The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-28
SPIES OR TRAITORS.
Men In the Confidence of Cubsns in Florida
Betrays Them.


Betrays Them.
JACKSONVILLE, Oct. 23.-No official
report has been received by Collector
of Customs G. r. Busbee of the firing
on and capture of the alleged Cuban
filibustering tugs Dauntless and R. L..
Mabey off Jupiter inlet yesterday
morning by the United States cruiser
Raleigh. The revenue cutter Bout
we'll left Jacksonville for the st..
Johns bar this morning to take charge
of the Dauntless and escort her to the
quarantine station at Fernandina
where she will be fumigated and after
wards brought to this port and deliv-
cred to the United States authorities.
The tug R. L. Mabey, which was
also captured, did not reach the bar
last night, as she is much slower than
the Dauntless and the Raleigh. The
Mabey arrived, however, early today
in charge of a prize crew from the
Raleigh and will be brought to Jack:
sonville and delivered to the United
States authorities. The crusier Ra-
leigh left for the South this morning.
1t is said she is going 10 Turtle Har-
Dor to discover, if possible, the island,
on which it is said the Cubans have
stored quantities of arms and ammu-
milton.
The firing on and the seizure of the
Dauntless and Mabey has caused in
dignation here and is regarded as
high-handed on the part Of Captain
Miller of the Raleigh. Neither the
Dauntless nor the Mabey had arms on
board. The Dauntless had only her
regular crew and the Mabey had on
board a cargo OF coal. The coal was
possibly intended for the Dauntless,
but she had right to take on board
fuel. It is not believed that the gov
ernment can do anything with either
vessel and their seizure is regarded as
simply another case of catering to
Spain on the part of the administra.
ton at Washington.
The disastrous ending OF the pro-
posed expidition to aid the Cuban in
surgents before it had really gotten
under way was the subject OF discus
sion today, and threats of vengeance
against the traitor who had Informed
the officials of the plans were heard
in several instances.
The governments officials in this city
were fully informed of every detail
and even knew where the arms and
ammunition were shipped and when
the Cuban leaders and the men to
make up the expedition left here. The
Mabey's connection with the expedi.
ton was known and it was deemed
time to act. Accordingly a dispatch
was sent to the commander OF the
Newark by an official having the au-
thority to direct the movements OF the
cruiser. According 10 the information
furnished by the spy or traitor, the
Dauntless was to have taken on two
cargoes of coal and then the arms and
ammunition. This was to have been
done during Tuesday night, and she
should have been away from the New
Smyrna bar before daylight Wednes-
day morning. Why no attempt was
made to deliver the first cargo OF coal
until sunrise Wednesday morning is
not known, but the delay proved for
the best, as no arms were found on
either the Mabey or the Dauntless
when the steamers were captured. The
name of the traitor is not known, or
at least has not been made public, but
if he is discovered it will not be heal
thy for him.