Evening journal., 1897-01-04
WAS SUNK BY TRAITORS
The Wreck of the Commodore
OFF the Florida Keys.
EIGHT OF TIE GREW ARE MISSING.


Ashore-Cubans Assert That Traitor
Sank the Vessel.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Jan. 4-Details of |
the wreck of the steamer Commodore.
bound for Cuba with cargo Of arms and
ammunition, which went down about 10
miles off New Smyrna, still leave eight
members of the expedition unaccounted
foy, and they have been given up for lost.
When it was seen that nothing could
save the vessel from sinking, Captain Mur-
ply gave orders to take to the boats. A
panic almost ensued among the excitable
Cubans. Twelve of them hurriedly enter
ed one of the large surf boats and pulled
away for Mosquito inlet light without any
Thought Of those left behind.
A second boat was lowered, into which
~ more of the crew hastily crowded and
bad scarcely left the steamer when the
boat was swamped in the heavy sen that
was running.
Captain Murphy, Stephen Crane, the
novelist; c. B. Montgomery and William
Higgins, who were still aboard after the
launching and swamping of the second
boat gathered together quantity Of tim
Der, spars and ratings, and, lashing them
together, threw overheard the hastily i'm
provised raft
A small ten foot dingy was the only
boat remaining on the steamer, and this
was launched and entered by the remain
ing mclnbers Of the expedition, only a mo-
ment before the vessel finally settled be-
low the waves
As those on the raft had no means Of
propolling the craft, the four men in the
little dingy endeavored to tow it toward
bo cbns-n fh., ftrt
and sweeping the raft constantly, and the
men were being washed off, until only eight
were left. AT this time the line parted,
and the raft was carried away in the dark
ness After rowing about for some time in
search of the others they were finally
given up as lost, and the four men in the
dingy resumed their laborious pull for
shore. The oars were carried away after GO
ing a short distance, and a sail was i'm
provised by each of the four taking turns
at holding up the captains overcoat The
boat successfully rode the mountainous
waves until it struck the surf in shore,
when 1t capsized. Captain Murphy, Crane
and Montgomery after a hard fight, sue
ceeded in getting safely to shore, COM
pletely exhausted. Higgins was drowned,
and his body was cast upon the sands
These three men made their way TO Day
They there learned Of the safe landing Of
the first boat without any accident AS no
trains are run ON the Florida East Coast
railway on Sunday these last survivors
could not reach this city until today.
Three Friends to the Rescue.
A late dispatch from Port Orange, near
Daytona. says the boat containing four
men had succeeded in landing there. No
particulars wero given They are supposed
20 have been those who were washed over
board from the raft and who succeeded in
rightiRg tbe overturned surf boat.
Late last night the Three Friends left
forSthe scene Of the disaster in search fol
those who may still be on board the raft
There is however, little hope of saving
the wrecked men.
The .Cubans charge treachery in the
wreck Of tho steamer, saying that so sooT
as 1t was discovered that the vessel was
leaking the pumps were tried. but were
found to have been tampered with and
were useless. The men were then set al
work bailing out the vessel with buckets
a futile task that was soon abandoned.
The names of the II men, among whom
are the four landed at Port Orange, ar,
James Redigan, engineer; Ed ID. Ritter
second engineer; Frank p. Grain, first of
ficer; Major Julio Rodriguez Baz, Jones
Franklin, fireman; Murry Mobiles, Man
uel Gonzales, Jose Alvarez, Modesto Leon
Louis Sierra, Jose do Laney and W. A. G
Smith.
Tho many Instances Of splendid courage
shown in the disaster were offset by dis
plays of craven cowardice and selfishnes
on the part of some Of those on board.
One man tried to get out a boat ant
was promptly knocked down by Stephei
Crane the novelist. MIR. Crane stood Or
the bridge, glasses in hand, peorinl
through the darkness trying to discern
ray of light, as the tug was known to b
near Mosquito inlet light.
One Of the Cubans tried to jump over
board, but Mate Rios caught him by tn
collar and hauled him aboard again. An
other was so thoroughly demoralized tina
he knelt down at the captains feet an
prayed to be thrown overheard.
A big coal HEAVIER got into the hold an
came out with package of dynamite an
told the captain that they might as we
let THAI OFF at once.
The dynamite was carefully taken froi
him, and then Captain Murphy fist di
the rest.
Lie there, you cowardly dogr' shouto
Captain Murphy "Obey' orders, and We
all get off. "