The Portland daily press., 1896-02-26
Expedition Of Pillibusters Nabbed
In New York HarbOr.
A REVENUE CUTTER DOES THE
CATCHING.

New York. February 25.-The iron
steamer Bermuda, flying the British
flag, was boarded and seized by the
revenue off eerA off Liberty Island late
last night.
The Bermud had been under the watch
of Spanish spies for some time
They had reasons to believe she had
been bought by the Cuban revolutionists
ami was fitting out as flibuster. She
has been anchored off Liberty Island
since last Saturday, and yesterday there
was Evidence that she was prepa ring for
sea At II p. M, just after largs party
of Cubans had gone aboard, the revenue
cutter Hudson steamed alongside and
aboarding party arrested all on the Ber-
muda At midnight, the revenue steamer
Chandler started down the bay to catch
a lighter loaded with ammunition and
look for another party of Cubans who
had started to board the Bermuda. The
Bermuda was recently purchased by a
firm suspected OF being in league with
the revolutionary party. Last Saturday
she was taken to the coal docks at Port
Liberty and there coaled up. Then she
went to the Liberty Island anchorage
Clearance papers we're taken out yester-
day for the Bermuda to sail for Santa
Martina, United States of Columbia. APP
plioation was made at the Office of the
British consul after the closing hours of
business to ship crew. A vice consul
lnnocently went aboard and signed the
crew on the ship and everything Was
made ready for departure. The Spanish
spies watched all this, and suspecting
that the steamer would take aboard men
and ammunition last night prepared to
seize her.
At pier No. 4, East River, Tho tugs
William J. McCaldin and Arrow lay with
steam up. During the early hours of the
evening men wandered quietly towards
the pier, cautiously avoiding suspicious
men. All had their collars turned up TO
prevent recognition and wore SLOUGH
hats. Fifty of them went aboard the Nc
Oaldin and the same number aboard the
Arrow. Spanish spies watched these pro-
ceedings, and when the Arrow left the
dock at 8. 81 p m., followed closely by
the McC0ldin they FASTENED to report to
their chiefs. Meantime the steam
lighter j. S. I. Stranahan left tho foot
of King street, BROOKLYN, and disap-
peared in the darkness. 1t is not known
she was bound for some quiet place to
take in large quantities of ammunition.
The Spanish consul general, Senior
Topele, had chartered a swift tug, ready
for this emergency. She lay waiting at
the Battery landing. On receipt of the
news of the gathering of the filibusters,
United States Marshal McCarty, with
Deputy Marshal Kennedy and fifteen
other officers, together with fifteen
Pinkerten men, all heavily armcd, were
quickly taken on board.
Down the bay the cutter Hudson had
been watching the Bermuda for several
days. Captain Bradley concealed his
vessel behind huge coal hulk, close to
Liberty Island, and not light was
visible aboard. Even his side lights had
been extingnished. Marshal McCarty had
warrants permitting him to arrest all
filibusters found, and his men were eager
for the attack. The tug ran cautiously
alongside the revenue cutter Hudson, and
the officers were taken aboard. Signs of
activity were noticed OH the Bermuda,
and the tug was sent back for more help.
With only a Spanish agent and one
Pinkerton man aboard, the tug started
for the landing She headed up Butter
milk channel between Governors island
and the Brooklyn shore. and soon three
red lights we're sighted ahead Running
near az possible, the Spanish agent dis
oOSCIol uudb UH6 sU6adEl Lighter OUratld-
han was fast in the ice. She was loaded
down to her guards with ammunition
boxes. partly concealed by piles of cord
wood.
A number Of men were lying on the
deck. Behind the lighter, trying to push
her through the ice was the tug W. J.
McCaldin with many men on board.
Still further back was the tug McCaldin
Brothers, also loaded with men. After
considerable delay the lighter managed to
get through the ice and started down the
bay.
The Spanish consul's tug Immediately
darted around the northern side of Gov
ernor's Island and ran as fast as possible
to warn the revenue cutter OF the approach
of the vessel
In haitian hour tug was seen creeping
up to the Bermuda and the rafting Of
anchor chains was heard. Black smoke
poured out of the ste amer's funnel and
there was every indication of her hasty
departure. The tug which proved to be
the w. j. MoCaldin threw out her lines
to the Bermuda and the men were seen
scrambling aboard. Then Captain Brad
ley gave the command to go ahead full
speed, and the Hudson shot out from her
place. She was barely two hundred yards
from the suspected steamer The crew of
the tug saw her coming md casting off
lines with all haste the bells were runq
loI Idll bP3O0 duo1u U6 uf6HtHu
shovelled coal and the tug darted down
the bay with stream of fire pouring out
of her funnel.
The revenue cutter let her go. Bigger
game was in sight. 1t was the work of
very few minutes to run alongside the
Bermuda, sti II held by one partly raised
anchor. The marshals and Pinkerton
men swarmed aboard. No resistance was
offered by the frightened Grew and the
Cubans who had just come aboard.
Every man was seized. The marshals had
their revolvers in hand aud ran through
the ship from bridge to hold. The
Gu bans did not say word, but there
were loud walls from the crew. The
captain begged for mercy. He said that
he did NOT know where the ship was
bound nr what was expected of HIM when
he shipped. He had signed as first officer,
but on going Oh board had been told that
he was captain.
After gathering all the prisoners on
deck, sixty in number. they were led
over the rail to the Hudson and arranged
into small groups under guard. A few
of the regular shipped crew were left
Beechan's pills for consti-