The San Francisco call., 1897-01-04
TRAITORS ABOARD
THE COMMODORE
Every Indication That the
Vessel Was Scuttled
and Sunk.
1t Is N W Known That Ten
Americans and Six
Cubans Perished.
Peri!s of the Survivors, Who Fought
for Many Hours Against
a Terribls Sea.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 5.-Au OF
the crew of the Commodore were not
saved. as reported last night Twelve are
in Jacksonville, three alive and one dead
at Davtona Four are reported 10 have
arrived near Almond, but the report is
not confirmed, and eight are at sea on a
life-raft.
Captain Murphy; Stephen Crane, the
novelist; c. B. Montgomery, the cook,
and William Higgins, stoker landed at
Daytona this morning. Their boat was
turned over in the surf, and Higgins re-
ceived a wound which caused his death
soon after getting ashore.
The party on the raft are all Cubans.
They left the boat before Captain Murphy S
party and nothing more has been heard
of them. ]. II. Barrs requested the Col
lector of Customs to secure permission for
the Three Friends to go to the rescue OF
the Commodore Immediately upon the
receipt of the news OF the wreck Saturday
afternoon. The Collector telegraphed to
Secretary Carlisle at once, but no reply
was received until this afternoon, when
permission was granted, and the Three
Friends left tonight. The beach is being
patrolled from st. Augustine to New
Smyrna.
1t is reported there was treachery aboard
the Commodore, but no details can be
learned.
The party landed at Daytona cannot get
to this city tomorrow, as there are no
Sunday trains on the East Coast Railroad
The party that landed last night and
reached here are: Major Ricardo a. Del
gado, Paquite Rencamo, Franco Blanco,
Miguel Coldisburry, Ramon Hernandez,
Gabriel Martinez, Santiago Diaz, Emilio
Marquee, Jose Hernandez and Buene-
ventuo Tivovus.
The following was received fran Day
tona at IL o'clock tonight:
About 10 o'clock Friday night suspicious
leak was discovered in the fireroom anQ Cap
tain Murphy Immediately started the pumps,
which undoubtedly had been tampered with,
as they were in working order when Captain
Murphy and Chief Engineer Redigan left
watch at O'Clock. The fires were extin-
guis he'd and the boat came to a standstill
about thirteen miles from Mosquito light.
Captain Murphy took full charge OF the hand
ling of the ship, while the first mate superin-
tended the launching of the boats. The Gu
bans took possession of the big boat and loaded
ii with baggage, so that only twelve men lett
the tug in it. They reached the shore al
O'Clock Saturday and left for Jacksonville.
The second boat was occupied by six Gu
bans, and the empty boat washed ashore at
Port Orange last night The third boat to
leave the crafts side was filled with Ameri-
cans, leaving ten-foot dingey Ior the.use. OF
Captain Murphy, who refused 10 quit the ship
until all were saved. c. B. Montgomery, the
steward, Stephen Crane and William Higgins
remained with the captain, and with him
launched the dingey and stood by the tug un til
z O'Clock, when she sank. The mates boat,
containing nine Americans, was smashed. and
the mate, two engineers, six firemen and sail
ors were lashed to a raft, which Captain Muir
ply attempted to tow ashore two miles away,
but the terrible sea and the northeast gale
swept them away.
The dingey occupied by the captain and c1m-
panions was twenty-seven hours at sea- Mont
gomery and Crane holding Captain Murphy's
overcoat as a sail until the beach was sighted.
High seas were breaking a half miie from
shore. Montgomery, Crane and Murphy were
washed 10 the beach, where citizens provided
them with medical attendance. Higgins was
killed at the overturning of the boat, which
made ten Americans and six Cubans lost.
There is no doubt that traitor did the work
of scuttling and then tampered with the
pumps, as they were working perfectly at 8
O'Clock. The suspected man was saved and
thorough investigation will be made to-
morrow.