The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-05
THE TRAITORS WORK.
Wreck of the Commodore Accom-.
plishcd by Spanish Gold.
MUCH INDIGNATION FELT BY CuBANS.
The Story of the Disaster Told by
Survivors.
MUCH INDIGNATION FELT BY CuBANS.
STEPHEN CRANE MAS RESCUED
Claim Tint Large Filtbustering
Expedition VIII start to Cubn.
Cargo of the Commodore.

Jacksonville, Fla, January 4.-Captain
Murphy, Novelist Stephen Crane the
cook and two sailors OF the illfated Com
modore, managed TO land at Daytona, 80
miles south OF here. making seventeen out
of the twenty eight on board accounted
for. The raft supposed to have eleven men
on board is still missing, but it is thought
to be about ten miles out.
The wind has been eastward, hen;e
there is some uneasiness about their fate,
as If the craft has held together it would
have blown ashore before this. The fol-
lowing telegram was received here:
Leak was caused by some traitor in
Spanish pay. The tug sank at o'clock
Saturday morning, 20 miles off New
Smyrna Two boatloads Of Cubans were
first sent off. at about a M. with twelve
men. One boat containing six men was
lost
THE Americans all remained to the last,
CALAMITY fighting to save the vessel, but
all efforts we're in vain. One of the life
boats containing nine men was swamped
and "a raft was hastily improvised ana
most of them got on 1t, but were swept
from our sight. Captain Murphy, stephen
| Crane, the newspaper man, Higgins and
| myself stood by until the water washed
| over the upper works. We lett in a dingy
| and tried to save some OF the men strug
| Cling alongside, but the heavy seas and
| wind swept them away from us. Fol
| twenty -four hours the captains party was
in a terrible sea, compelling us to bail
| constantly TO keep upright and safe Ali
was biting and water intensely cold, as II
was swept over us, and soon the entire
party were thoroughly chilled and ex,
hausted The little l0foot dingy turned
| and twisted in the tumultous seas, almost
| overwhelmed by every wave, but by good
| luck it kept rightsde up.
| AT noon today we started through the
| breakers here at Daytona and not knowing
| the right entrance. were swept into The
| heavy breakers. The boat was overturned
and a fight for life ensued. Tine ant
| time again we were swept under by III,
heavy undertow, but finally we managed
TO get to shore, terribly bruised ant
thoroughly exhausted. We were over al
hour battling for life In the angry surf
All are right now save poor Higgins, VIII,
received two tariblN p-s',nds ir his head
tle died from their effects and exhaustion.
The reported dead is William Higgins.
He is from Rhode Island. but his family
live in Boston. So far seventeen men Out
of the twenty eight on the Commodore, are
accounted for There should be eleven or
the raft, hut according to Montgomery S
story, some of the men were lost while
getting from the tug, SO that the loss Of
life will be three 10 four, If not more.
The Three Friends went to the rescue.
Many wonder why the cruiser Newark
at anchor at the mouth of the river. was
not sent TO rescue American citizens fron
drowning and asking If red tape kept ar
American vessel from rescuing our Cwn
people.
The Cuhans echo the words OF Mont
| gomery and say that a traitor was among
the crew and that the ship was scuttled
Spanish gold did it," said a member OF
the Cuban circilo tonight. They could
not keep the vessel lack by any other
| means, and to keen this aid from reach ing
the Cubans, this last foul expedient was
! resorted TO. It's no secret that an attempt
was made to injurc the Commodore while
she was in port here week ago, though it
| has been kept from the papers. In This
ease man Was discovered working on the
huh at night. and when he fled auger
marks were seen on the hull. where he had
attempted to bore into the vessel below the
| water line. ="
| Captain Murphy and those landed at
| Daytcna are reported In good condition to-
night. though terribly used up. Mr.. Crane
| WAS pucly. He was compllmented by the
| rescued men for his courage md work m
| attempting to save the vessel.