The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-19
COMPETITORS CREW.
All Fosr Of the Famous Prisoners
Have Been Released
HAD BEEN RELEASED FOUR DAYS Ago
Aatter Kept Secret in Order to Pre-.
vent a Demonstration.
PARDoNED BY rHE QUEEN.
spain Was Unwilling to Recognise
PARDoNED BY THE QUEEN.
spain Was Unwilling to Recognise
the Cushing Protocol--Niny Per-
init Tobacco Expectation.

Havana, November ls.-In pursu-
ance OF cabied instructions from
spain yesterday, Captain General
Blanco today released from Cabana
fortress Alfredo Taberdo. Charles
Barnett, Ona Melton and william
Gildea. members OF the crew OF the
American schooner Competitor, cap
tured In April, 1896. by the Spanish
gunboat Mesagrn on charge Of
filibustering.
They were delivered to the American
and British consuls and have taken pas
sage on the steamer Saratoga of the Ward
line for New York.
Washington, November IS. - United
States Minister Woodford has telegraphed
the state department that the Spanish cab
met has notified him that the queen has
pardoned the Competitor prison rs. The
state department announces that the Com
petitor prisoners were turned over to Con-
sui General Lee last Monday and will be
sent by him direct to New York City.
Washington, November 1S.-It is net
do,,bted here that the prisoners are lber-
ated on some such conditions as We're i'm
POSED In the case OF former prisoners, that
is, that they will net return to Cuba.
1t is singular that the men should have
been for four days in the custody OF Cen
eral Lee without the fact having become
generally known, but 1t is supposed that
secrecy was observed in order to insure
departure from Havana without excitement
among the factions. There were four rer-
e.ms, namely, Alfredo Laborde. the captain
Of the Competitor, a native OF New Orleans;
William Guildea, the mate, naturaii1ea
citizen; Ona Melton, who claims Kansas "a
his native State and who went on the Com
petitor in the capacity OF newspaper cor
respondent Charles Barnett OF Engtlsh
birth, but who claimed the protection OF
the United States government by virtue Of
his sailing on an American vessel.
The conditions under which the comoeti-
tor was captured April 25, 1895, oil Inc
cubau coast while engaged in landing arms
for the insurgents, have often oonn de-
soribed The defense Of the men was mat
they were forced into the expedition against
their will by the insurgent party on 'he
boat They were tried by courtmarrlai ara
the death penalty was imposed.
At that point however. the .ase assumed
automatic Importance. Our sogernmont'
through its consul general al Havana, ana
also through Minister Taylor It MADRID
ipterposed a protest against the e&ec'tion
| Of the sentence, claiming the men were I'M
properly tried. without the guarantees heia
out in the famous Cushing protocol. iIis
nrotest caused the removal II the case "a
| the higher judicial authorities at Madrid
and new trial was ordered. The spahsn
government. however did mot and has to'
vel conceded the Cushing protocol applied
~ such cases To admit that would. II the
opinion OF the Spanish government. giea''y
stimulate the fitting out of fifDuslerins
partles in the United States The new
trial had been ordered by the Madrid su-
preme court on the ground OF iTIesiiiarity
| in the original trial, not because CT any
concession OF the soundness OF he oD-ee-
tons imposed by the United states. "
was to have begun last Monday and II IS
thought would have resulted in the I'M
| ~ sitlor OF the death sentence aSaln. nis
would have provoked an expiosio1 IN Inns
country. according 10 the antleipations OF
the departmental officials. go II Ii 10 tAeiu
q great matter ci satisgaetios that the ; IN
lin queen has cut the diplomatic tangis
by tue pardon OF the men before the second
trial.
Senior Dupuy de Lone. the Spanish RIM
ister. had a lcng confer nee with Assistant
Secretary Gay this morning and II IL te-
| ,iayed the Spanish government Is yolun-
,ariIy about 10 remove another troublesome
fac,or In the field OF NEGOTIATIONS by re-
voting the decree made by Weyler prohlp-
| fling the expectation OF tobacco from .,Ip'
4 This pIrhibit.cn has worked great harlshirs
| On large American cigarmakefs interests
land 10 10 this time all efforts of the state
! asc1rtment To secure an amelioratiJn OF Inc