The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-30
A TRAITOR SUSPECTED
Among the Band Of FlIIbusteTs Who En-
harked on the I|l-Fated Steamer Hawkins
THE STEAMER SAID TO HAVE BEEN SOUND

Hnte Investigation 10 be Conducted
To Prosecute the Instisntors of
the Expedition.
New York. Jan. 29-This afternoon
United States Attorney MacForlane ud-
united that under instructions from
washington the authorities here had
been investigating the doings of the
I,uhan residents in this city for some
Time. He said that it is the duty of the
collector of the port TO secure the neces.
Sary evidence that all prosecutions must
be held under title 81. of the United
states Revised Statutes
so far" Mr.. MacFarlanc said, mo
warrants have been issued In the case
ol the steamer Hawkins. The section
OF the neutrality law applicable In the
case is number 5.2SG. which reads:
Every person within the territory
or jurisdiction of the United States who
Deslns or sets on foot. or provides for.
petition or enterprise from thence
against any foreign Prince or State. is
deemed guilty Of Il high misderneanor
and subject To a-tine not exceeding s., 900
and three years Imprisonment
Mr.. MacFarlane said that is was
Tor violating the section quoted that
captain Hughes and others of the
steamer l-aurada We're recently tried at
Charleston. Those responsible for the
loss of The Hawkins MIR. MucF'arian
said, can be punished under the casual
" act of June 20 1874. which requires n
report 10 be filed within five days by
the owner, agent or master of every
wrecked vessel. with the Collector OF
Customs In the district to which such
vessel belongs.
The Hawkins was purchased through
responsible American firm of high
standing. She was bought In Baltimore
anu she was there examined from stem
to stern. hull and machinery. She was
pronounced staurch, swift and sea-
worthy. She was examined by an Amer
lcan expert and an engineer OF known
ability. honesty and experience
Even now, there Is no thought among
he Cuban leaders here that the Haw-
kins was anything but what her ex-
aminerS pronounced her. The cause of
her sinking must he looked for. some
where else. OF course. there can be
no public investigation. but Il private
one will be instituted.
the great fact which points toward
a traitor aboard the boat is tho exceed
inHlN fine llfeboatS which the Hawkins
carried
Afier the examination and purchase of
the inWkins at Baltimore. the ship was
coalcd in that city. She behaved splen-
didly ON her trip mp here and seemed
to fulfill every requirement admire bly
She arrived here on the night OF Janu-
AIRY I'D and then took on her arms and
ammunition. When the Cubans had
boarded her and she steamed for Cuba
early Sunday morning, every one was
IN the best of spirits They thought
they had a vessel under them that would
answer any call that could be made
upon il.
The Hawkins had on board III souls,
all told Of which l0I were volunteers
and crew of lG. Fifty more were cx-
cd 1ttt !, Itt,., -,
these men were left behind. There was
plenty of room for them on board. Az
ter the eNa mination of the Hawitins In
Baltimore. she was re-eXamined in New
York. What was found true ut the first
examine ton was more Than suhStan-
iiated at the second. when the Cubans
themselves looked the Hawkins over
The price paid for the ship was a
shade under $4,000 1t was perfectly
satisfactory.
1t was not until Monday night that
n suspicion OF anything wrong aboard
the craft arose. Neither the captain
nor the engineer made the discovery
that there was water in the engine
room. One of the volunteers found II
out. The men were hustled out Of their
hunks with hardly a chance to put on
their clothes The pumps. that shortly
before were known TO he in good work
ing order. refused to answer their pur-
pose. They were clogged. a resort 10
buckets was all that was left TO the
patriots.
The survivors who were landed in
Boston. reached New York last night.
II was then finally known what the
loss III men amounted to-ten, all told.
OF whom flve We're volunteers and five
members of the Hawkins crew.
Among those i'm authority the supposi-
ton that the Hawkins was not thorough
ly seaworthy is not entertained. Some
one aboard is held responsible for the
disaster.