The evening times., 1896-08-13
LlURlDl II H10l1 TRADE
Famous Filibuster Carries an
Expedition to Cuba.
PLENTY OF ARMS ON BOARD
spanish Cruiser Reina Mercedes Left
Havana 10 Intercept Contraband
Craft-Cannot Interfere With Her
Within Three Mile Limit. hut Might
Chase HerInto Port and Havea Case.

philadelphia, "a, Aug. 13.-Unless all
signs fail one OF the most exciting epi-
sodes In the history OF Cuban filibuslering
is likely to happen within the next week
or ten days. Another expedition is OFF
Faithful Isis" and a Spanish warship, the
ReiDa Mercedes is coming up the Atlantic
seabOard in search OF It.
Nearly week ago the famous steamer
LauTada, which has done splendid work
In the cause of Cuban liberty. steamed
away from her Philadelphia dock, having
coastwise clearing papers for tee port
OF Wilmington, Del. 1t was stated at
the time that the vessel had been pur-
chased by Antonio Rubcns OF Whining
ton, who was said to have bought the
vessel for the Cuban Junta-
FOOLED THE AUTHORITIES.
stay at Wilmington. but after loading on
an additional stock Of provisions (she car
ried from this port an amount sufficient
to last an ordinary crew three months),
she quito sea. When the Laurada weighed
anchor at Wilmington and steamed out
toward the Della ware Breakwater tic rev.
enue cutters that had been watching her
returned to this city.
The authorities were fully satisfied that
the trip Of the famous boat was to be q
perfectly legitimate one and that she was
to re-engage in the West Indian trade.
reporter made diligentinquiry yesterday
and learned from indisputabie sources that
the Laurada is again on her way to Cuba,
and that she will have, unless arran gements
made miscarry, the best equipped expedi-
ton ofthe year aboard her when she sights
the shores OF struggling Cuba.
When the Laurada passed the Break
water her signals were made and answered,
and the Aoritime Exchange, OF this city,
understood that the steamer was off for
Port Antonio. Jamaica.
LOADING ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
Shortly after her passing, however, a
steam tug, hauling a barge, passed out
and when about eight miles from the
coast many boxes OF arms and arnmurfi-
tioD were transferred from the barge to
the Laurada, which had cast anchor and
was in walt.
Toward noon the filibuster steamed away
due east, and the tug and barge returned
officers OF the Breakwater station, but
somehow or another the news OF the
Lanrada's sailing reached Havana that
same evening. and the Rena Mercedes, one
OrSpain snost powerful cruisers, was forth
with ordered from the har5or- What the
orders to the Mercedes were has since trans
pired, for the cruiser made for Key West
and then steamed slowly UP the Florida
east coast. Yesterday she was off Jack
soDville several miles
From a very reliable source II was learn.
da's cargo has been loaded aboard her. A
second tug, carrying several machine guns
and two mortars. besides quantity Of
small arms and ammunition, left. Tampa
secretly night before last. This latter
cargo it was Intended to transfer to the
Laurada on the high seas.
NAY HAVE MET THE CRUISER.
1t 10 believed in certain circles that the
Laurada, although scheduled 70 steam near
~ 200 miles out to sea before changing
her course to the southwark, did not fol-
low Eer schedule, but has skirted the Allan
tic coast in her trip to tho tropics. II such
has been the case she may have been by this
time sighted by the Spanish cruiser.
The latter, would not. OF course, attempt
TO capture or fire upon the Laurada within
the three-miI limit, but did she once get
TO drive her into an American port, and a
good case against the Laurada would be
in the hands of the Spanish government.