Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-29
THE SURVIVORS
Tell the Story of Loss of the
Steamer J. w. Hawkins.
100000 Worth of Ammunition
and Supplies for Cuba Lost.
General Garcia Landed at New York--ls
Greatly Cast Down.

New York, Jan 2S. Seventy survivors
OF the alleged filibusterng expedition
which sailed from this port on board the
steamer j. w. Haw kins, were landed here,
I late this afternoon, by the tug f. 3. Dali
zell. The men Immediately separated and
it was impossible to get from them the de-
| tails as to the laundering Of the Hawkins.
The captain Of the Dalzell says that
while cruising of the Highlands, this
morning, he was hailed by the schooner
Leander v Beebe. Baltimore for Boston.
The schooner's captain reported that he
bad picked up 20 men who were in eight
lifeboats, while on their way up the coast,
and requested the Dalzel to land them in
New York. The men were transferred to
the tug.
The Dalzell sighted the Beebe at a point
10 miles east Of the stranded steamship ST.
Paul. The American flag, inverted, flew
from the Beetles rigging and the Dalzell
ran up and hailed her.
"The schooner's deck, said Captain
Denyse of the Dalzell, tonight, swarmed
with men in all stages of undress.
Wretchedness was written in every line CT
their faces. Very few wore hats, some
we're without shoes, and nearly all were
minus coats
What price do you want to take 20
men into New York;" shouted the skip.
per of the Bcebe.
g | told him, continued Capt. Denyse.
and We made IA bargain. / ran up along
side, but the sea was high and both YES.
sells labored heavily. After an hours
dangerous work. we got the 20 men on
board the DalzeIl. After the tug got I'M
der way 1t was agreed that put one man
off at Pier S, North river, and l did so
He said he was gunner. did not catch
his name. None of the men made any
secret about their efforts to reach Cuba,
and there fight for her freedom
The most detected man on board was
an old man who told me he was Calixto
Garcia, and was in charge of the expedi-
ton. He was accompanied by his son
Carlos. Garcia seemed completely broken
down. He SAID the Cubans played one of
the strongest cards of the revolution in
sending out this expedition, and that more
than $500. 900 worth of arms and ammu-
milton had been lost by the sinking of the
HAWKINS
Garcia then related to Capt Denyse the
story of the wreck. He said We loaded
the steamer James W. Hawkins for an ex-
petition at Port Morris All day the
matches were closed and nobody ever had
any suspicion that We had thousands of
dollars worth of arms in the hold. All
the work was done at dead of night We
sailed, Friday night, and went ont by
Long Island sound. We had excellent
weather until Sunday, when it began to
set in rough.
Monday morning, the vessel spang q
leak. The waves and wind Just opened her
seams The pumps Were manned but they
soon chokcd with coal and became useless.
The men got buckets and bailed for their
lives. The water gained inch by inch, and
finally the coal went overheard and then
the costly arms and ammunition. 1t broke
our hearts to throw these arms away, but
We had to keep the vessel afoat somehow
Gradually the Hawkins settled down.
and at l 30, Monday morning, We took
to the lifeboats and deserted the sinking
steamer. Half an hour later the Beebe
hove in sight and took us on board. At
the time the Hawkins went down. she was
45 miles south southeast of Barnegat and
the sea was very Wild"
Captain Denyse said the men saved all
soutely nothing but two valises filled with
United States banknotes These were in
the possession of Gen. Garcia
Jose c. Hernandez, one of the men
brought here ON the Dalzell, states that
there were 100 filibusterers on board the
Hawkins All were Cubans In addition
there was crew of l6. The ship was
commanded by Capt. Hall
There were 170 men prepared to 20 to
Cuba, but SO were left behind because the
Hawkins could not carry them. There
was great quantity of medical stores and
surgical instruments on board. Also o
sanitary corps, consisting of eight physi-
clans. They were all Cutans
The cargo included two Hotchkiss guns.
1900 Remington and Winchester rifles. 1.
100000 rounds of ammunition, 5000
pounds of dynamite and lot of raw ma
ter'al fer making heavy explosives.
Calixto Garcia was in command of the
revolutionists and his son, Carlos Garcia.
second in command Gen. Rosa was also
on board. Hernandez says that six men
were drowned while trying to get into the
last two boats which lefs the Hawkins.
The Hawkins went down 20 minutes
after the men left her Lieut. Antonio
Maria Cains, who was among the rescued.
said that the real trouble began, Sunday
when the Hawkins was struck
by heavy head sea. She was so laden by
her heavy cargo and the weight of her
passengers that the sea split over decks
and rolled into the hold. The load of
water thus accumulated sunk her still
lower. Captain Denyse of the tug Dalezll,
tonight. that the Hawkins was
absolutely unseaworthy
AT the headquarters of the Cuban Junta |
here it was declared by the leaders, TO-
Continued on page 9.