The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-28
BERMUDA READY FOR BATTLE.
SHE Is WELL ARMED AND SPANISH
WARSHTPS AFTER HER.

Crossed the st. Johns Bar-The
FiIibuster Band Aboard Her said
to Number 400.
Jacksonville, Fla, April 27.-The famous
flibuster, Bermuda, crossed the bar at
the mouth of the st. Johns at o'clock
this morning and headed for Cuba with
munitions for the insurgents. The pilot
who took the vessel out says she looked
like a man-of-war when he left her Can
non had been mounted fore and aft, and
a machine gun placed amidships. The
Bermuda evidently fears trouble, and
with reason, as three Spanish warships
are watching for her off the Florida
east coast. One. the Reina Mercedes, left
Key West Saturday and was off
Cape Canaveral this morning. The other
TWO cruisers were ordered northward
from Key West this morning, when it
was learned that the Bermuda had sailed
The Spanish government is determined to
prevent the Bermuda reaching Cuba, and
has ordered the cruisers to capture or
sink her. either in neutral waters, or the
high seas if necessary. Cubans say this
cannot be done. They claim the Bermuda
Is feeter than any Spanish warship. and
even if she should be cornered, they say
for her to the last. and then blow her up
TO prevent capture.
1t developed to-day that there are nearly
400 men on the Bermuda, besides the i'm
mense cargo of cartridges rifles, mach
etes, dynamite, torpedoes and Hotchkiss
and Calling guns. When the vessel reach
ed Jacksonville last night, she had about
200 men on board. The other two hun
dred were picked up here and down the
river. one hundred came from Fernan-
dina. These latter went down the river
on the Kate Spencer and were transferred
to the Bermuda outside the bar. Fully
one-haf the men are native Americans.
Col. Layte Vidal is in command and Col.
Torres second in command. Vidal is a
Cuban veteran and Torres a famous sol
Capt. John O'Brien, better known as
Dynamite Johnny" brought the Ber-
muda to Jacksonville, where he turned
her over to Capt +. G, Riley of New
York. who will take her to Cuba. The
vessels papers were filed at the custom
house this morning as required by law.
They show that the vessel is carrying
arms TO Puerto Cortez, Honduras. The
Il arms are consigned to the Central Amer
i9an I2 Fruit Company of that place, John
ban leader here, purports to be the ship
per
When the Bermuda went out from Jack
sonVllle at l;40 O'Clock this morning, the
moon was shining brightly. Hundreds of
people lined the river front and cheered
q the bold fiibuster Justify Senor Maria
tegui the Spanish vice consul, was the
only unhappy man in the crowd. He had
been cursing nearly all night because he
Suulu ilIu no OuIteu states oAlC!dl 70
seize the vessel. When not cursing, he
81 was firing kilograms at Senior De LONE,
the Spanish minister at Washington.
Key West, Fla, April 27.-Immediately
on the receipt of the news in this city that
the steamer Bermuda had left Jacksonville
the Spanish consul boarded the pilot boat
q Nonpareil and went in search of the Span
ish cruiser, Reina MERCEDES, which was re-
ported just outside of this port last Satur-
day morning. 1t is reported that two
Spanish gunboats are watching this port in
the hope that the Bermuda will stop in
here. 1t is the opinion here that If she
was to be so unfortunate as to be met by
either Of these gun boats She would be i'm
mediately sunk or every soul on board put
10 the sword
4 1t is stated that the schooner Competi-
flor left Cape Sable last Wednesday night
s with a full cargo of arms, ammunition and
s Hmen for Cuba The expedition is under
q the command of Munoz and the vessel is
#naVlgated by the second mate from the
#schooner John +. kranZ.
Havana, April 27.-Thn Cuban sympa-
thizers in this city are secretly rejoicing
lover the receipt of trustworthy intelli-
#gence that further aid to the insurgents
has arrived. An expedition, with a large
#quantity of arms and ammunition, has
7Sately landed on the coast of Pinar del Rio,
Hand the supplies are now safe in the
#hands of the patriots. The expedition COM
#prlsed a large number of men, all well
rmed and equipped for instant service.
40 details are given as to where the eX-
pedltion was from, but thFe is no doubt
~ ITS having safely evaded the Spanish
Col. zubia reports that the troops un-
per MS command met band of rebels on
ne San Jose estate near Camajuani. A
brisk fight followed. in which the rebels
lost four killed. The insurgents retreated
DuJ were followed by the troops, who
gain attacked them. The rebels made a
STOUT resistance, but could not Withstand
ne hre of the troops and were compelled
~ retreat leaving eleven dead on the field.
ne troops, according TO the report had
3chly three wounded in both fights, claim
l1a{ has seeming air of improbability.
ME Col. Pintos' command was re-
3CQnnoitering on the Conchita estate near
-Iarlel, rebel band under Perico del
Idrdo was encountered. The insurgents
#Sccupled strong positions on the Ruby
ms but the troops dislodged and pur-
sued them into the mountains. The loss
IL the insurgents is said to have been
4edVy. They left twelve dead on the field
ahd TWO who We're wounded, died later
ne troops had several wounded. Gen.
9ldzan has left Santa Clara. 1t is stated
#portant mission.
Among tne documents found on the body
oI Jose Alfonso the rebel leader, who
vas Killed near Cardenas, was a circus
aI ordering him to respect the property
OF Americans
Manuel Martinez Valenzuela was shot
"r.l.
# Ie9elIion and arson.
mere IS no news concerning the move
IHthts OF Maceo, who is still in the pro-
vince OF Pinar del Rio.
rebels have burned all the tobacco
plantations of Pedro Mar!as, near Dimas.
III Flnar del Rio province, together with
P.1er property. Over 300 horses and 10000
ales OF tobacco have been destroyed The
~ Is estimated at over S1,000 coo. that
y. Marlas alone being 100000. The misery
sultant from the firing of the planta-
IONS IS terrible. Three thousand persons
are rendered homeless. They are being
plolecteG by the government as best they
1@i pc, and fed with military rations
!eepels made an attack upon the town of
4 pulsed.
Maumo Gomez is reported at Sancti
g-IIlus organizing his forces for a new
,. dslon OF the MatanZas and Havana
y 1Finees. He is said by others to have
teday started 10 march his men I'm pur-
lance OF his purpose Of invasion Of the
ato. lnees mentioned 1t is believed. how
'sI' mat he viii not be successful. as the
eminent IS taking strong measures 10
vent him from accomplishing his OBJ
me elections passed or quietly yester-
-t ana resulted in the election Of the