Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-26
CAPTURE OF THE COMPETITOR.
Graphic story-CrueIty OF the span
Inrds to Prisoners.

KEY WEST, FLA, May 25.-The cor
respondent OF the Southern Associated
Press has received the following graphic
account Of the capture OF the schooner
Connection by the steamer Mascotte'
which arrived here from Habana Satur-
day night. My informant writes that the
Competitor reached the coast Of cuba
about midday Of April 18th, and came to
anchor about a mile from BerracoS,
small village on the west coast OF CuDa
botween Nluriel and Esperanza. bar
prevented a nearer approach TO the hnd.
lust before coming to anchor small
6sbing-boat was seen to hoist sail and
start down towards port EsperanZl, and
as il was afterwards learned, reported the
matter 10 the authorities.
The Competitor had three small boats,
one OF which was supplied with sail
and in this boat Antonio Cristo, one OF the
seventeen men, was sent On shore 10
reconnoitre. Everything looked favorable,
and they loaded the other two boats
with ammunition and provisions, and
started for the shore. William Levitt
and Charles Barnett were detailed 70
bring the boats back 10 the schooner.
In the mean time the sail-boat had re-
turned and reported that about three
miles to the southwark were 600 troops
and on the northward 200 more, and as
there was only one pass into the harbor
they must move quick.
In a few minutes after the boats had
left the schooner the launch MansaJera
hove in sight Colonel Munzon ordered
the balance OF his men into the boat
loaded it with ammunition, and started
for the land. Benjamin Guerk and an
other sailor were detailed to return to the
Competitor for the rest Of the party.
About the same time that MunZOn left
the schooner the two small boats were
seen TO start for the Competitor, towing
one behind the other, but before they got
very far from the land the Mansajera
opened fire on the Competitor. The first
shot fell one mile wide, but at every
discharge they came nearer. Finally
they came so close that the water splat,
tered over the schooner
There were on the vessel at this tune
Ia Borde. captain; William Gildea, mate
Orla Milton, special correspondent Of the
Times-Union; Elias Bedia, and Augustin
Quesada. Of Key West La Borde ordered
the schooner TO hoist the American flag,
but the halyards became fastened In the
topsail. and then they fastened it on the
forosail boom. Munzon. in his haste 10
get away, left behind several boxes Of
dynamite, and the firing was SO rapid
aud the shots came so close that La
Borde. Quesada, and Glldea became
alarmed and started 10 swim ashore
Milton, Bedia, and Maza remained on
board.
MUNZON ASHORE
Munzon and party had by this time
reached the shore ana were landing.
and the Mansajera directed her guns on
them, killing one OF the horses which
Cristo and his men We're using Que5ada
had already disappeared having un-
doubtediy been seized by a shark La
Borde says he saw large shark pass by
him and towards Quesada. Two sailors
rowed the boat, while the others kept up
a constant fire. first at La Borde aud
then at Gildea, who were IN the water.
They fired forty or nifty shots at La Borde
before they overlook him. Cildea, who Is
an excellent swimmer, was rapidly
lessening the distance between him ard
the land. Seeing this, the Spanish opened
fire on him. and finally overlook him
about 100 yards from shore. They then
returned 10 La Borde, who was sinking
for the third time. They took him IN
the boat where he lay insensible for
more than an hour.
Munzon, while the Spaniards were cap
turing La Borde and Gildea, had landed.
Crlsto had secured all the horses he could
find and loaded them with ammunition.
The two bodies OF Spanish troops on
shore had been notified. and were on
the march to cut them on from the
mountain pass. Munzon was thereby
compelled TO abandon his provisions $1,000
rounds Of ammunition, and about thirty