The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-18
TAKEN AS FILIBUSTERS.
Thirty Five Men Arrested
Claim They Were on
a Picnic.
ALL HELD FOR EXAMINATION
Spaniards Have Evacuated Banes,
Most Important Port
for Fruit.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Sept. IA
cablegram to the Times Union from Key
West. Fla, says: During the last four
on in this city over the report that fill
clustering expedition had started from this
island. Since the report the customs Off
GERS and the captains of the revenue cut
ters Winona, Merrill and Mclean, under
instructions OF Deputy Collector Knight,
have been endeavoring to capture the ex-
pedition.
Yesterday, believing that the party had
effected landing on one of the near keys
the cutter Winona was dispatched to Pine
key. where she arrived this morning and
found the schooner Lark, of nine tons, off
Key West.
Captain Abbey of the Winona sent on
board Lieutenant Sill. who found thirty
five Cubans secreted in the hold. The cap
tain whose name appears on the license of
the Lark was not on board. One Cuban
named Reyas was acting as master. Not
being able to give satisfactory explana-
ton why the unusually large number of
persons were on his vessel the Lark was
taken in tow by the Winona and brought
to this port and turned over to the customs
authorities. There were no arms or am
munition on board. This fact will no
doubt make it difficult for the Government
to make case against the parties.
Several wealthy Cubans have been wait
ing around the United States courthouse
door prepared to sign any bonds that may
be required for their unfortunate country
men.
The thirty-five Cubans arrested were
landed this afternoon and carried before
Commissioner Otto, who released them
under $50 bonds each, to appear before him
Thursday morning. Carlos Recio and M.
M. Cordero going surety on each bond.
The Courthouse was literally packed with
their sympathizers. Cubans here claim
that the party was on picnic.
BOSTON, MASS, Sept. 1.-THE Span
iards have evacuated Banes, the most i'm
portant fruit port on the northern coast of
Cuba. The Spanish soldiers made feeble
attempt to defend the place, but the re bells
were too strong for them. This is very
serious matter for the Spaniards.
The British steamer Taft, which arrived
at this port to-day with cargo of bananas,
brings the first account of the evacua ton
at BaneS, and also brings reports Of most
serious state of affairs in this part of the
island. M. Dumois, who practically owns
the town of Banes, and who is one of the
wealthiest planters on the island, sent the
Spanish officials at Gibara, about forty
miles distant, an urgent request for troops
and he placed the Taft at the disposal of
the Government for transportation of the
soldiers. The commandant at Gibara
has his hands full, as the insurgents are
tracking down soldiers every day, and
Gibara itself, which is one of the strongest
and best fortified cities on the coast, is in
perilous position. The Spaniards have be-
tween 1000 and 5000 soldiers at this point
and two men-of-war in the harbor.
About 100 soldiers were hastily put on
board the Taft and shipped to Banes, but
after they arrived there they found that
the rebels had already sacked the town and
were camped on the outskirts to the num-
ber of about 5000.
There were about seventy-fve soldiers in
the fort of Banes while the rebels were
attacking the place, but they remained
carefully under shelter and did not dare to
show themselves. When the Taft arrived
with the re-enforcements council of war