The record-union., 1897-01-19


dition of the survivors are such that 1t
was impossible for the Centenili to pro-
ceed, and she therefore returned to
Manzanillo, where the news created a
sensation
The official reports state that the
commander and three members of the
crew of the Relampago were killed and
two other officers and four sailors in
jured.
RAILROAD TRAIN PLUNDERED.
HAVANA, Jan. 1S.-Official news
has been received here of the halting
and plundering of railroad train near
this city on the night of January 10th
by bands of plateados. The train was
the last one running from Regla, su-
burb of Havana, on the east side of
Havana Bay, to Guanabacoa, five miles
further east. The robbers stopped the
train at 80 D. M, and covering the
passengers with their guns proceeded
to rob them of everything of value they
had about them. There We're ten Span
ish officers aboard the train who had
been on a pleasure trip to this city
and were returning to GuanaDacoa The
robbers made prisoners and took away
with them nine of the officers, who
We're subsequently released, but one of
them, native Cuban, was <illed for
being in the Spanish service.
ANOTHER EXPEDITION LANDED.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1S-A dispatch to
the sun from Havana says: A sem
sation in the palace and in the office of
Admiral Navarro was created yester-
day by the news that another filibuster-
inc ION l,o.I 10, Jol -
Cuba
The fact was made known first by a
telegram from Matanzas, in which it
was said continental information had
been received by the authorities an
nouncing that on the northern coast of
that province and some miles east of
the city of Matanzas an unknown
steamer had been landing a cargo and
men.
No cruiser or gunboat was near at
hand or could be sent to the place A
strong column was sent in pursuit of
the landing party, but it is supposed
that the pursuers were too late.
This affair has contributed more fuel
to increase the irritation of the army
against the navy. The fact that not a
single expedition except that of the
Competitor has been captured by Span
lsh war vessels augments the unpopu-
larity of the navy here, and Weyler and
the Marquis of Ahumada avail them
selves OF this feeling in their personal
quarrels with Admiral Navarro, which
have become more bitter since the lat
ter exploded the story of Maceo passing
the trocha in boats, as told by DIR. Ter
tucha.
The Marquis of Ahumada and Ad-
mlral Navarro yesterday exchanged
angry words over the matter. Navarro
said that all the navies of Europe could
not prevent the landing of filibustering
expeditions upon the Cuban coasts; but
with 100000 men he would think good
Generals, knowing their duty, should be
able to whip the insurgents on land.
The Cuban officers gave dances, which
many of the townspeople attended The
whole town, undisturbed by the Span
iards, who were afraid of attacking the
Cuban forces, celebrated with public
festivals the presence Of the patriots
Only one man, a Spanish grocer named
AlVa, protested, and he was locked UP
in the town hall. When the Cubans got
tired of festfvity they left the town and
marched westward, having several sue
cessful engagements in the country
with Spanish guerrillas, whom they dis
persed.
In Pinar del Rio also the patriots are
making things very lively for the Span
iards. General Betancourt in Matanzas,
Gomez at the west end of Las Villas.
with Mayea Ronoiguez and the Gov
~,
hard in the Orient complete the "pacifi-
cation" which Weyler talks about to
skeptical Spain.
THREE FRIENDS LIBEL CASE.
JACKSONVILLE CF'la.), Jan 1S.-The
Cuban insurgents won a decided victory
in the United States Court to-day, when
Judge Locke rendered a decision in the
case of the United States VS. the steam
ship Three Friends. He decided that
no state of war existed, and no law had
been violated.
The libel affirmed that the Three
Friends was then and there furnished.
fitted out and armed with one certain
gun. or guns, the exact number being
to the attorney of the United States un-
known, and with munitions of war
thereof, with the intention of being en-
ployed in the service of certain insur-
gents or persons in the island of Cuba.
and with the intent to cruise or commit
hostihties against the subjects, citizens
or property of the King of Spain on the
Island of Cuba
To this the exception of the respon-
dents was: THAT the said libel does
not show that the vessel was 50 armed,
fitted out or so furnished, with the in
tent that such vessel should be employed
in the service of any body polite. re-
cogniZed or known to the United States
as a body polite
The answer of the Hbellant, the United
States Government, to this exception
was that the law as set forth in Section
52S3 of the Revised Statutes did not
require a vessel that was subject to
condemnation for violation of the sec
tion should be employed by anybody re-
cognized by or known to the United
States as a body polite. The point
made by the respondent was that the
statute contemplated condition of war
already existing. and that when no war
existed there would be no violation of
the statute.
Inc qdtSticH was theH ouSSeSteu dS
to how the state Of war was to be de-
termined. It could come only by re-
cognition. 1t was far beyond the power
of the judiciary to determine the fact. In
other words, the insurgents must be re-
cCgnized as belligerents before the
statute could be violated.
The court sustained the exceptions of
the respondent, and gave the libellants
ten days to file an amended complaint.
II a new libel is not filed within that
time the $4,000 bond is to be Cancelled