Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-21
jacksonville. Fla. January Is.

JtfhSJlhl4tts i Ao-f Jan eAetA = 49,
To the Editor OF the Register.
Atyour request, the unguarded prom
Ise before gong south, 10 give you
letter, / may nave cause TO regret,
through lacA OF material wherewItn 70
auOru your readers even a passing in
teIest ia s.. nat is already known OF this
lana of sand and sunshine-thls cove
OF the knsuJm vi rest. jacksonville IS
now the centre vi s.eal interest, due TO
the TACT that the Two hIiDusters, rne
Three Frieuus ana L0uuuess, are tied
up al tLIs Jock Uy OIuel yl tAe oA4Deu
STATES District Court a-4 are AT tne
same t4Me 4uety unloi sOlns com
p4e,e repair, Ifesn pdiuJ-nOw White,
heretofore gray-Ihe later tint USED
during the iate imp -easautness 10 Oest
obscure vessels ensa- Ell ia cOnudOi@uu
pursuits, VIII IOim sJOd ptin4iAs lot
future OyercOat vi stay JA- uAe
comes.
These vessels, which we were permit
ted 10 visit ana examine, have become
famous the world over for their daring
ACHIEVEMENTS and wonderful escapes. \
history of their thrilling escapades
wou4u stamp them manned by heroes
Of an heroic age.
That these vessels have furnished
the insurgents with many cargJes Oh
the munitions CT war is we'll known.
HOtchkiss guns, infantry arms, CAmer-
lean patJern), dynamite ana macnete,
the latter very like in appearance 10 q
cOrn-cutter; d terrible weapon used
only ar close Cutters, but with Keen
edge and weight would in the hands OF
a stalwart soldier be as effective as the
guiIOtine in decap!tauOn.
These arms are manufactured in the
United States. We also learned the
names OF the factories supplying them,
but not desiring to court trouble, VIII
leave this TO the United States Court.
These vessels are bonded. Three
Friends in the sum Of S21, 900, and the
Dauntless for $4,000 to keep quiet un-
Ill the government dismisses the in
dictmentS or apprOpriates the property
this being the penalty for infraction
of the international law. This ques-
ton is yet "Sub-judice.' The newspa-
pers have described these vessels as YER
table terrors of the sea. Steel-clad
cruisers. with impenetrable armOr and
bristling with lOng-range rapid ilrlng
guns. and manned with desperate crews.
Imagine our surprise when without the
aid of a gang-plank we stepped on the
deck Of the Three Friends and from
thence to the DauntleSs. introduced
ourselves to the two harmless looking
Captains. Malcolm BrOward, of the first,
and John n. Myers. Of the second, who
in a perfunctOvy manner showed us
through the boats and appeared no
more concerned about the predicament
II 40 were in than the captain or John-
boat on Wheeling creek.
The capacity of the Three Friends is
40 tons. and a wooden structure, the
Dauntless 1876 tons, also a wooden yes
sci. protected with q thin sheeting OF
iron. Mere tug-bOats, and nothing
more: a 6-pOUnd solid shot would send
either or both of them to Davy Jones
locker. To Captain Myers l presented
a young acquaintance from West Nir-
ginia as a suitable recruit for the Cuban
service. asking no security for his safe
return. The Captain replied: No re-
cruits wanted. Why. sir. have 20 or
80 offered me daily. Money is what is
wanted. not men," Having thus start
ed the conversation. I yentured to ask:
How did you succeed in avoiding the
Spanish cruisers at the time you trans
ferred your cargo under the guns Of
Moro Castle?" He replied: You
would hardly expect q fellow to an
swer when there are a dozen indict-
ments against him" On reflection /
must admit the reply was discreet. a
question before the courts will be,
learn. as to any culpability Of these yes
sells under the present status of anairs.
Armed contestants heretofore have had
the right to purchase munitions Of war
without subiecting the furnishers TO
any responsibility. DWirg the Cri-
mean war. agents of the Russian and
Allied powers were present at one time
and dined together On invitation OF
cartridge manufacturer in the city OF
Bridgeport. Connecticut, and placed
their orders in the same factory, and
these were conveyed by American bot
toms to the respective purchasers. This
I recall from a knowledge of the occur
rence-a relative having furnished the
supplies. The liability of seizure on
the high seas is a risk the carriers take,
but if fortunate enough to escape, IS
these vessels have been. why punish
American carriers with American goods
when no recognition has been awarded