The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-30
TAKEN BY SPANIARDS
AMERICAN SCHOONER COMPETITOR
CAPTURED IN CUBAN WATERS.
Loaded with Munitions of War for
Insurgents-The Fflibusters i'm
Havana Prisons.

HAVANA, April 29.-The Spanish gum
boat Mensagera has captured and brought
into this port the American schooner Com
petitor, of Key West, loaded with arms and
ammunition, believed to be intended for the
insurgents. The Mensagera on Saturday
last sighted near Berracas, on the north
coast Of the province of Pinar del Rio, a
suspicious looking schooner, which attempt-
ed to get away from the war vessel. She
was pursued, overhauled and boarded. In
command of her were Alfredo Laborde, DIR.
. Bedia and two newspaper correspondents
The Competitor, 1t appears, was last from
the Mosquito coast, where, 1t Is presumed,
she took on the arms and ammunition found
on board Of her. The latter consisted of 49,
900 cartridges. number of packages OF dyna-
mite, many cases OF Mauser and Remington
rifles. and cases of accoutrements, etc.
The schooner arrived here this morning in
tow of the Mensagera. The men found ON
board of her are held as prisoners
Developments show that the expedition
was an important one. A number of the
filibusters are said to have succeeded in
jumping over board and swimming ashore.
Others. however. who jumped into the sea
were drowned. 1t also seems that the in
surgent general Monson was a member of
the expedition. In addition to the arms and
ammunition captured on board the Compet-
itor, there were three boxes of proclama-
tions and other important documents. DR..
Vedia Mesa, who was made prisoner with
those on board the filibusterer mad, it is said
once surrendered himself to the Spanish au-
thorities. Should this be the case, he will
be severely dealt with. One Of the newspa-
per correspondents ON board the schooner is
named Hamilton. The other refuses to give
his name. The local guerrilla force of Pal
ma. on ,tne coast OF Pinar del RIO. near
wnere the Competitor was first sighted by
the gunboat, has captured thirty-two boxes
OF ammunition, which had already been
landed, apparently from the Competitor The
guerrillas also made prisoners of two men.
believed to be Americans. The filibusters
who succeeded In getting ashore either by
the swamps on the gunboat which was as
sisting the government force on snore and
the war ship replied, killing three Of the
party.
Five fiibusters VINO were taken on board
the schooner Competitor have been impris-
oned in incommuncado In the dungeons OF
the fortress OF Cabanas at the order of Ad-
miral Navarro. Lieutenant Emiliano Hen.
rique has been named as the judge under in.
structions from the Navy Department. He
rebellion Of 1880. captured the rebel tug Carl.
dad
The .nsurgent leader Banacheo has been
shot.
II Is reported here that Maceo has hanged
forty-seven OF his men on suspicion that
they would attempt to surrender.
A dispatch from Key West says: Between
twenty-five and thirty persons were cap
tured on the Competitor. among whom was
a woman ard a child and sixteen American
subjects. They were all In irons and were
conveyed ashore In small boats and con
fined in MORO Castle. When the Mascotte
was leaving the harbor the Competitor was
being towed in by the gunboat. Those cap
tured Will be court-martialed and shot.
The Competitor is centerboard schooner
OF A tons burden. ~ feet inches long. q
feet beam and feet deep. She was built al
Bellport. l. L., in 1867. and her sailing port
Is Kew West.