
made fast 20 the government wharf, and Lieut..
Uberroth was relieved by the arrival of the Gus
toms inspector.