The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-21
WANTED THE DAUNTLESS HELD
CUBAN PATTY EXCITED, SENIOR DE
LAGOS suspicious.

The Cubnns Came Down From New
York on the Chattah OOchee the
Night After the DauntIess Arrived.
The Spanish Consul Took the Mat
ter Before Collector Beckwith.
There Being No Evidence of Fill
clustering Intentions, the Tug Was
Not Interfered With - The Cuban
Party said Ia BE On the Way TO
Tampa.
Senior Rafael de Lago, the Spanish con-
sui here, mad an interesting days work
yesterday. He was under the impression
that the tug Dauntless, famed for fill
clustering expeditions, was preparing TO
get away with another cargo Of men and
arms destined for Cuban waters. and his
object was 60 take steps TO prevent it.
The Dauntless arrived late Wednesday
night and came right up to the city. Ac-
cording to Information given out, the tug
came here to work during the winter with
the Bristol Towboat Company She was
chased all the way from Jacksonville, or
rather followed by the gunboat Whining
ton, to which she showed her heels some
Savannah river. Necessarily the Daunt-
less is under suspicion, and there Is be
lief in certain quarters that she is ready
to slip away any moment on some pecu-
liar mission
The arrival of the Dauntless in itself,
however was not what created the con-
sternaton. The night after the Dauntless
came into port the steamship Chattahoo-
chez arrived from New York, and with her
came thirteen first class passengers, all Of
whom had distinctly Spanish or Cuban
names. Naturally their coming to Savan-
nah Immediately after the arrival of the
tug excited suspicious strong enough to
lead to Investigations.
Among the passengers on the Chattahoo-
chez was a young Spanish gentleman,
well known resident of Savannah, and
Spanish being his native language he was
in a good position to observe the move
ments OF the alleged Cuban party. At all
events Senior de Lago was informed OF the
arrival of the party. and probably also OF
whatever could be learned of their plans
ana intentions This is said to have been
followed by some lively telegra phing be-,
tween Savannah and Washington, and it
is understood an answer was received
from the Spanish consul at Philadelphia,
which is said to have thrown some light
on the movements of the supposed Cuban
party.
Senior de Lago put two and two togeth-
er, and went to see Collector j. +. b. Beck
with about the matter He wanted some
immediate action taken for the purpose
of holding the Dauntless it is understood,
alleging that he had certain evidence as
10 hlibustering intentions on the part of
the tug which he had received from the
Spanish consul at Philadelphia. One of
the customs inspectors went aboard the
Dauntless during the day, and, after
careful examination and inspection, was
una BILE to locate anything that appeared
in the least suspicious.
Under the circumstances Collector
! BeclSwith was unwilling to take any steps
! in the matter unless evidence Of hlbuster-
| ing intentions on the part of the Daunt-
! less was produced The collector and the
| consul had quite a lengthy interview on
| the subject il is understood, In which Mr..
! Beckwith assured Senior de LagO that the
proper steps would be taken to prevent
| any violation of the neutrality laws, pro-
! Vided any evidence could be produced that
| such violations were intended So far no
| such evidence has been produced, and the
| Dauntless has not been interfered with by
/ the authorities.
| As for the thirteen alleged Cubans who
/ came down on the Chattahoochee it is
/ said their destination was Tampa, Fla.
/ Whether or not they went to Tampa or
| are sdl in the city. could not be ascer-
| tanned, but If they are in the city the au-
| thorities have not been made aware of it,
1t may be that the arrival of the Daunt-
| less and the appearance of the Cubans
| here about the same time was merely a
| coincidence, but under circumstances
which have transpired heretofore it is not
| strange that IL should excite suspicion. No
! hlbustering expedition has gone out Of
/ the Savannah river since a lftttp steam
yacht carried out a cargo of arms for
/ Hayi about four years ago, and if one
/ gets out now it will have to be in pretty
| ehreMd hands TO elmde the authorilies.