The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-16
CHASED BY A TUG.
The Bermuda Sets Sails with Span
ish Spies in Pursuit.

New York, March 15.-The steamer Ber-
muda, laden with arms and ammunition,
left her anchorage, about two miles south
of Liberty Island, this morning at s
o'clock and passed out by Sandy Hook
at 10 O'Clock. She cleared yesterday for
Vera Cruz, and no attempt was made to
detain her to-day as she left the har-
Dor. 1t was said last night that groups
of men were on shore ready to go out to
her, but only three men were observed on
deck besides the officers in charge when
she sailed.
The munitions of war are undoubtedly
for the Cuban insurgents A tug boat fol-
lowed the Bermuda and it is understood
was in the employ of the Spanish con
sui Dispatches from points along the
Jersey coast say that the tug followed
her out past Asbury Park, but how far
and for what purpose is not known, but
she was far behind the steamer.
The Bermuda, when lat seen, had full
head of steam on and was headed south.
If, as was rumored, steamer is to
meet and transfer men to the Bermuda,
it will undoubtedly be some ways down
Can't. O'Brien, an old He'll Gate pilot
who is in command of the Bermuda, has
taken out tilibustering expeditions IN
years gone by.
Early this morning eighteen men of the
crew were taken aboard the bermuda
About 7:30 the tug boat r. j. Barrett left
the Battery landing for the Bermuda. and
she had on board the chief engineer,
Thomas Nelson; the second engineer
Hawder, and Chief Stewart Taylor. These
people had been previously held as Wit
nesses when the Bermuda was seized on
her first attempt to go Cubaward early on
the morning of Feb. %. Another inter
esting part of the affair is the fact that
Tomas Estrada Palma, the head of the
Cuban Junta, had suddenly, on Saturday
night given up his room at the Astor
house, where he had been for some time.
Suspicious individuals believe that not only
a filibustering expedition is under way,
but also that it is the idea of the Cubans
to get their leaders and chief men to-
gether on the island so that 1t may be
shown to the United States congress that
they have a well-established government
and are worthy to have belligerent rights
accorded them.
Among the prominent Cuban leaders
who have been in this city are Gen. Ca
lixto Garcia, Tomas Palma and Secretary
Perez, who lately arrived from Cuba. AT
the home of Gen. Garcia it was said to-
day that he left there this morning about
s o'clock and said that he would be home
for dinner. 1t was said that he had pre-
ViOusly denied having any intention OF
going on the proposed expedition.
Secretary Perez, who is said to be close
to Maceo, could not be found to-day. 1t
is generally supposed among those who
profess to know something of the Cuban
plans that the arrival at CubaS of the
bermuda and the steamer Schleswig if
the latter is bound that way, will be
the signal for a big display by the insur-
gents and a possible assault upon Ha-
Vana 1t is argued that such an attack
even if unsuccessful, would aid the in
surgents materially in gaining belliger-
ent rights.
his home tonight, said that he was fully
aware of the Bermuda's movements, but
refused to discuss the situation.