The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-05
Stories of the Wreck Of
the Commodore.
Survivors Tell of Their
Thrilling Experiences.
Raft Cast Adrift-F0ur Exhausted
Men Rescued at Port Orange.

Jacksonville. Fla. Jan. 5.-Captain
Edward Murphy. commander of the lost
steamer Commodore. Stephen Crane.
the novelist; c. Il. Montgomery. cook
and William Higgins. an oier. with
four Cubnns. arrived here from Dayton
last night.
From the survivors II Is learned that
the men of the Commodore left the ship
In four boat loads. Twelve Cubans en-
barked in the first, four more In the
second. seven Americans I'm the third
and four including Captain Murphy.
Crane. Higgins and Montgomery In the
fourth. The first three were lifeboats.
the last 10-foot dingy. The men In
the third boat fingered In the neiglk'or-
hood OF the sinking steamer, and Tor
some reason the small boat foundered
and sanx. The men were ordered To
swim back TO the steamer. where they
improvised N raft. This the captain at
tempted 10 tow-to shore. IA miles away.
Just as they started IL was observed that
q negro on the raft was drawing him.
self along the tow line to the dingy.
The captain realized that this meant
death To all, and he ordered the raft
cnst adrift. lie shouted to the men to
return to the vessel. which they at
tempted TO do but when near the Com
nodore IL gave lurch and sunk, and the
men on the raft were drawn down in the
vortex and did not return again. Their
names were James Redigan, engineer;
H.. II. Ritter. assistant engineer; Frank
Grain, mate; w. A. G.. Smith. fireman:
Modesto DeLeon. Cuban pilot and
guide, and Jonas Franklin and Murray
Mobiles. two colored firemen.
-Four more men landed from the
wrecked Commodore yesterday at Port
Orange. This accounts for 20 out of the
rs men on board Those landed were
Major Julio Rodriguez Base. Jose AL
varez. Manuel Gonzales and Louis
Sierra Maderas. The men were OBJ
served in the surf and boats put out TO
aid them to land They were nearly
furnished, and what little food was in the
boat was eaten. and the last drop OF
water was given out Sunday night.
Turing the night one of the men grew
ligkt-headed and attempted to jump
overheard, but was prevented by the
others.
CONGRESSMAN Robbins Opinions.
Greensburg, Pa, Jan. 5.--Congress-
man-elect Edward T.. Robbins, who has
just returned from Cuba, says: THE
cause for which the Cubans are strug
Cling is the same for which our fathers
fought In our war of Independence. The
Cubans have no voice in their govern
ment, and there is no such thing as
jury trial there. Taxation is unbearable.
I'm the entire island there is not a
Cuban or foreigner. except Spanish. who
II not in sympathy with the revolution
airy movement.
"The plan of General Weyler Is not to
subdue the Cubans, but TO exterminate
them.
Ten or II Americans are now confined
IN Moro castle. talked to Sanguilly, an
American citizen. who is sentenced TO
perpetual Imprisonment in chains. He
was arrested at his home in February.
1895, without having taken any part in
the outbreak. Vice Consul Springer in
forms me that at the second trial there
was no evidence against Sanguilly, yet
he was sentenced for life.
Spain cannot conquer Cuba. The time
has come when delay on the part Of the
United states Is unreasonable I'm the
matter of protecting the citizens of the
United States and American property"