Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-07
ARTHun YrHIAH

ARTHUR VIVIAN
OVho Wss SentsI-sNe " Weyler 70 Be
Shot and Then Mad, His Escape from
Moro Castle)
has been before the mast for about
fifteen years, and has engaged IN many
hot battles. He came to this country on
a sailing vessel several months ago. and
early in July signed at Newport News
with the steamship "Three Friends,
which left that port on hlibusterlng
expedition in behalf Of the Cuban in
surgents. He stated to the reporter
that ne had no idea Of engaging In the
work Of flibustering, and didn't know
that he was on such an expedition until
the ship landed at Port Tampa and took
on arms He didr't demur, however
when he ascertained the position he was
in. but went on with the ship.
THE SHIP FIRED UPON.
1--WE went direct from Port Tampa" he
said. "to a point within three miles OF
Habana, where we unloaded into scow
which came out to meet us about 2OVV
or 10000 rounds of ammunition and a
number of rifles The scow had hardly
gotten out of sight of us when Spanish
man-of-war bore down upon US, and after
firing a broadside into us ordered us 20
show our colors. Our commander, Cap
tain Rogers, who is citizen OF the
United States at once hoiSted the Eng
lsh lack. and surrendered his ship. The
whole crew was taken into Habana and
we were at once taken before Weyler,
who held drumhead court-martial' and
sentenced us all TO be shot at the eXpi-
ration Of one week. This was on the
18th of July. We were taken at once TO
Moro Castle and placed I'm close confine-
ment I sent at once for the British
Consul. but he could do me no good, and
the next morning 1 saw General Fitzhugh
Lee. the Consul General from the United
States, who visits the prison daily. He
interested himself in Captain Rogers
behalf. and promised to do all he could
for me.
HOW HE ESCAPED.
81 didn't wait. however, for him to as
sist me- A day or 50 after my frst IN
terview with him l was assigned 10 duty
in what was known as the fatigue party,
and my duty was TO carry the re-
fuse from the prison each morning 20
the pier and dump it overheard. A mere
boy was sent to guard me. and the
first opportunity / saw / grasped and
when | dumped my bucket overheard l
went with IT, The guard az once nred at
me. but ] remained under the water
until / had swan beyond his range. and
then 1 came to the surface and struck
out for ship sighted, about a mile and
a half in the distance. reached II
after some. time, and it proved TO be the
steamship Oregon, from Brunswick, Ga.
The captain took me on board. and /
worked my passage TO his destination.
l shipped again from Brunswick for New
mort News and. arriving there few
days ago, got on spree. and when i
found myself l was in Richmond with
out a cent.
81 had been in that condition before,
and | repaired AT once tor the Office OF
Mr.. Brine. the British Consul here
requested him to furnish me with trans
portation to the nearest seaport, in order
that | might ship again. but he de-
clined 10 aid me- whereupon I went 20
see the United States Marshal TO ascer-
tain If | could not compel Mr.. Brine 10
comply with my request The Marshal
detailed one OF his deputies to accompany
mo TO Mr.. Brine's Office. and before
realized what was being done had been
placed under arrest charged with nil
hustering. I was brought here at once
and locked up, and here l am nkeiy 10
remain. / suppose. though why l should
he so treated / can't, for the life Of me,
see. -... ,,.
.I haven't the remotest idea what fate
nv, COMPANIONS met with. but unless
General Lee got them off, they have un-
douhtedlv been shot ere this. There were
several negro seamen on board the Three
Friends. and know they have been shot.
for their execution took place before
so unceremoniously dumped myself into
the sea. and bade Weyler adieu."
Mr.. vivian was asked by the reporter
what he thought OF Weyler and what
kind of a man he was. His face dark
ened, and for a moment he sat In silence
and knitted his brows. He then said
"Weyler is a man possessed OF very little
Judgment. He IS very much on the brute
order and is all on the bluff He is no
soldier. | say that advisedly for | have
served under men who have gained world
wide regulations as fighters. In 1852
went with the Duke OF Connaught to she
soudan. to fight ARABIA Pasha, brother OF
the Khedive OF Egypt. and later on
made another journey to the Soudan with
General Wolseley. when he went TO the
relief OF General Gordon at Khartoum
On that expedition / was also with Gene
rails Stewart and Roberts. was as
signed to duty on this campaign In
camel corps and stayed on camefs
hack for two years and three months. OF
Course with some little intermissions We
ana somo desperate fighting on this In
c,,rs,on and / bear on my forehead
mark Of one Of our bloodiest battles"
INFLICTED BY THE MAHDrs SON.
vivian pointed to fearful scar on his
left temple, and. continuing. said; This
was inflicted by a spear In the hands OF
The Mahdfs son. with whom / had
hand to- hand fight. This fight occurred
at Abuolee, an oasis In the middle Of the
sahara, and, though the Mahdis son