The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-09-17
LUCK OF THE LAURADA
Her Last Voyage Fraught
With Adventure.
A SPANISH SPY AMONG THE CREW
He Made a Futile Attempt to Wreck
the vesseI--The Captain Was
Then Arrested.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sept. 6.-(Delayed
in transmission ALI circumstances
point to the fact that on her last voyage
the steamer Laurada included among
her crew Spanish agent and spy. So
far as known here his identity has not
been discovered. That the Laurada car
ried flibustering expedition to Cuba
on this trip seems to be beyond all
doubt, although there will probably be
great difficulty in proving the fact, for
the Spanish spy, who, it is now well
known was on board, will hardly care to
reveal himself in the witness box. If
the party is known no action will be
taken against him and he will not be
disposed to carry out to the end the
part he has been playing as hired
spy.
The explanation Is simply that this
man attempted to wreck the vessel, or,
should he appear to swear to the infor-
nation he possesses regarding the fill
clustering part of the voyage, he will
have to face charge on this count. per
contra. If his identity has really been
ascertained no legal action will be taken
against him, as that might beg the ques-
tion as to his possible testimony
about the landing of the biggest fill
clustering expedition of modern times.
The facts-in connection with the
stranding of the steamship at Port An
tonic, so far as the correspondent could
ascertain, is that upon the arrival of the
Laurada at Port Antonio, some person
gave information to the customs author
tiles that she had been engaged in fill
clustering expedition and that there was
large quantity of rifles still on boord,
which had not been landed, but which
would be put ashore on the return voy-
age. The ship was searched before she
proceeded to the outport to take on her
cargo of fruit, but the arms were not
found. The informant thereupon Sc
cretly promised one of the customs Off
GERS that on the vessels return from the
outport he would find means to discover
the place in which he was convinced
Captain Murphy had concealed the
arms, since they had not left the
vessel.
On the night of the first instant, as
the Laurada was entering Port Antonio
and the Lama was going out, the two
vessels passing in the deep but intricate
channel, the Daurada had TO veer tc
make waysof an outward bound ship
At the critical moment, and with &
strong current running, the steering geal
of the Laurada gave way. At that mo
ment the probable effect of the break
down would have been to throw the
Laurada across the Lama's bow and
bring about collision that would have
happened, the current was swifter thar
the Lama and the Laurada esca ped The
latrer's prov and was swept on the reef
By singular piece of good luck, sh,
struck the one spot on the entire length
of the reef where she could have strucl
without having her bottom knocked out
Of course, to all outward seeming, tn,
whole thing had the appearance of be1n,
an accident. But it was an acciden
that bids fair to end the days of tn,
Laurada. She was placed between col
lision and being smashed on the cora
reef, but escaped both, and gently la,
her nose into little bed of soft sand
She had to be lightened to get her off
and this fact indicates the agency O
some deliberate intent. for through i
the unknown informer was enabled t.
keep his word, a quantity of rifles hav
ing been found on the vessel this time
The result was that Captain Murph,
was promptly called up before the resi-
dent magistrate and although tn
LaurAda was SO slightly damaged by be
contact with the reef, that she was abl
to proceed at once on her voyage, Cap
tain Murphy had to provide recognizanc
before he could leave the island. n
made cash deposit of $500 to appea
on the 10Th inst. to answer the charge c
conveying contrasands OF war and wa
allowed to sail.