The record-union., 1896-12-31


of fierce engagement in Pinar del Rio.
Ruiz Rivera. with 800 men, defeated
Colonel Segura, inflicting heavy losses
on the Spaniards, thirty of whom are
reported killed and over 100 wounded
During the fight Charles Dougherty
an American citizen, was captured by
the Spanish troops and slaughtered. A
gold watch with his monogram was
found on his person, and is now in the
possession of Segura. None of the en-
counters in Pinar del Rio are allowed
to be printed. and no official reports are
given Weyler's scheme is to declare
the province pacified, and that the reb-
els have disbanded and offer no encoun-
ter.
SHIPPING OF ARMS TO CUBA.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-For the
first time since the present struggle in
Cuba began, this Government has given
permission to customs officials to clear
for Cuba a vessel loaded, according to
her manifest, with munitions of war,
presumably for the insurgent army
Yesterday the Secretary of the Treas
ury received a telegram from the at
at Jacksonville, stating that they would
apply to the Collector of Customs at
Jacksonville for clearance to a Cuban
port With a cargo of arms, but the
oaths required by the statutes would
not be taken. The question was asked
whether, under the circumstances, pa
pers would be issued.
Later a telegram was received form
the Collector at Jacksonville, stating
that an application to clear the Daunt-
less for Neuvits, Cuba, with cargo Of
arms, had been made, and asking in
structionS.
This morning the Secretary replied
substantially as follows:
IF the master of the vessel and the
owners, shippers and consignors of the
cargo comply fully with the laws and
regulations concerning the manifest and
take the oaths required, you may grant
clea rance to Neuvitas, Cuba. The oaths
must be taken and subscribed in writ
ing, as required by Sections 419I, 419S
and 1900 of the Revised Statutes"
The port named as the destination is
on the northern coast of Cuba, and is
occupied by Spanish forces. The Treas
ury officials, therefore, are of the opin-
ion that the oathS required Will not be
taken
THE SHIP CLEARED.
/ JACKSONVILLE (Fla), Dec. 80
The Collector of the Port to-day re-
ceived Instructions to grant clearance
papers to the Dauntless with a cargo
Of munitions of war for Nuevitas, Gu
ba, and require master, owners and
| consignors to make oath required in
Sections 4191, 419S and 1900, Revised
Statutes. This oath is the same re-
quired of masters of all vessels with
general cargo bound for foreign ports
The Collector was instructed to notify
the Captain of the Boutwell, so that he
would not interfere with the vessel 9TH
er than to see that an armed expedi-
ton was not carried.
In consequence of this authority, the
owners of both the Dauntless and Com
mOdore are preparing to send heavy
cargoes Of arms and munitions of war
to Cuba The clearance of the Daunt-
less was authorized in the following
communication from the Collector OF
the Porte to owner Bisbee:
Sir: Responding to your application
made yesterday of clearance for the
steamship Dauntless, l have to inform
you that l am authorized by the Hon
orable Secretary of the Treasury to
clear said steamship Dauntless In a
strictly regular way for the port of
NeuvitaS."
The DaunItless left Jacksonville on
Tuesday ON a wrecking trip, and has
not since been heard from. but her
1,o ;,, N,,~t 70
morrow morning The Commodore has
been on the ways for some time, but
is now ready for sea.