Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-24
ARE THEY PIRATES?

United States Attorney General Springs
 a Surprise in the Three Friends Case.
 Washington, Jan. 23.--If the sensation al stories in certain New York newspa- pers regarding the Cuban filibustering tug Three Friends, on her last voyage, training a Hotchkiss gun on a Spanish gunboat and firing at that vessel have any foundation in truth, the attorney general of the United States government declares that the Three Friends is amend be to the laws of piracy and her officersl and crew are liable to be surrendered and punished as pirates.
 Attorney General Harmon it is off, cially stated today, is considering the ad- visibility of instituting proceedings against the Three Friends on that charge. The attorney general was originally of the opinion that the Three Friends had not committed piratical act, even as- suming that the reports published of her exchange of shots with the Spanish ves- sel were true. But a careful considera- tion of the law and decisions on similar cases had made him doubt his primary view. Fe-c n.f sff
 In order to expediate the case of the Three Friends the attorney7general has prepared an application to'present to the United States supreme court for a writ of certiorari on the United States circuit court at New Orleans for the transfer of the case to the supreme court so that the latter tribunal may pass on Judge Locke's decision, given at Jacksonville. Judge Locke held that the government in it's bill of libel against 7ethe Three Friends did not show that the vessel had violated any law. He gave the govern ment ten days to amend its libel and declared that unless this was done, he would dismiss the application.
 SPANISH GUNBoAT BURNED. Brave Attack of Cubans With Success
 full Result.
 Key West, Fla, Jan. 23.-Havana ad- vices received in Key West are to the ef- feet that the Spanish gunboat Cometa has been captured and burned by the in- surgents
 The Cometa,- one of the most powerful of the smaller Spanish vessels in Cuban waters, has been cruising near Cardenas to prevent the landing of filibustering ex- petitions. For some time she has been accustomed to anchor at night off Screia Morena. The place where the gunboat anchored was favorable for an attack from shore, and the insurgents determ- ined to capture her Last Tuesday night they opened on thefwessel with twelve pound Hotchkiss gum The vessel was struck several times and badly damaged While the crew was in confusion boats loaded with insurgents left the shore and the Cometa was boarded. "A desperate hand -to-hand fight took place on the deck of the igunboat; the Cubans using the machete with deadly effect. Finally. after the Spanish commander and half his men had been killed the survivors surrendered. The vessel was then burned. A VICTORY TOR THREE FRIENDS.
 Jacksonville, Fla, Jan 2S--In the case of the United States vs. the steamer Three Friends, libel for forfeiture for the December trip of the steamer an order was made by Judge Locke, of the United States court this morning sustaining the exceptions of the respondents upon the same grounds as set forth in the order on the libel for the trip of last May. and the libelant was ranted permission to amend the libel and if the amendment | is not filed withlnHwo days the libel is Sto stand dismisseds A