The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-06-03
Shot And Shell Fell Fast
Around The Filibustering
Steamer Bermuda.

PHILADELPHIA, May 31.-All con-
lecture regarding the Whereabouts of
the now famous ilibustering steamer
Bermuda were set at rest to day when
she steamed up the Delaware river and
made fast to her pier She came from
Puerto Cortes aud instead of arms and
ammunition her cargo consisted Of
S,40C banches of bananas and 5000
silver dollars The silver was taken
out to buy fruit, but strike among
the fruit cutters, coupled with the be-
lielf that the vessel was not bound 90 a
legitimate voyage, made it impossible
to secure full cargo. The attempt to
land her outward cargo and passengers
on Cuban soil was fat failure aud the
escape of the vessel flom destruction
BY Spanish shells was little short of
providential.
The Bermuda sailed from Pbiladel-
phia April %. in command Of Captain
O'Briep, for Jacksonville. She sailed
from the latter port on April 26. 10
command of Capt. Riley, who succeeded
O'Brien. The expedition was made up
of 96 men from Key West. Tampa and
Philadelphia, in command of Gen
Leidal Vidal, soldier of the former
revolution and native of Santiago de
Cuba. The cargo consisted of two gat-
cling guns. 1000 rifles, half million
rounds of ammunition and 1000
pounds Of dynamite. An attempt. was
made. under General Vidals orders, to
land on the night of May 4, at a point
oa the coast of Cuba, ten miles west Of
Cardenas. A Spanish gunboat was
seen early in the evening, but it was
thought she did not uotice the Bermuda
and eight boats with 49 men were 10
the water, about one and half miles
from the coast, when search light
from ansapproaching cruiser was flashed
over the entire party. All hands we're
instantly in a state of hopeless demor-
alization and desperate attempt to get
back to the steamer was made. Only
few, however, reached the Bermuda,
which started at once at fall speed.
She had only run about eight miles
when second gunboat started in pur-
suit, which was kept up until daylight
There were repeated flashes and roars
from the guus on the Spanish warsbip.
Solid shot aud bursting she'll fell thick
aud fast until the distance between the
vessels increased, the Bermuda being
forced 10 her utmost speed, and when
day dawned the gunbost could not be
seen. Two days later the steamer ar
rived at Truxiilo, Honduras, the bal
auce Of the war material having been
thrown overheard during the race.
Five Of the party were drowned 10
attempting to make the landing, among
them being Nicolo Cardenas, brother Of
Col. Cardenas, an insurgens chief. The
fate of the others is not known, but it
is believed that the greater uum5er
were caught on the coast and probably
shot by the Spaniards. At least 80 of
the party are missing. The other pas
seogers we're landed OF the coast of
Honduras. between Truxilla and Puerto
Cortez and afterwards reached Mobile,
Ala. CD the steamer Clearwater.
HAYDEN West of Camden and Asrian
Eldridge Of this city returned on the
Bermuda The fate of Dr.. Emilio |
Cabada is urknownn, but be is believed
to bave been among those lost. It is
said there is now little doub. but that
she intended landing place Of the Ber
nuda was known to the Spanish Off
cials in New York before she left Jack