The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-30
CRUISE OF THE DAUNTLEss.
The Testimony TO BE Given by the
Witnesses From Florida.


Brunswick Ga, Sept. 29-The three
witnesses for the Spanish government
who were brought from Jacksonville to
testify in the Dauntless case are Samuel
Simpson, Joseph Nichols. and Robert s.
Heath Attorneys Crovatt and Whit
field win produce them and great deal
OF interest attaches to their testimony,
Stripped of all super1ulties it will be as
follows:
Samuel Simpson will testify that on
July q. he shipped on board the steamship
Laurada at Philadelphia, but did not
know what kind of articles he signed.
They hauled out into the stream remained
there five days at anchor. After coaling,
they dropped down to Wilmington, and
were boarded by five gentlemen and the
captain. The visitors returned ashore,
after looking over the crew. That night
they steamed out of the river and took
four boats away from tug which came
along side. They then steamed to sea
and went backward and forward for
week. Sunday morning a steam launch
came alongside loaded with Cubans, who
were taken on board and fed. Later
tow boat arrived towing a lighter. There
were more Cubans and a cargo Of boxes
and bags. One of the bags ripped and
simpson saw guns. They then steamed
seward and were out one week, finally
coming to long island which was said to
be Hayt. On Thursday they sighted Ma
vassa. Friday they drew near land and
hove to for long time, A tow boat came
out and sgnaued was answered, and
came alongside. They had Cubans
aboard and an American crew. The Wis
iting boat was the Dauntless of Bruins
wick. Her name and the red band on the
smoke stack were disguised with can
vass but he saw her name on
buckets and axes, as well as on
the stern when she raised in the sea.
The Dauntless took part of their cargo
and steamed up toward Navassa. Satur-
day she returned and took the Cubans
and steamed toward Cuba The Duntless
returned on Sunday again and took the
balance of the cargo. During the trans
fer the boats were hurriedly cut loose and
both steamed away; coming to anchor to-
geLher again off the lee of NaVassa This
delayed unloading the rest of the cargo
until night, when they worked by Ian
terms. While lying off Navassa commu-
nication was had several times with the
shore Leaving Monday night they
steamed for Port Antonio, Jamaica where
they arrived the next morning Tuesday
a policeman and custom house officer
came after him and carried him ashore
against his wishes. The collector examin-
ed him as to what he knew of the Lau-
rada's present trip and he told him. On
returning aboard the Laurada he was
denounced and threatened for telling
what he knew On Thursday he was call
ed ashore by a message from his mother
and he feared TO go back. He saw the
captain ashore and asked for a discharge
but it was refused. He went to the United
States consul. but was refused one there
and they read the law to him to prove he
was deserter He was refused his wages
on the ground Of desertion but the con-
sui ordered his effects given him After
wards he tried in vain to get his wages
before the vessel sailed and left him at
Port Antonio.
Joseph Nichols will testify: That the
Laurada left as above described, and took
on boats from the towboat Madeira of
Philadelphia. When off the Jersey coast,
the launch Richard K. Fox brought
twenty-four Cubans and four other men,
while the tug Dolphin of New York towed
a barge load Of ammunition and arms
alongside. Gen. Ruloff, Col. Nunez and
Capt o Brien were on the launch. Gen.
Rulon remained on board, but the other
two returned to shore and the Laurada
sailed southwark. Arriving at the island
of Navassa the facts described In Simp-
sons testimony as to transfers to the
Dauntless was again related, Gen. Ruloff
went with them. On Sunday morning he
heard Capt. Lomm of the Dauntless, say
he was going with the last load to Cuba,
and carry them to a different point from
the others. Capt. John O'Brien navigated
the Dauntess but otherwise Capt Lomm
was in charge.
Robert S. Heath will testify substan-
TALLY the same as Nichols.