The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-07

were thirty boxes of proclamations and
other important documents.
one OF the newspaper correspondents
on board the schooner is named Hamilton.
Others refuse to divulge their names.
The local guerilla force in Pinar del
Rio, near where the Competitor was first
sighted by the gunboat, has CAPTURED
thitry-two boxes of ammunition. which
had already been landed, apparently from
the Competitor. The guerillas also
made prisoners of two men, believed to be
Americans.
The tilibusterers who succeeded in get
ting ashore, either by swimming or other
means, opened fire from the swamp on
the gunboat,, which was assisting the
government force on shore. and the war
ship replied, killing three of the party.
CUBAN CONSPIRACY FOOLED.
New York, April 29.-The Herald this
morning says:
The Spanish authorities here and in
Washington have recently discovered a
conspiracy formed by Cubans to blow up
a Spanish warship and at the same time
intercept mail steamship and rob her
of large quantity of gold intended for
the government troops in the island The
plot included further, the capture of the
seaport town of Nuevitas and contem-
plated demonstrations against the north
ern sections of the eastern Cuban prov
lnces in order to participate a rush of
troops from the west and effect weaken
ing of the military trocha across Pinar del
Rio.
While the disclosure of the conspiracy
may not discourage the Cuban leaders. it
Will require an entire change in the tactics
to attempt to free Antonio Maceo from
the uncertain position he occupies in the
extreme west of Cuba, and in Spanish cir
cles it is looked upon in the light of a blow
to the Cuban cause.
The plot originated and was perfected
in this city, with the assistance of the
insurgent leaders in Cuba. The first
blow was to be struck month hence.
The revolutionists of Cuba have felt for
some time the necessity of Selling and
holding seaport town, and have made
several efforts to gain possession of some
small towns on the coast of Cuba. Final
ly the congress decided that Nuevitas. on
the northern coast of Puerto Principe
province, was the most available point
1t is situated at the head Of the harbor
of Nuevitas, which is entered only through
a long, winding and narrow channel. The
harbor is well sheltered from the sea and
affords an excellent anchorage. The
town is not strongly guarded.
The coast line Peninsula mail steamer
stops at Nuevitas at regular intervals,
and when there are funds and supplies on
board the boat is escorted by a Spanish
cruiser. After a long survey the Cubans
devised a plan by which formidable de-
monstrations could be made at Nuevitas
in order to force Gen. Weyler to send
strong bodies of troops to the eastern end
of Cuba. 1t was decided that it would
be possible to blow up Spanish vessel
H., H.
mel to Nueyitas harbor, and the wreck
would so completely block the entrance
that no vessel could pass in to rout the
rebels after they had captured the place.
The rebel president entrusted the carry
ing cut of the plot to one of the members
of the Cuban revolutionary party IN TINS
city. The latter called to his aid an adj
venturous young American, who began
to perfect all the details. 1t was not long
afterwards that the Spanish and American
detectives were on the trail OF the JUDAH
plotters. .,e
Cuban agents for the purchase of Cape
Ann schooner and New England skip
per was employed to navigate her.
small steam tender was purchased when
was to be carried on board the schooner.
The entire outfit had been estimated 10
cost not more than $4,000,
Those i'm the scheme were promised III
the event of success, 100000 and one
half of any prize they found on the man ma
steamer to be trapped and sliced. Inc
schooner. the Spanish authorizes leiLii-
ed with her crew. was to san from tiliS
port as fisherman. She would carry III
addition to thirty days supply Tor loui
men. besides the crew, the steam I, tenuer,
coal for the tender, several small KEYS
Il .&,,. hot
pounds of dynamite. The schooner was
to take the far outside course. The pro-
gram was to launch the small steam Ten
der at night when near the cuban coas.
and to work back and forth between tne
shore and the schooner under cover Vi
darkness. using no shiplights. The men
who were to do the wrecking of the Span
ish cruiser. the dynamite and other ma
terial were to be landed and concealed
on a plantation near the coast close W
the entrance to Neuvitas harpor. run
this plantation the Cubans could rush ~
the channel and lay to at the only pom.
where warship could pass III ie9' 'n"A
two hours time. .,,
Information received by the Spanish
authorities indicated that as soon as
Neuvitas should fall and the cruiser pe
DESTROYED strategic movements were "
be made around Puerto Principe, santa
Clara, Cardenas and other eastern
points.
A reporter saw the Spanish consul gen,
eral, Arturo Baldasano. yesterday. 1e
claimed that the Spanish authorities hau
received information of the plot: he salu
I'VE hear occasionally of some OF tne
murderous and anarchistic plots, some
time ago we learned of a plot to blow up
the Infanta Isabel off Key West. we
knew enough about this conspiracy
against a Spanish vessel to prevent us
accomplishment if il is ever attempted