The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-29
FilibuStererS Wrecked off
Long Island.
All on Board Were CubanS
Bound for the Island.
Boat Was Loaded Down With Arms
and Ammunition.

NEW YORK, Jan. sat no time sine
the beginning Of hostiities has there been
such excitement at the headquarters OF
the Cuban revolutionists in this city as
there was when IL was learned that tho
steamship j. w. Hawkins, which had
been fitted out at great trouble ana ex-
pense as a dlibuster, had been wrecked
of the eastern end of Long Island ON
Sunday night, and had been
by the revolutionists and the crew on
Monday morning.
The news came as a thunderbolt among
the leading spirits in the revolutionary
camp here, for the evening papers, ia their
late editions. published u report TO tho
effect that the steamer Hawkins had been
fitted out at One Hundred and Thirty
eighth street and the East river, this city,
with arms and ammunition, and this, II
proved, was likely TO get the leaders into
trouble with the government.
Minister Palma was besieged by callers
all the afternoon. He refused to see re-
porters, and his associates were evidently
afraid to do any talking. At first every
one about headquarters denied point
blank thai any filibustering expedition
had left here on the steamer Hawkins or
any other steamer. 1t was also denied
that Hernandez OF anyone else had called
at headquarters and reported that the ex-
petition was wrecked.
A man who refused to give his name,
but was afterward pronounced a Spanish
spy, said that Hernandez had received a
large sum of money from Minister Palma
TO assist those of the tranded dlbisterer
who might be in need. In the midst Of
the excitement there Wake into the Of
flee of the minister a young Cuban who
looked as IL he had not been asleep all
night. He was at once by a
dozen or more Cubans who embraced and
kissed him. Then he was hurried into one
OF the private offices and seen no more.
He was thought to be one Of the wrecked
flibusters.
1t was not until about z o'clock at night
when abesta score of newspaper mon sue.
ceeded in getting an interview or state
ment from Minister Palma personally.
He said that in his official capacity he
knew absolutely nothing about the al
legged nlibustering expedition. He de-
clined TO say anything about the wreck OF
the Hawkins, or whether he had received
a dispatch from Woods Holl, Mass, and
from Boston, that those of the revolution
lists who had not been taken TO New York
had arrived safely there.
He afterward admitted, however, that
he had received a dispatch from Boston.
He also admitted, after o great deal Of
pressure, that n young man had sailed
upon him who was In need of financial
assistance and that he had given money to
him. What his name was, or what he
wanted the money for, Minister Palma
would not state.
Minister Palma was askedi II he had heard
It reported that six OF the flibusters had
been drowned while endeavoring to get into
the small boats when the latter were leav-
ing the Hawkins, but he had nothing to
say. Such a statement had been credited
TO Hernandez.
There was no doubt but that a large
number OF Cubans had landed from the
tug Dalzell at pier 40, North river, In the
afternoon. Mr.. Dalzell was seen at his
Office and confirmed this statement.
Where these men went seems to DO O
mystery.
An Interesting Tale.
Jose G. Hernandez, q Cuban, who was
on board the Hawkins, told the following
story to a reporter yesterday afternoon:
ave left New York In the Hawkins
last Saturday night" he began. 1.-THE
steamship belonged to the Cuban revolu-
tionary party, having been purchased ro-
GENTLY by them for nlibustering work
against the Spaniards. On board her
were 100 men of the Cuban evolutionary
party. In addition TO this was a crew of
is men. The ship was commanded by
Captain Hall. O.. ii. Crowell wa mate.
I've left New York at midnight last
Saturday. The steamship was then at tho
foot of One Hundred and T~hirth-eighth
street, East river. We stole out quietly
in the dead Of night, and in n few min
uses were steaming for the Sound. We
ran smoothly enough that night and oil the
next day. We had no trouble until 8
o'clock Monday morning. At that time
the sea was beginning to get pretty rough,
and the engineer asked for help. He said
that the engine room had sprung aleak,
and that the pumps were chohed. Two
men from the revolutionary party were
detailed to assist in bailing the engine
room out with buckets.
'Later more men were detailed for the
same purpose, but the water kept gaining
on them. We could not get the WAFER out
Of the engine room as fast as IL came I'm,
and the sea was getting rougher all the
time. AT last the water came into the en-
CINE room so fast that Captain Hall told
us to tighten the ship by throwing bags of
coal overheard. The coal was piled up on
deck. We threw IL over rs fast as we
could, but IL did not seem To do any good
"Then we began TO throw over the cases
OF arms and ammunition. We had a
great quantity on board. There were over
$4,000 woria. % arms alone. We had two
hotchkiss guns, 1900 bennington aud win.
chester rifles and 100000 rounds OF am
munition. IL addition 60 this there were
5000 pounds OF dynamite and n lot Of raw
material for making heavy explosives