The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-31
DAUNTLEss AND COMMODORE.
Clearance Papers Granted Two No.
tOriOus Filihustering Steamers.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30-For the first
time since the present struggle in Cuba
this government has given permission to a
customs official TO clear for Cuba a vessel
loaded, according to her manifest, with
munitions of war and presumably intended
for the insurgent army. The vessel in
this case is the well-known and alleged
filibuster Dauntless. The concession that
under these circumstances she is entitled
to clearance papers leaves the situation.
so far as she is concerned, quite as in
volved as before. as the statutes prescribe
that before clearance shall be granted for
any vessel bound to foreign port the
owners, shippers and consignees of cargo
shall state under oath at what foreign port
the cargo is to be landed and severe penal
ties are prescribed for violations of this
requirement, including the confiscation of
the vessel.
Some time yesterday the secretary of the
treasury received a telegram from the at
torney for the owners of the Dauntless at
Jacksonville stating that the owners of
the DauntlesS and her cargo would applv
to the collector of customs at Jackson
Vile for clearance to a Cuban port with a
cargo or arms. stating, however, that the
acton required by the statutes would not
be taken. The question Was asked whether
under these circumstances, papers would
be issued Later in the day telegram was
received from the collector at Jacksonville
stating that application TO clear the Daunt-
less for the port of Neuvitas. Cuba with
a cargo of arms, had been made, and ask
ing instructions. This morning the secre-
tary replied substantially as follows: IF
the master of the vessel and the owners
shippers and consignees of the cargo COM
ply fully with all the laws and regulations
concerning the manifest and take the oaths
required you may grant a clearance to
Neuvitas, Cuba. The oaths must be taken
ri ffncr sol
Sections 4197, 419S and 4200 of the Revised
Statutes" The port named in the applica-
ton as the destination of the cargo is on
the northern coast of Cuba and is occupied
by the Spanish forces. The treasury off,
cials therefore are of the opinion that the
oaths required by the statute will not be
taken.
This afternoon the collector of customs
at Jacksonvine wired the secretary of the
treasury that the steamer Commodore had
applied for clearance on practically the
same statement of facts as in the case of
the Dauntless. In response the secretary
wired permission to issue papers to the
Commodore on substantially the same
terms as were named in the former case.
Up to the hour of closing the department
the movements of either vessel or whether
the conditions imposed had been accepted.
Gave Revenue Officers the Slip.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Dec. 30-The
steamer Dauntless, which the government
ports with cargo of munitions of war.
is not in port at present. The owners say
it has gone on a ''wrecking" trip. and may
not return for week. The Dauntless gave
the revenue cutters the slip yesterday, go
ing out of the river from one of the shallow
channels and this has aroused the suspicion
that the vessel is again on fiibustering
trip. The owners say that the vessel will
be formally cleared for Cuba as soon as
Ii shall return. The Commodore has also
been granted permission to clear with arms
and will do so in the morning. Several
carloads of arms and ammunition are In
the city awaiting shipment.
A rather anomalous fact is presented in
that. If either boat shall clear for Cuba
the Spanish consul or vice consul will have
10 sign the clearance papers, this being re-
quired when vessel clears for a foreign
port In this instance ii would be a case
of a Spanish officer affixing his signature
to a document permitting vessel to carry
war material to q people fighting against
his government. Consul Zolis was asked IL
he would refuse to sign the clearance
not refuse. as IL was his duty TO sign the
papers. The cargo of both boats will be
shipped 10 Salvador Cisneros, president of
the Cuban republic. the Dauntless cargo is
consigned TO Nuevitas, and that OF the
Commodore TO Santiago.
a Victory for Cubans.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30-Tomas Estrada
Palma, president of the Cuban Junto, said
to-day after reading the order of the sec
retary Of the treasury relative To the
DaIntless clearance: This is victory
for US so far as il allows the boat TO leave
port. We have forced the authorities at
Washington to give US clearance papers.