The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-18

by the hundred thousands rides ear
bines, muskcts, 'knapsacks and other
warlikc stuff, sufficient for tho cuuipp-
ment OF regiment. These things were
stored In the warehouse OF the Alaba ma
coal company under the supervision of
inc cuban agent. II was MI done i'm
broad daylight The Spanish consul
might have taken notes OF every pack
age had he so desired. The cases OF
cartridges were marked &c. b." and the
rifles were consigned to Tampa. The
Spaninrds were amazed that the Amer
lean authorities did not arrest the whole
outlit ut once and seize the boat. The
Cubans laughed. This cargo was not
Tor shipment'-yet the New York juntn
had sent them word that the Bermuda
nad landed all the arms necessary for
the present. This lot was to be left In
the warehouse indefinitely.
When the Three Friends was cleared
OF the truck she laid in Il great supply OF
coal and ice. She was preparing TO take
me schooner Scotia from Key West to
Jacksonville. Two nights later the
Spanish spy was sent Off oil false nfor-
nation and on tho following morning
the Three Friends was gone and there
was not pound Of the cargo she had
unloudcd left in the coal warehouse.
Eight surfboats were also missing. This
cargo was landed on Cuban soil near
san Diego. eight miles from the spot
where several Spanish men-of-war were
lying looking for game. III May the
same little vessel made another trip TO
Cuba, carrying nm enormous cargo OF
supplies, hundred men and several
officers. She had on board saddles anu
brides for full regiment or cavalry,
big lot OF Colts reviewers, 1000
pounds Of dynamite, II two pound
Hotchkiss gun and q 12-poundcr Of the
same make. There were also telegraph
&c and telephone appliances for use on
the island. The l2-pounder gun was
mounted in the bow for use in case OF
necessity. All OF this was securely and
safely landed and turned over to the
patriots or Pinnr del Rio, n peninsula
that stretches ITO miles west Of Cane
Antonio.
In June the Three Friends made an
other expedition. She landed at mid
night in Alatan2aS bay ana put ashore
General Francisco Lieti Vidal, an old
reVolutionist; Colonies Artcnga and Ic-
raga ana 81 others, with a triile III the
way OF arms and powder consisting OF
ah0.00O rounds cartridges, 1000 pounds OF
dynamite and much valuable electrical
material. Senior Maratigni. the vice
consul did all in his power to put n stop
to this expedition. He tried TO prevent
Vtday's departure. The old rebel was at
Woodlnwn, he believed. This was a few
miles from Jacksonville, and the senior
made the proper atlldavits and found
the United States authorities ready and
willing to prevent Vidars going away.
t5ut not single boat III the harbOr could
be found to take The party to Woodlnwn
some had been engaged and were wait
ing their engagements; others had Just
been sold; the owner OF another was
SICK; another had been retained by adj
NJ III f,F
repair. At 4 in the morning the senior
reached Woodlawn, but Vidal was not
there. When he returned to Jackson
vile, the Three Friends was gone. The
senior then declared that the scoundrcl-
~ Americans in Florida should be ar
rested at once and the villianouS news
papers seized and their plants burned
up.
The next voyage Of The Three Friends
was the acme OF daring. She started out
with cargo OF heroes and ammunition,
passed within range Of ugly MorrQs
guns in broad daylight and in the even
ing landed her cargo within Il mile OF
the castle with the lights from the fort
ress falling upon her decks. The willy
captain had run the gauntlet of the enc
myS men-Of-War by covering the tugs
now noted name by 4 strip Of canvas
on which was painted In bold lettering
he name Of '"rhc Ok" On the boats
the engineer, Dunn, who Is q wag in his
way. had painted the name "Weylcr de
CorteS,' surmounted with skull ana
>rossboncs after the manner Of the kluk.
lux. On the inside Of the boat tho
name Three Friends was painted many
times. The SDaniards picked up these
boats, which Were used for landing the
cargo. and then abandoned near Juru-
co in Pinar del Rio and were by no
means pleased with the joke
. I F.. D
Since then the Three Friends has
been STEADILY engaged in the ilibustcr-
ing scrvice.' The last trip shows she Is
not to be caught even when she is led
into trap. Her successes are almost
incredible. and are explained only when
1t Is remembered that she is handled by
men whose hearts are in the cause they
work for. No hirelng could navigate
the Three Friends as her enthusiastic
American captains have navigated her.
NO crew could face danger and such trc-
mendous odds without the conviction OF
the highest duty, and no pilot could
lead her without feeling q thrill OF JOY
every time he dcludes his pursuers and
steers the little craft clear Of trouble
ana out Of range of Spanish guns There
is nothing prOvidentIal about the Three
Friends. Her two masters have been
men who positively delight il worrying
the Spanish: her crew are ready TO die
for Cuba; her pilots are sworn 10 liberty
or death Every eye that watches from
the bridge sees with tcnfpld power and
sweeps the horizon with heartfelt anS-