The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-02
WERE THEY TRlCKED?
Did Cuban Symnathsers HOodWink Uncle
Sam and Also the Spanish?
WAS THE STEAMERJ. W. HAWKINS LOST?
Or pid She Put the Men OF In Small
Bouts ut Sen to Pull Wool Over
thc Eyes of the Authorities While
They Proceeded to CABIN with
Arms nnd Amrnunition?

Is the fishing steamer J. w. Hawkins
lying at the bottom of the Atlantic
Ocean, or is she i'll the vicinity pf Cuba
with her arms and ammunition?
This is Il pertinent question at the
present time, for every newspaper in
this country has announced the sink
Ing of the vessel last Monday night.
The press dispatches have told at great
length OF the rescue at sea Of the one
hundred or 50 men on beard; how they
were picked up by the schooncrs Helen
III. Benedict, from Norfolk to Boston,
and the Alice r. Crosby, from Newport
News for Boston; the heart-rending sto-
ries they told OF their narrow escape
from 4 watery grave, and the drowning
Oh Il dozen or so of the men.
1t will also be remembered that the
Hawkins was in this port on January
2lst, bound to New York where, as
her owner expressed it, she would be
converted into a steam barge for use in
New York harbor. Last Sunday night
however, the vessel left her dock In
Brooklyn and sailcd--nn one knew
where. When the men were picked up
al sea they reluctantly confessed that
the vessel had started on 4 iibuster-
ing tour to Cuba loaded with arms and
ammunition for the insurgents, but had
gone down at sea, they barely escaping
to the extra boats which had been car
ried along.
The arrival here yesterday Of the bat
tleship Maine and the statements OF
many OF her crew publicly expressed
and reported as being circulated among
the ships OF Admiral Bunce's squadron.
gives color to the belief that the Haw-
k!ns did not founder at sea but that the
former fishing steamer is now in the
ncighborhood Of Cuba. If She has not
already landed the arms and amIluni-
tion which she had III her cargo.
In, IT.,. i,NA. IL
said one of the jack tavs TO 4 Virginian
reporter. and as he winked his eye
he added. down the coast
II is u fact that the AIaine's crew are
OF the opinion that the Hawkins has
proceeded 10 Cuba with her munitions
OF war and that those on her succeed
G" IN not only triclsiug Uncle Sam. but
that they pulled the wool s. far over
the eyes of the Spanish authorities that
1t VIII be several days before the Little
ruse of the Cuban Sympathl2crs will
be seen through. and that then the
cargo will have been landed a. The seat
OF war.
Why" said one of the sailors of the
Maine, iii was only n trick They car
ried lot cf Cuban sympathizers to sea.
atteH taking on several cXtr;l. ha1ts
ana when well outside put them Off with
the understanding that they would say
7hat the Hawkins had gone to the
bottom. They knew that the au,horj-
lies We're after them. ard they resort
cd to this trick to throw them cff.
Why with over score Of Spanish
warshirs around the island, vessels
loaded with arms and ammunition stole
In and landed their cargocs"
The stories told by the men seem very
plausible and it may be that the Culans
Will yet succeed in landing their arms.
IT Is known that the Spanish aut hori-
lies are making every cifor; to prevent
The carrying of arms To Cuba and a
vessel which was sold in this harbor
two days ago, is now under surveillance.
suspicion having arisen that she was
purchased for iilibusteling purposes.
The vessel referred TO is the steamer
l. N,NeaZcy. sold by Deputy United
states Marshal Cross under IL libel for
wages due. The purchaser was n we'll.
dressed stranger who said he boug.1, the
boat for Fulton Market New Yorl)
firm. to use in the fish trade. Notwith-
standing this statement il is known that
the vessel will be closely watched by
the Spanish authorities.