The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
HAVE THEY GONE TO CUBA?
CANOVA's COLONY SUPPOSED TO BE
ON THE DAUNTLESS.


Their Experiences In Encounters
With the Spaniards-The Members
of the Colony Talked Freely
With Their Fellow BOarders.
The reports of the tug Dauntless Of
Jacksonville having left that port to carry
a party of Cuban filibusters to their ma
tive shores several days ago proved or
particular interest to many in Savannah
on account of their belief that aboard
her were a number OF patriots who had
become we'll known to them during a
short stay here.
These Cubans, with some American and
foreign volunteers for the dangerous ex-
petition, had come to Savannah from
Charleston, where the efforts of the
steamer Commodore to escape the watch
full revenue cutter Colfax and carry tho
party to the island proved unsuccessful.
They remained in Savannah some two
weeks, going on their arrival to the prin-
cipal hotels, but only to remain until more
private quarters could be secured
The day after reaching Savannah the
Spanish authorities at Jacksonville, ap-
prised by their spies of the exodus of the
men from Charleston telegraphed Deputy
United States Marshal Wilson to look out
for f1libusters The marshal at once mads
thorough search Of the hotels, but
found that the Cubans, whose names APP
peared on the registers, had left but a
short while before his visit Not satisfied
with this, the marshal went to the depots,
but his inquiries concerning the men were
unsuccessful in tracing their movements.
From these circumstances it was pre-
sumed that the party had left the city,
probably by boat, as their departure by
rail could not be determined
But, in this presumption, the authorities
were at fault. The men had separated
into small parties and sought accomnno-
dations where they would be exposed to
slghter danger of discovery than they
would have found in the hotels.
One of these parties, consisting of five Of
the leaders of the expedition found quar-
tiers at home on Liberty street, and
soon learning that their fellow boarders
were thoroughly in sympathy with the Gu
ban cause and DESTROYS of nothing more
than its complete success, they talked
freely and unreservedly of their flibus-
only when direct questions were asked
about their future plans.
In the party were a dapper little colo
mel Of the Cuban service, named Canova
French captain OF artillery, Capt. Smith,
at one time in command of the Three
Friends, when she landed a filibustering
party in Cuba, a young Cuban engineer
and another Cuban, Frito by name
Col. Canova, the leader of the party,
was jolly, laxative and energetic little
man of apparently 40 years. He had all
the gallantry that repute confers upon the
susceptible native of southern ATTITUDES,
and was very attentive to several ladies
to whom he was presented. Money, with
the colonel, seemed plentiful and 1t rolled
in continuous stream from his pockets
in answer to the demands made by bills
for suppers and such delights that fall to
the chosen few.
The colonel said he had left Cuba to
recuperate from the effects of a bayonet
thrust received in a charge of the cav
airy regiment he commanded Machete
in hand, he had broken through the first
line of the trocha, he said, but a Span
lard in that line, turning, gave him a
thrust with his bayonet that threw him
from his saddle The charge cleared the
Held, however, and the gallant colonel
did not fall into the hands of Weyler.
The colonel was a good linguist speak
ing English with facility, but he was not
to be compared in his linguistic accom-
plishments with the French captain of
artillery. You might speak to him in
English, and as we'll have EMPLOYED the
Hottentot tongue, but tell it in French,
German, Spanish, italian or Russian and
reply in any of those languages would
follow.
The captain, whose name could not be
learned, said he had obtained a years
leave of absence from his troop. and
nj IN hnfto tn,
ploy his time than in rendering aid to
the struggling islanders. Though Eng
Hsh was an undiscovered country to
him, his every action and gesture be-
spoke the gentleman, and none that OBJ
served him would think of questioning
the truth of his statements regarding his
connection with the French service.
Capt. Smith had the appearance of a
typical, grizzled "old sea dog" and kept
his own counsel, drawing himself out &C.
casionally to make some pointed observa.
ton that went straight to the mark He
seemed not to approve of the leyity of
his younger companions, and often a
warning look, when they began to grow
too confiding, could be intercepted by the
other boarders.
The young engineer was by far the most
loquacious of the party. He had anec-
dote after anecdote to recite in charming
ly infected English Of his Cuban experi-
ences. He said he had been imprisoned
for time in Moro Castle, but finally man
aged to obtain his release. While immur-
ed in NIoro's walls, for a while his only
diet was "buscaow," a very unpalatable
dish of raw salt Goldfish, that always pro
duced strong thirst. for which the water
to quench it was nearly always denied.
This rather undesirable diet was given
to force him to divulge information he
was thought to possess regarding the in
surgents.
The colonel told good story on the en-
gineer. He said while he and the engn-
eer were in New York they entered a res
taurant, and the first dish the waiter set
before them was Goldfish This was more
than the young man could stand just after
his relaese from the Spanish fortress, and
he jumped to his feet whipped out his
dagger and said Kill him; kill him" He
was finally Gained and the frightened
waiter bore off the Objectionable dish.
Senior Frito had no such personality as
the others of the party possessed, but he
joined in all the table conversations and
added his Spanish speech to the
volleys that rolled back and forth. Good
humor was the word in these converse