The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-08-13
GUNBOArs HUNT IAURApA.
rhc spaniards Are Nav on Her Trail uud
Hope 10 Intcrccpt the Fiji buster,


Hope TO Inlcrcep, the Fiji buster.
Unless all signs fail one of the most ex-
citing episodes in the history of Cuban
dlibustering is likely TO happen within the
next week or ten days Another expedi.
tlon is off to the aid Of the patriots of the
"Ever Faithful Isle" and IA Spanish war
ship, The Riena Mercedes, is coming up the
Atlantic seaboard in search of it.
Nearly week ago the famous steamer
Laurada, which has done splendid work
In this cause OF Cuban liberty, steamed
away from her Philadelphia dock, havin g
cOastwise clearing papers foc the port of
Wilmington, Del. 1t was stated ut the
time that the vessel had been purchased by
Antonio Rub of Wilmington who
was said to have bought the vessel TO the
Cuban Junta.
The Laurada did not make prolonged
: stay at Wilmington, but after loading on
. an additional stock of provisions (she car
ried from this port an amount sufficient
to last an ordinary crew three months),
weighed anchor at Wilmington and
steamed out toward the Delaware Break.
: water, the revenue cutters that had been
watching her returned to this City. The
= authorities were fully satisfied that the
trip of the famous boat was to be perfect
ly legitimate one and that she was to re-
engage in the West India trade.
: Diligent inquiry was made yesterday and
1t was learned from inuisputable sources
: that the Laurada is again on her way to
Cuba, and that she will have, unless ar
rangements made miscarry, the best
equipped expedition Of the year aboard her
when she sights the shores of struggling
Cuba.
When the Laurada passed tho Break
. water her signals were made and answered
and the Maritime Exchange Of this city
{. undersl God that the steamer was off for
Port Antonio, Jamairn. Shortly after her
passing, however, Il steam tug. hauling 4
barge, passed out, and when about eight
miles from the coast many boxes Of arms
and ammunition were transferred from
the barge to he Laur;lda, which had cast
anchor and was in waiting.
Toward noon the ii tiblisterer steamed
away due cast, and the tug and barge re-
turned. No report of tn Q affair was m AIDE
by the officers of the breakwater station,
but somehow or another the news Of the
Lauradas sailing reached Havana that
same evening and the Riena Mercedes,
one of SPANS most powerful cruisers,
was forthwith ordered from the harbor.
=, What, tho orders to the Mercedes Syere
has since transpired for the cruiser made
for Key West and then steamed up tho
FlOrlua Gust COAST 1esIeFuay she was
off Jacksonville several miles.
Cubans in this city and Philadelphia
are anxiouSly awaiting developments, and
IL Is no exaggcration to say that there arc
many mlsglvingS among the friends Of
Cuba for the safety of the Laurada and
her crew.
From very rcliabloisour it was learn
ed yesterday that only u Inr0 Of the l.lll-
rada's cargo has been loaded aboard her
guns and two murtarS, besides Il quantity
of small arms and ammunition, left Tam.
pa secretly night before last. This latter
cargo 1t was intended to transfer to tho
Laurada on the high seas. Said u local
Cuban, prominent in revolutionary cir
Giles, last night;
"Now that the IIaulnda Is away aud that
the nameless ship has also put out from
Tampa, there can be 10 harm in saying
that the transfer of arms will be made on
the high seas, ut least one hundred miles
from the coast Of Florida. We knew in
this city that the Riena Mercedes had been
sent to Intercept the Lnurads, but us tho
cruiser Is clinging close to the land, you
may be sure she will see neither the Lnu.
rada nor the boat from which the Transfer
Of arms is to be made.
LANDING OF TIE EXPEDIrloS.
'The Laurnin's expedition will rot land
anywhere in pinhp Del Rio, and it is not
true that General Antonio Mnceo is prnnrd
up in TINT province ard badly III need Of
assistance. He has no desire to leave the
province, but will remain with his force in
the high and healthy hills, while Wrylcr 5
soldiers are dying by tho hundreds along
tho famous and useless trUaha
"Of course, it is not always possible to
tx place of landing for an expedition
since the coast is patruliGd ~ SUCH an cx-
tent by the Spanish navy Tic mtittur
of the selection of the landing place is
usually left with the master of tho vessel
and commander OF the expedition, They
are upon the scene and are. Of course, bet =
ter judges of what shuuid be done. II!
the unfortunate CHsc of the bermuda
last trip place Of landing The arn5 and
mon was agreed upon several days before
the vessel sailed. Somehow or another
the TACT leaked Out, and az IL result u half
dozen Spanish men-UI- war were in the
vicinity when the Bermuda made her i'll
fated attompt to land the cargo"
1t is said that there is absolutely no
truth in the statement published IN one vi
yesterdays papers to tn effect that Gen
Rolotf, Secretary Of War Of the Cuban
Republic, is in command Of the present
expedition. General ltuluif since being
wounded N Peso keuondo, six months
ago, has rclnalucd constantly with Ircsi.
dent CianrrOs and the other officers Of the
Cuban Government, i few days ago the
Junta in this city received IL noe from
Rolo1f, who was at that IiInc diauAlrging
the duties OF his Office 1T Cubitas
1t is believed in certain circles that tie
Llurada, although scheduled to siam
nearly 2VD miles ont to sea brfpTc chang.
ing her course To- tine atnItnwr.ul lIa not
follow her schedule, nut has skirirl the
AtifntlG C"hat in her trip To the tropics.