The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-30
STEAMER HAWKINS SCUTTLED.
TRAITOR ON THE SHIP SENT HER
TO THE BOTTOM.

10
The discovery of the Water in the
Engine Room Made by One of the
ruibustcrs and Not by the Captain
mr. Euginecr-The Vessel in Most
excellent Condition Before Sailing.
The Federal Authorities Now After
tbe Revolutionary Junta in New
York.
New York, Jan. 29.-This afternoon
7-rf-ed states Attorney MacFarlane ad-
-,.-+ad that under instructions from
washington the authorities here had been
,rvsstigating the dOings of the Cuban
-svolutfonists in this city for some time.
r4a said that it is the duty Of the col
le,tor Of the port to secure the neces-
sarv evidence, and that all prose-
crtion must be held under title 81 of the
United States revised statutes.
so far" Mr.. MacFarlane said, mo
warrant has been issued in the case of
the steamer Hawkins. The section of
the neutrality law applicable in the case
is No. 5.2S6, which reads: Every per-
SON within the territory or jurisdiction
of the United States who begins or sets
an foot. or provides for or prepares
means for any military expedition or
enterprise from thence against any for
eien prince or state, is deemed guilty of
q high misdemeanor and subject to a fine
not exceeding $1,000 and three years inn
prsonment."
Mr. MacFarlane said that it was for
Violating the section quoted that Capt
Hughes and others of the steamer Lau-
rada were recently tried at Charleston
Those responsible for the loss of the
Hawkins, Mr. MacFarlane said, can be
punished under the casualty act of June
20 1874, which requires a report to be filed
within five days by the owner agent or
master Of every wrecked vessel, with
the collector of customs in the district
10 which such vessel belongs.
The Hawkins was purchased through
resuOnsible American firm OF hlgh stand
irg She was bought in Baltimore, and
She was there examined from stem 10
stern. hull and machinery. She was pro-
nOuuced staunch, swift ana seaWorthy-
She was examined by an American eX-
pert and an engineer of known ability,
honesty and experience.
Even now there is no thought among
the cuban leaders here that the Hawkins
was anything but what her examiners
pronounced her. The cause OF her sink
ing must be looked for somewhere else.
OF course there can be no public investl-
CATION, but a private one Will De lnsu-
tuted. .-..-.
aboard the boat is the exceedingly fine
Hfeboats which the Hawkins carried.
1t was not expected by whoever gave
the vessel its mortal injury that every
avenue of escape would thereby be cut off.
If this be a correct suppoSitlon the re-
suit bears out the idea of the traitor
After the examination and purchase or
the Hawkins at Baltimore the ship was
coaled i'm that city. She behaved splendiq-
ly on her trip up here and seemed TO ful-
fill every requirement admirably. She
arrived here on the night of jan ~ anu
then took on her arms and ammunition;
When the Cubans had boarded her and
steamed for Cuba early Sunday morning
every one was in the best of spirits. They
thought that they had vessel under
them that would answer any ana all
calls that could be made upon II.
The Hawkins had on board III souls, all
told of which 1O1 were volunteers, ana a
crew of 49, Fifty more were expected,
but in the hurry OF leaving port these men
We're left behind. There was plenty OF
room for them on board. After the eX-
animation of the Hawkins in baltimore
she was re-examined in New York: What
was found true at the first examination
was more than substantiated at the sec
ond, when the Cubans themselves looked
the Hawkins over. The price paid for the
ship was a shade under $4,000. 1t was
perfectly satisfactory.
Ii was not until Monday night that
suspicion Of anything wrong ABOARD me
craft arose. Neither the captain nor the
engineer made the discovery that there
was water in the engine room. one OF lhe
volunteers found 1t out. Inc men WEI Z
hustled out of their hunks with hardly
a chance to put on their clothes.
The pumps, that shortly before were
known to be in good working order, re
fused to answer their purpose. They were
clogged. resort to buckets was all that
was left to the patriots.
The survivors who We're landed IN bos-
ton reached New York last night 1t was
then finally known what the loss IN men
amounted to. ten, all toldA of whom, five
were volunteers and five members OF the
Hawkins crew.
Among those in authority the suppose
uon that the Hawkins was not thorouShly
seaworthy is not entertained Some one
aboard is held responsible for the dls-
aster.
1t was rumored to-day that Senor Pal
ma president of the junta, has rendered
his resignation. This is not rue, and Sehof
Palma said tonight: Il will not resign or
ahandon my post until Cuba is tree. ne
resolution Of the committee on fofelSh
affairs is the first step toward our recog-
milton of bellgerent rights, Whlch VIII
come later on. The report that we have
been the victim of a traitor IS false.
Notwithstanding his denial many Gu
bans believe the flibustering expedition
was betrayed
New Bedford Mass, Jan. @-Deputy
United States Marshal Francis X. Mac
Donald and James II. Rhul arrived here
yesterday afternoon from Boston Wlth d
warrant for the arrest of twenty-five OF
the Cuban filibusters who had escaped
from the steamer j. W. Hawkins. Iner
errand was unsuccessful, however, as lhe
tibusters had received funds from New
York and left the city.