The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-26
The Schooner Competitor Captured BY the
Steamer Mascoite While Landing Arms
FOR THE PATRIOTIC ARMY OF INSURGENTS
n Graphic Account Of the Capture
anda Revolving Story OF the Tor
lures Imposed Upon the Prisoners
by the SIsanisl, Authorities TO HaLe
Them Reveal Cuban Secrets,

spondent OF thG Southern Associated
PreS'i has received the following graphic
account of the capture of t(ae schooner
Competitor by the steamer Mascotte,
which arrived here from Havana Satur-
day night. The Competitor reached the
coast of Cuba about midday OF April
25uh, and came to anchor about a mile
from Erracos, a small village on the west
coast of Cuba, between Muriel and B.-
peranza. "a bar prevented a nearer APP
proach to the land. Just before coming
TO anchor, small fish.ng boat was seen
to hoist sail and start down towards port
EspeTanza, and as Ii was afterwards
learned, reported the matter 10 the au-
'aaon:tes. The Competitor had three
small boats. one of which was supplied
with sail, and lin this boat Antonio
Christie and seventeen men were present
on shore TO reconnoitre.
Ilhey afterwards loaded the other boat 5
with the ammunition and provisions and
started for the shore. WiE.am Levitt
and Charles Barnett were were detfled to
bring thelm back to the schooner In the
meantime tfe recommending party return
ed and reported that about three miles
10 the Southwald were six hundred
troops. and on the northward 200 more.
and as there was only one pass into the
inte:tor Ut was necessary to move outok-
er or they would be cut off A few mo-
ments after the boats with the ammuni-
ton and provisions had left the schooner.
the launch Mansajera hove in sight. Col.
onel Munzon ordered the balance of hds
men into the boat and loaded her with
ammunition and started for land. BEN
)acli!n tBurk and anp'sher sailor were de-
tailed ITO return to the Competitor for the
rest of the party.
About the same time that A1unzon left
the schooner the two small boats were
set 10 start Tor the Competitor, towing
one behind the other, but before they
had got very far from the land, the Man
saJera opened fire on the Competitor.
The first shot fell about one mile wide,
put at every discharge they came nearer
untii hnally they came so close that the
Wafer spattered over dhe schooner.
There were on the vessel at this time
Alfredo La aBorde, captain; William GIL
dea. mate; Orna Milton, special CORE
spondent of the Time Union: DR.. Elias
Berdia and Augustin Quesoda, of Key
West, and Theodore Masa The, second
mate tried to hoist the American flag,
but the halyards became fastened in the
topsail and then they fastened IL on
the foresail boom.
MunZon, in his haste 10 get away.
left behind several boxes of dynamite.
and the firing was so rapid and the shots
coming so close that LaBorde, Quesa da
and Gildea became alarmed and started
TO swim ashore. Milton, Bedia and Maza
remained on board. Munzon and party
had by this time reached the shore and
were landing and the Mansajera direct
ed her guns on them. killing one OF the
horses which Cristo and his party had
secured.
The Spanish boat anchored at the bar
and dispatched a small boat manned by
nVe sailors to capture the men in the
water Quesada had already disappear
ed, having undoubtedly been seized by a
shark. La Borde states that he saw a
large shark pass by him and towards
Quesada. Two sailors rowe6 the boat
while the other kept up q constant fir
ing, first at La Borde and then at GIL
dea. They fired forty or fifty shots at
La Borde before they overlook him
Gildea, who is an excellent swimmer
was rapidly lessening the distance he
tween him and the land. Seeing this
the Spaniards opened fire on him and
iinaliy overlook him about 100 yards
from the shore. They then proceeded
10 La Borde, who was sinking for the
third time. They took him into the
boat, where he lay insensible Munzon,
while the Spaniards were capturing La
Borde and Gildea, had landed. Cristo
mad secured all the horses he could find
and loaded them with ammunition.
The two Spanish troops on shore had
been notified and We're trying to cut
them Off from the mountain pass. Mum
Zon was thereby compelled to abandon
MS provisions, 10000 rounds of ammunl.
ton and about thirty rifles, and started
for the pass. His men carried $50 rifles
and 10000 rounds of ammunition. Each
man was armed with rifle. a revolver
and machete OF the finest make. Bent
Gurk. Mormon from Dantzic. was one
OF the party. Levitt and Barnett reach
ed the shore just after Munzon had left
and not knowing the country. wandered
about until they were captured by Cant
Pozo. Although Levitt and Rarnstt
We're unarmed Pozo was decorated with
red cross in recognition of the brave
capture.
After taking La Borde and Gildea the
Spuniards returned to the Connection
and called on Milton. Bedia and Maza
to surrender, but fearing treacherv
compelled them to jump overheard he
fore they would approach the side or
the schooner. The prisoners were then
tied with their arms behind them In
most barbarous manner, so tha, I'm
q lew moments all were suffering the
greatest agony. They were then car
rled to Mansajarea, which law about
loo yards off, and placed on the decx
ana after several hours OF Intense suf,
fering they were landed on the dock at
Port Esperanza. where al heavy guard
Was placed over them. and after a few