Evening star., 1897-05-13
Fiibusters in Florida Have no Easy
Task.
But PUBLIC SENTIMENT Is With THEM
Stephen Crane Writes of the Oh
stacles in Their Way.
AS MARSHALS

able excitement here of many different
kinds. The town is really pro-Cuban in the
most headlong fashion, and a rumor of an
expedition can turn people out into the
streets. If, for instance, the Three Friends
happens to raise its long mournful whistle
over the town at some sleepy midnight, it
is cause for the most excited discussion
whether the Three Friends be bound for
Cuba or bound for some stranded schooner.
Whea 1t is said in the south that the pub
lie is in favor of a certain cause, that
statement counts for a great deal. because
In the south there are many questions
which are decided by the public will. In
New York, for instance. it is of no i'm
porrance to say that public opinion is in
favor of a certain cause; in New York pub
lie opinion has nothing to do with affairs,
III less, indeed, it should happen to really
assert itself about once in ten years.
A Jacksonville attorney being in Wash
iTgton, held talk with a certain promi-
nent government official.
so you come from Florida, do you?" said
the official. why, you fellows aren't iii
the United States at all down there, are
you?"
Il never heard that. exactly" said the
Jacksonville attorney. but l have heard
II at you fellows up here are all Spaniards."
AS this was during the last administra-
ton. the remark was not understood by the
government official.
The first people to invade the south after
the practice of filibustering became popular
among certain adventurous class were
Pfnkerton detectives. They came like lions
re caring. They were going to devour the
hiibustering industry. Oh, they knew that
scrt OF trick. they did, and it must stop
That is all there was about it: they wer,
there to stop it. and it must STOP Their
chests were pushed out until they could not
see their feet, and they expected people in
their Sunday clothes to turn out upon their
md I'll.
pair.
He Wns a Pink
But all this changed when they went
away They marched meekly and In 81
lence. and Florida knew their glory no
more In the first place a detective went
TO the chief Of police, and, standing before
him, made some mystic talk.
Well" said the chief, what is the mat
ter with you?'
Why, don't you know me?" said the
man.
No" replied the chief.
Why. am Pink"
"A Pink" said the chief.
Yes, a Pink"
The The chief surveyed him coldly and said:
You may be daisy but / don't see
where you come in as a pink
W ny, L mean Pinkerton detective;
Oh said the chief, and after waiting
a time he asked, We'll, what do you
Want?'
The Pinkerton man stated then what he
Spain, and incidentally, of course, to help
the PinEertons. He ended by asking for a
permit TO carry revolver.
" nat do you want of revolver?" asked
the cnlef Nobody'S going to hurt Won
is there; you don't want any revolver down
mere; II you don't get fresh nobody will
rother you. and If anybody moests you
unia"fully call an officer That is why we
nave a police force down here"
The man departed. Later in their busi
ness of shadowing various citizens they
were let IN for a good deal of woe The
men OF these parts objected to their shad-
o~s ana curious adventures were thereby
the lot of some of the detectives In one
case TWO of them were arrested as yarrants
aIo heid over night in the city Jail This
y. was .r m1eS a detective was simply an ennis
sary Oh Spain Later the fair-minded ad-
mlnlstrauon at Washington found wav
to circumvent the difficulties which CON
Ironted the detectives in Florida In short
they made them United States marsb.is'
and we then had a view of wondrouS
creation an Americo-Spanish two-priced
pontical monstrosity. OF all the public
,so Woras perfomed by the late administra-
Armed with the position of United States
marshal, the paid spies of Spain were en-
abied to perform their wonders with some
success ana In safety. Some of the citi-
zens OF Jacksonville had resented the Pink
erton detective precisely as they would re-
sent any other kind of insult: but Tinted
states marshal was another matter.
The Filibusters.
The three vessels which have made them
selves great names because of their serv
ice to the Cubans are the Dauntless. the
Three Friends and the Commodore. which
was lately foundered at sea- In fact. the
reputation OF these crafts is enormous
and worldwide that it seems that a sight
OF them almost invariably creates a grin.
AS matter of truth, the Three Friends
anu the Dauntless are merely what would
small ones at that. They are larger than
tne ordinary North river tug, but a New
YORK seagoing tug like the Sea King Is a
monster to them- The Commodore was
northern waters menhaden pirate. And
yet 1t is certainly true that they are as
wen or even better known than the battle
ships OF the United States navy.
when ii is reported here in Jacksonville
that an expedition is about to start for
Cuba on one of these vessels IL is an easy
thing 20 pick up crew. Men jump at the
chance.
Filibustering is as near perhaps tn tbe
times celebrated by Charles Kingsley as we
get in this day of other predominant ideals.
ihe romance OF 1t catches the heart of the
lad. The same lad who longs to euba rx
to fight Indians and to be a pirate on his
OWE account longs to embark secretly at
m n'dnight on one of these dangerous trips
TO the Cuban coast.
III there can only be muff1ed oars involved
IN some manner in the trip and perhaps
some dark figure who Kisses "Silence" at
the critical time, 1t Is still more to the
mind of the lad. Moreover, as far as the
men who engage in it for commercial rea-
sons are concerned. the pay Is very good.
Obstacles In the Way.
or late filibustering from the coast of
Florida has been oppressed with many
more difficulties than usual. The revenue
cutters have been reinforced by a formid-
able squadron of United States warships,
and the officers of these vessels are most
Industrious and painstaking in their eff
iorts to catch any breakers of the law
II Is rot believed their hearts are In their
business particularly, but they are firm
IN their intentions of obeying their in
strrciions absolutely. If man-of-war
chases fiiiDustering craft there can be no
doubt that more than half the men on her
wish to see the little boat escape, but that
would not prevent them from firing away
with long six" as busily as bees.
When the Commodore went down the
river once. openly cleared for Cuba, she
ran In the mud about two miles below
Jacksonville. Word was sent to the cap
tain of the revenue cutter Boutwell,, and
the old craft came numbering down the
river, got line to the Commodore and
dragged her out Of the mud. The Boutwell,