The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-27
STORY OF THE COMPETITOR
Horror of the Crews Captivity ::ReIaied by
Ona Melton

Horror OF the crews Captivity sfeiaieo py
Ona Melton.
New York, Nov. 25.-Aboard the Ward
line steamship Saratoga, which reached
port few days ago from Havana, were
the Competitor prisoners, vino after
having been imprisoned in the Cabana
fortress for nearly two years were
finally pardoned last week and banished
from the island.
Aln the Competitor prisoners are
Worn thin; their eyes are sunken and
they carry the death-like pallor OF the
dungeon. One is partially paralyzed,
and another is i'll with nervous prostra-
ton. Yet five happier men never came
up the bay.
Ona Melton, the newspaper corre-
spondent, told the reporters about their
capture, incarceration and deliverance.
He said:
'she schooner Competitor sailed from
Key West al IL 2. M, April 20 1895
bound ostensibly for Lemon City, Fla.
Col Monson and Captain Christs, %aao
commanded the Competitor expedition,
and a few other f1lfbusters were aboard.
1.-The Competitor anchored off Cape
Sable forty-eight hours later, having
eluded the revenue cutter Winona by
running through a shallow and danger
Gus channel that it was supposed the
schooner could not pass.
"At Cape Sable men, rifles, machetes,
dynamite and $4,000 rounds of ammuni-
ton were taken aboard. The number OF
filibusters was now increased to So.
Alfredo Laborde was captain Of the
schooner, William Gjldea mate, William
Leavitt ana Benjamin Gurk sailors and
Charles Barnett cook. All the other
men We're enrolled on the list Of expedi-
ditionaries, except Theodore Maza.
TRAITOR TO BOTH.
''This man, it seems, had not only
been guilty of double but triple trea-
son, to both Cubans and Spaniards. He
was what the Cubans called a plata
cado and what in the civil wal was
called 'busiwhacker.'
THE Competitor sailed from Cape Sa-
Bile at sunrise on April g and was
steered for Rebecca light, in the gulf.
From there the schooner was headed
southwark toward Cuba, and at p. m,
April %, anchor was cast behind bar
between one and two miles from Berra-
COS, a small place on the north coast OF
tht province Of Pinar del Rio.
"a little after o'clock all Of the
arms and ammunition mad been landed,
two cf the small boats were just start
ing to return from the land and the
third boat, filed with expeditionaries
and sinking to the gunwales, was just
ready to leave the Competitor for the
land, when the Canonero Mensajera was
sighted not more than two miles away
and coming around small key that
hii us from view.
I'm less than five minutes after the
gunboat came in sight the Spaniaris
opened fire on us. 1t was not possible
for us, who We're left aboard, to escape
to the land. as the small boats were
gone, or 10 weigh anchor, make sail
and try to run out to sea, as three Of
the sailors were IL the small boats.
There were six OF US left aboard,
Captain Alfredo Laborde, William Gill
dea, DR.. Elias Vedia, Theodore MaZa, an
expeditionary named Quesada ard my
self 1t was long distance TO shore,
but Gildea, Laborde and Quesada decid-
ed to try to swim it,.
CAUGHT BY A SHARK.
"Que.ada was seized by an immense
man-eating shark before he had swan
100 yards He threw up one hand, ut
tered a sudden cry and disappeared.
The shark had first passed very close to
Laborde, who was ahead, giving him a
great scare. passed him by and seized
poor Quesada, who was only a few
yards away.
The gunboat ran alongside the
schooner and a small boat was hastily
lowered ana filed with marines who
followed the two remaining swimmers
Labcrde was overhsuIed about half way
to the land. but Gildea, who was an ex-
pert swimmers. had reached the shallow
water before the Spaniards overlook
him.
Benjamin Gurk. one ot the sailors
who landed the last boat load, went
with the expedition into the interior.
William Leavitt and Charles Barnett
returned to the land when the gunboat
opened fire, but the expedition had al
ready left for the interior and they
could not overtske It end were cap
tured that night.
The Spaniards captured a few boxes
OF cartridges that Colonel Mouson was
compelled 10 leave behind but the am
munition that was saved enabled Cen
eral Maceo TO gain the famous battle OF
Cacarajicara.
The five OF US who were captured by
the Mensajera were tsken to Port E.-
persnza, commonly called san Cayetano.
where We were kept three days. The
local commander expected 10 receive
orders to execute US. and they had pre-
pared everything in readiness tor the
execution, but orders came 10 send US TO
Havana.
FILTH OF THE MORO.
'on April - we arrived st Havana and
were taken TO Moro castle by the Direct or
6ers or General Weyier and thrown into
a dungeon. It would De impossible TO de-
scribe the filth OF the place Il was under
neath a hall in which se prisoners were
crowded together. The floor overhead was
old and wo-r and contained innumerable
cracks and erevices through which dirt sai
filth constantly dropped On cur heads.
The floor OF cur dungeon was covered
with ms filth 20 a depth OF several inches
ana next 20 the door was stagnau; pool OF
mush-like filth about SIX inches deep that
through many months had dripped from
above, where the prisoners bathed them
selves.
The stencil was simply poisonous. At