Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-01
CLEARED FOR CUBA.
Departure of the Commodore With
Munitions of War.

The steamer Commodore cleared at the
Jacksonville, Fla, custom house at
o'clock yesterday afternoon with a cargo
of arms and ammunition consigned to Sal
vador Cisneros, president of the Cuban re-
public, at Cienfuegos, Cuba crew of
twenty-seven men was carried, despite the
fact that the Commodore is of only Einety-
Zine tons register. Most of these were
Cubans. Among the number was Stephen
Crane, the novelist, who signed es sea-
man at $40 per month. The cargo consists
of the following: One thousand pounds of
dynamite. boxes electric apparatus, 200
rifles. 2O3 900 cartridges, 800 E.achetes, IA
boxes drugs and bundles of clothing.
Clearer nee papers were issued notwith-
standing that a formal protest was made
by Senior Soils, Spanish consul for Florida,
which was made in writing to the collec-
tor. The grounds were that the rules and
Tegula of ports of entry in Cuba pro-
hibit the importation of munitions of war
except upon the written permission of the
governor general of the island, and also
upon the ground that it is the belief OF
the consul that the arms are 10 be used by
the insurgents against the kingdom of
Spain. and also the port to which they are
consigned.
The Spanish consul also refused to sign
the clearance papers. which is a necessary
requisite in going 10 n foreign port, for
the reason that the regulations do not per-
init the importation of arms upon the
island without a permit, and this Capt
Murphy did not have. The consul issued
certificate, however stating his refusal and
the reason ther eof-
The Commodore went down the river
about o'clock an officer from the revenue
cutter Boutwell, having been placed on
board to SIZE that no one should be taken
on board while going down the river The
officer was instructed 20 leave the boat at
the mouth of the river.
1t Is not believed that the Commodore
Will make an attempt to land Its cargo
at Cienfuegos but will make a landing at
some convenient place along the Cuban
coast.
The steamer Three Friends arrived Mt
Jacksonville shortly after noon from Key
West, with Peter o. Knight, deputy col
Iector of customs at Key West, on board
Mr. knight also reported to Collector Of
customs Bisoee, and the latter, acting I'M
der Instructions from Washington, had an
officer from the Boutwell, pIacel On board.
The boat will be held until it shall be libel
ed by the district attorney.
Inc officers on the Three Friends decline
70 make any statements concerning the
trip Despite the deaials, however the
reported chase of the boat by Spanish
cruiser has been we'll authenticated and
also that the Three Friend, returned the
nre OF the cruiser Also the fact that the
men and cargo were afterward left on one
OF the keys near the southern coast of the
state The Dauntless has gone after men
and cargo.
A dispatch from Key West states that
the New York Journals yacht Vamoose
mas returned to that place with q party of
1aoans. believed to have been the men
VINO were left there by the Tbree Friends.
Inc cruiser Newark has been ordered
from Key West to St. Johns bar She
VIII examine the papers of all suspicious
steamers.