The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-06
DETAILS ARE GIVEN.|
Story Of the Commodore Disaster
Told by Survivors.
TIE STEWARD TOLD NOT TO SAIL.
A Spaniard Whom He Met Gave Him
Warning.
CAPTAIN CLAIMS NEGLIGENCE.
others Claim That the Bont Was
Overloaded when She sailed.
Cubans Greatly Excited.

Jacksonville. Fla, January 5.--Cubans |
are much divided and greatly excited over |
the founding of the Commodore and the |
limitations that this disaster was the re-
suit of treachery.
Their excitement was made more intense
by the arrival of Captain Edward Murphy.
master Of the ship; Paul Rojo. who had
charge of the expedition until It should
have landed on Cuban soil: Major Julio
Rodriguez Baz, who was to have command
after landing should have been effected
G. b. Montgomery. steward of the vessel.
and Stephen Crane, correspondent of .yn-
dieate Of Northern papers
a hundred Cuhans met these survivors
at the depot. Captain Murphy was hoggard
| from exposure, and carried his arm in a
sling.
Paul F. Rojo. Cuban commandant of the
ship, declares that there was no treachery.
He said Il think the engineer was drunk
| and neglected his duties When | went be-
low found that the pumps would not
heave water, and that the iniectors, which
! are used TO force kerosene into the fire III
case Of emergency when steam is mmc-
! diately needed, were not on asked him
!
put on. adding that he would have them
put on Immediately. ! went above and ie-
turned in fifteen minutes. They were not
then on. lie had made no effort TO put
them on"
on the other hand Steward Chas Mont
gomery tells significant story. He hints
strongly that there was treachery. lie
openly accuses Rojo Of having deserted his
post. He says that first engineer Rodigan.
was not drunk, but the most important
thing that has yet come out is this state
ment of Montgomery
Soon after starting on our way from
the St Johns river ] felt a premonition
that something was wrong. We had stuck
twice on the ground in the st. Johns, and
it didn't look right. My fears became
more decided when Franco Blanco came to
me with tears in his eyes and said
Charlie, the ship doesn't mind her wheel
Somebody must have been tamperlrg with
! the steering gear, / had good recon ia
feel uneasy for before lesyin.., n -Snanlard
whom | kad met In New York sent wore
from shore that he wanted to see me.
replied that | could not see him. He CAME
3 to the shin and begged me not to go, bu
| told him I was going. He sent WORT Il
me five minutes before the ship left Ny
God Charlie don't - on that ship. Yo,
risk your lifo.'
"Alr Of this flashed through my min,
when the ship got aground and the sus
picion became stronger that there wa
some hing wrong when she got fas
aground again
The mate and second mate LEFT the shiI
r whom she got fast aground Thursday nigh
d at O'Clock TO 20 TO the Boutwell, for as
sistence. They did not return until
4 o'clock the next morning. fhey said the
Q had got lest in the fox on the river.
kolo was the first man to leave III
vessel after the fires went out and foun
derlne was inevitable He and all thos
with him saved their baggage. even I
their overcoats
"Ensi Ger Rsdiean is noble old man
He was not drunk. lie retired at o'cloc
TO his bunk. He was called at 10 and In
formed that water was rising in the holt
He cried like "A baby and exclaimed: u
God steward, Mob ,dy told me of It, Whe
II | went to bed all was we'll. If they ha
but told me, even AT . o'clock, 1 woul
!. have saved the ship. but now II is too lat,
too late. too late.'
Rios, the second mate. was formerly II
the Spanish navy. Rojo had great conf
denoe in him. These two were among tn
first to take to the boats
le Major Julio Rodriguez Boz does not spea
English hucnty, When asked II he ha
!, any suspicious of foul play he shrugge
his shoulders and said; The pumps woul
q, not work How is that He cvidontl
d. did not like Roio's leaving the ship S
soon.
Captain Murphy's story Is as follows
l. THE engineer reported to me nbuut nlld
night that the vessel was gaining water /
: her hold and that he was unable to &c
the pumps to work They had tried to &c
the pumps to work but the pumps woul
not heave water. The pipe was evidentl
y choksd or the suction gone. II IS custom
. airy to keep the water clear of the hold.
o that WAS necessary was TO run the steaI
. pumps now and then. II the water rs al
q lowed TO get up in the coal the coal
o washed down and chokos the pumps.
Q inc water that entered the ship was in tn
Q engine room. LA, ,
. was asked
more than anything else
. From the accounts Of all aboard, Car
* tain Murphy acted the part OF hero. re
maining at his post until all were en-
- barked and not leaving until the decl
became dangerous. and attempting at II
risk of his own life to save the lives OF ott
ers,
He gives the following list OF the deat
CHIEF Engineer Redigan Of Brooklyn,
l. ~; Second Engineer F. X. Ritter OF Jaci
- sonvnle. First Mate Frank Crane oil Jael
sonville. Thomas Smith, white sailo
Charleston: William Higgins, oiler, Jaci
- sonyille; James Franklin, colored hreina
= Jacksonville: W. A, G. Smith. color,
fireman; one unknown negro who took u
place of Murray Mobiles. who was to ha'
gone - l., 4,
surf when the captains boat was owe
turned. Ritter and two coiored men we
on board the vessel when she went dow
The other men were on a raft. and 4
these the cutter Newark, the steam
Three Friends aud fleet OF boats from .
Halifax river have searched trultlessl
There Is little chance that they survive
ron HEAVILY LOADED.