Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-30
THE LOST HAWKINS.
Violation Of Neutrality Law by Those
in Charge Of Her.
WAS THERE A TRAITOR ABOARD:
Tho Cuban Leaders DO Not fhnk
There Was-History of the Pur-
chase and Inspection OF fhe


NEW YORK, January 29.-Thls alter
noon United States Attorney Macfar-
lane admitted that under instructions
from Washington the authorities mere
had been investigating the doings OF the
Cuban revolutionists In this city for some
time. He said that it is the duty OF the
. Collector of the port to secure the neces-
Nsary evidence, and that al prosecutions
must be held under title 81 Of the United
States Revised Statutes.
80 far" Mr.. MacFarlane said. mo
warrants have been issued In the case
of the steamer Hawkins. The section or
the neutrality-law applicable to the case
is No. 52s6, which reads: Every person
within the territory or jurisdiction of the
United States, who begins or sets on foot
or provides for. or prepares means for
any military expedition or enterprise from
thence against any foreign State, IL
deemed guilty of high misdemeanor'
and subject to a fine not exceeding $3'OoO
and three years imprisonment
Mr.. MacFarlane said that 1t was LOT
violating the section quoted that Captain
Hughes and others of the steamer Lau-
rada we're recently tried at Charleston.
Those responsible for the loss or the
Hawkins Mr. MacFarlane said, can De
punished under the casualty act OF June
10, 1874. which requires report TO De
filed within five days by the owner, agent
or master Of every wrecked vessel with
the Collector of Customs in the district
to which such vessel belongs.
The Hawkins was purchased through
a responsible American firm or high
standing. She was bought In Baltimore
and was there examined from stem TO
stern. hull and machinery. She was
pronounced staunch. swift. and seaworthy'
She was examined 10y an American expert
and an engineer Of known ability, honest
and experienced. Even now there Is no
thought among the Cuban leaders mere
that the Hawkins was anything but what
her examiners pronounced her. The cause
OF her sinking must be looked Tor some
where else. OF course. there can be no
pubic investigation, but private one
vii! be instituted.
WAS THERE 4 TRAITOR?
The great fact which points toward
traitor aboard the boat is the exceedingly
few ,ife-boats which the Hawkins car
ried. 1t was not expected by whoever
gave the vessel its mortal injury that
every avenue Of escape would thereby
be cut off. If this be a correct suppo-
siton. the result bears out the idea Of
the traitor.
After the examination and purchase
Of the Hawkins at Baltimore. the ship
was coaled in that city. She behaved
spendldly on her trip up here. and
seemed to fulfil every requirement adj
mirably. She arrived here on the night
Of January 22d, and then took on her
arms and ammunition. When the Cubans
had boarded her and she steamed for
Cuba. early Sunday morning, every one
was I'm the best Of spirits. They thought
that they had a vessel under them that
would answer any and all calls that could
be made upon IL.
The Hawkins had on board III souls
all told Of whom 10l were volunteers
and sixteen were the crew. Fifty more
were expected. but in the hurry of leaving
port these men were left behind. There
was plenty Of room for them on board.
After the examination OF the Hawkins
In Baltimore. she was re-examined in
New York. What was found true at
the first examination was more than sub
Stimulated at the second. when the
Cubans themselves looked the vessel
over. The price paid for the ship was
shade under $15 eco. 1t was perfectly
satisfactory. 1t was not until Monday
night that a suspicion of anything wrong
aboard the craft arose. Neither the cap
tain nor the engineer made the discovery
that there was water in the engine-room.
One of the volunteers found II out. The
men were hustled out OF their hunks.
with hardly a chance to put on their
clothes The pumps that shortly before
were known to be n good working order
refused to answer their purpose. They
were clogged resort to buckets was
all that was left TO the patriots.
LOSS OF MEN, TEN.
The survivors who were landed in Bos-
ton reached New York last night. 1t
was then finally known what the loss
in men amounted totem, all told, OF
whom five were volunteers and five men,
bers Of the Hawkins's crew.
Among those In authority the suppo-
sition that the Hawkins was not
thoroughly seaworthy is not entertained.
Some one on board is held responsible for
the disaster