The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-11-30
lEows osrnosa. usDnn AnnEsr.
The Captain and Flr.t oaissr Charged with
Aiains Cuban Insurgents


Charged with violating section $3.50 of
the United States Revised Statutes, Cap
tain Frederick svsnoe, and First oficer
Ragnar Christiansen of the Norwegian
steamer Leon, were arrested by Deputy
United States Marshal David Hughes yes
terday and arraIgned before United States
Commissioner S. Redmond Smith. and
each held for hearing in $1,000 bail.
The warrants were sworn out at 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon by DR.. Jose
Congosto. the Spanish consul in Philadsl-.
phia, who had come to Wilmington to
do 30. The papers were put In thY hands
OF the deputy marshal, who Immediately
proceeded 10 the works of the Harlan and
Hoiiingsworth Company. where the chip
is lying i
The Norwegian flag which at first sight
looks like the English nag. was flying at
the stern OF the vessel First Ohicer Chris
tianscn had charge Of the deck, and when
asked for the captain made his way to-
ward the cabin. The captain was lust
emerging from the door, and as he came
out gave au order to one Of the crew. The
deputy read the warrant and there was
no evidence Of surprise on Captain Sva-
noes face. The mate was then sent for
and the warrant read to him. He. too.
appeared to take the arrest as a matter
could change his clothing.
The deputy marshal then went to the
wharf and was followed Immediately by
the captain. who had put on a heavy
oyercoat. N. X. Benson had been sent
for, and In the meanwhile the captain
asked to be allowed to read the warrant.
He scanned the document carefully. and
when he came to the signature of the
Spanish consul he asked what he had to
do with him. THAI he said, pointing
to the Leon, 'is a Norwegian ship"
Mr.. Hughes told him that he had nothing
whatever to do with that; his duty was to
serve the warrant and produce the prison.
ers forthwith. Captain Benson sent mes
senger to the office with orders to have the
double carriage sent to the pier and Dis
| trict Attorney Vandegrift was telephoned
to informing him that the arrests had been
made and that the prisoners would be at
| the Federal building Immediately. The
wife of the captain stood on the deck look
ing on apparently amused. The whole af-
| fair appeared to strike her sense of the
| ridiculous. pug dog, which belongs ON
| the boat, kept up continual barking. The
| prisoners accompanied by Captain Benson
and the deputy marshal, were driven to the
Federal building, where Commissioner
| Smith and District Attorney Vandegrift
| were In waiting
| A passenger of the Leon. An
| drew J. Mulliean. had followed
| the carriage on a run and arrived at the
building out Of breath and in a lather Of
perspiration. Mr.. Mulligan called the
captain out of the room for a moment and
when he returned the latter said he
| wanted to be taken to Philadelphia and
| tried there. The commissioner said he
would have to srraign them. after which
u a Il rha
prisoners then stood up and had the charge
| read to them.
In effect 1t was that on or about August
IA last they had knowingly, in the Eastern
district of the State of Pennsylvania, begin
set on foot provide and prepare for a
military expedition or enterprise against
the dominions of foreign state, namely,
the King of Spain, with whom the United
States are now at peace" After pleading
not guilty each of the men was held to ap-
pear before Judge Wales at noon to-day.
Nathaniel r. Benson went on the bond.
After the hearing the captain said that he
did not know whether he would waive a
hearing and have the case transferred to
Philadelphia or not.
i He had counsel and friends in the latter
city, he said, and was disposed to think a
transfer would be better He would not
talk about the charges made against him
The vessel was not seized or searched
After the hearing the prisoners went
aboard again. Consul Congosto was not al
tho hearing, having gone back to Philadei'
phia. as soon as the warrants were issued
| The prisoners are charged with having
taken a party of filibusters and a big iot
of munitions of war on the coast of Cuba
There have been number OF reports as tc
the number OF men and the amount of arms
and ammunition. The Spanish Govern
ment has had detectives upon the case ant
1t is thought that the story from the Span
ish side will come out at the hearing to-
day..