The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-29
Wreck of the Filibuster Steam
ship Hawkins.
OFF LONG ISLAND COAST
She Was on Her Way TO Cuba
With $50 Men.
AND IN COMMAND OF GARCIA
The Vessel Sailed from New York
Sunday Ostensibly to Take an Ex-
cursion Party to Bermuda but
Sprung a Leak.


party of twenty-five men who were
picked up from open boats off Long
Island, Monday morning, by the
schooner Helen II. Benedict, landed
here late last night and left early
to-day for Woodsholl, n. Y, whence
they sailed last Sunday. The men
were the part of the survivors of the
steamer j. w. Hawkins, recently pur-
chased at Baltimore for an alleged
Cuban cruise, and she sailed from
New York last Sunday night, having
on board between seventy-fiye and one
hundred men bound, it is claimed, to
Join the Cuban insurgents.
The rescued men report that when
the steamer was off the stern end of
Long Island she sprang serious leak,
and the water gained SO rapidly on her
that all hands were obliged to take 10
the boats.
TN Monday morning the men were
picked up by the schooner BENEDICT.
bound from Norfolk to Boston, with
coal, getting twenty-five of them.
The J. w Hawkins was steamer
of 125 tons net. She was built at Ken
nebunk, Maine, in 1880, and hailed from
Onacock. Va The steamer has been
engaged in the fishing business, but
has been lying idle in the Baltimore
ha-hor for some months. Two weeks
ago a lfr. Tinsley appeared in Balti-
more. and offered - purchase the
steamer for Mr. Smith, of sSr 4ork.
Those interested in the sale noticed
that plenty of money for the purchase
was apparently at hand, and that the
buyers seemingly wanted to get the
steamer away as soon as possible.
a great deal of money was owed by
the steamer to Baltimore parties. An
old account of the crew and other eX-
penses were promptly paid, and an
open account of a ship yard was also
settled. Two firms threatened libel
suits for money due them, and their
bills were promptly paid. The sellers
asked no questions and the buyers
did not volunteer any information OF
the future of the steamer.
This is the vessel mentioned in Asso-
4ciated Press dispatches Yesterday con-
cerning which the Spanish minister
notified the State department clain-
ing the Hawkins left New York with
an expedition of $50 men. arms and
stores, in command of Calixto Garcia
and was going South TO take more
men and arms at Palm Beach, Fla. or
elsewhere and convey them 10 Cuba.
The schooner Alicia II. Crosby which
arrived here later in the day. brought
13 more men from the Hawkins The
men displayed great anxiety 10 get
back TO New York and would have
very little to say about their affairs.
1t was learned however, that ten Of
their number had been lost. The men
were transferred to Woodstock as soon
as possible after their arrival here and
proceeded to New York by the earliest
train.
Particulars OF the wreck of the Ifaw-
kins had been CLEANED from the men
by the officers of the rescuing vesseiAs
nearly as could be ascertained, the
story is that the steamer sailed from
New York on Sunday, ostensibly bound
10 Bermuda on a winter excursion. She
carried, however. so men mostly Span
iards and several hundred pounds Of
ammunition. 1T was intimated that
several wealthy Cubans were in the
party.
Early Monday morning they ran IN
TO 81 northeast gale and the heavy
cross seas, which swept the steamer,
caused her seams 10 open and she be-
gan to fill rapidly. Signals of distress
were set, but before those on board had
time to do more than clear the boats,
she went down, about 65 miles South
east of Sandy Hook lightship.
The schooner Leander V. Beebe,
Alicia B. Crosby and Helen IL. Bene-
dict, had seen the Hawkins signals
and Immediately bore down on her.
The crew and passengers had already
taken to the boats and they were pick
ed up with much difficulty on ac0unt
of the gale and high seas. The Bene-
dict picked up 25 men and among them
being the steamers first officers and
steward. The Crosby saved - out Of
% out of another boat, but the other
ten were unable to paddle the boat in
rough seas and were lost. The rescued
men were nearly exhausted. The
Beebe succeeded in rescuing those in
the other boats, but she put back
probably for Delaware Break Water
or some other middle Atlantic port. 1t
is claimed by the men that the Haw-
kins was unseaworthy and should
never have undertaken the voyage.