Evening star., 1896-11-17
A SUSPICIOUS SCHOONER,
A Cargo Transferred to n Supposed
Cuban blockade Runner.

SuDan blOckade Hummer.
Correspondence of The Evening Star
LINTON, Dade county, Fla,
November 13, 1896.
cargo supposed to consist of muni-
tions of war was transferred from an
American schooner to a vessel supposed to
be d Cuban blockade runner off the south
east coast of Florida two hours before
sunset today One of the curious features
of this flibuster act is that the United
states cruiser Raleigh bore down on the
American transport, hove to, spoke her and
passed on. .-
report Of the affair has been forwarded
to the Treasury Department from Captain
Andrews. keeper of Zion House OF Refuge,
seventeen miles south of ~ Palm Beach.
Dade county. Fla
On that part of the Florida coast the
western edge of the gulf stream flows
northwarG about six miles east of the
West and Galveston lay their courses be-
tween the beach and the northward cur
rent. but rarely does sailing craft venture
so close in shore.
Wednesday morning strolers along the
Strand and dwellers on the palmetto ridge
that parallels the coast line sighted a sail
Off to the northeast. fifteen miles to sea-
ward. She was in the gulf stream and
headed southwest This was so unusual
that every available glass and score of
eyes were leveled at her. Steadily she
into a four-masted schooner. Before her
hull rose above the horizon she took in
her topsails and her flying ard outer jibs.
When her hull became visible her lines
told her to be of Yankee build of about
Loo tons. She was deep-freighted ani
sailed slowly under her reduced canvas
AT noon of Wednesday she hove to two
miles off the shore and nearly abeam of
Zion House of Refuge. Captain Andrews
slgnaied the stranger, but she did not
answer She carried no flag and her name
hG1 Il henn ,t,a1 L.
tiers. The settlers along the coast were
full of conjecture as to the business that
brought the unknown craft to anchor in
such an unusual place. Thursday evening
black smoke and yellow tunnels came up
from the northeast. 1t was the Raleigh.
She was looking for filfbusters. She had
stopped at Palm Beach and made inquiries
of the custom officer there. He had seen
nothing suspicious Then she proceeded
south TO take A. peep among the keys.
When off Zion she sighted the schooner
mile of her.. Captain Andrews watched
the affair. He saw the Raleigh signal the
schooner. but did not see the latter answer
the cruiser. Anyhow. the Raleigh steam
ed south without further inquiry. Soon
she passed from view.
Friday noon smoke rose above the west
ern horizon and announced the approach
of steamer from the direction of Bimni,
one of the Bahamas.
Directly there was activity on board the
schooner Sail was made and she steered
eastward. The steamer was schooner rig
ged and answered to descriptions of the
Three Friends. They met and hove to
about five miles to sea. A transfer of
cargo was being effected Smoke came
from the northeast. A Key West mer-
chant steamer was coming down. The
steamer supposed to be the Three Friends
took fright and bore away toward Bimini.
She return ed to the schooner when the
Key West steamer had disappeared. After
the transfer had been accomplished the
steamer headed south and the schooner
stood away to the northeast.