The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-09

The Vesuvius O~verhauled the Tug Alexan.
der Jones just as She Was Crossing the
F~ernandina Bar-The Bermuda Close BY

charleston News and Courier.)
| Savannah, Ga, April A special to
The Morning News from F~ernandina,
Fla, avs The Vesuvius arrived here
| late last night from Jacksonville, and
in coming over the bar spoke the tug
Alexander Jones, of Wilmington, and
took her in charge and brought her to
| this port.
An officer has been placed aboard of
the tug, and captain j. j.. Atkins, of the
Jones, has protested and left the tug in
the governments hands, and notified
the officials that he would hold them
responsible for every minute he was de-
tanned by them, as he holds contract for
work in the harbor which he was on his
way here to do.
The Alexander Jones belongs to the
Wilmington Pilots Association. 1t is
thought in official circles that this boat
was to have taken an expedition out
| here last night, but there are no signs
Of arms and men to be found in the
vicinity. 1t is also rumored that the
representative of the Spanish govern
ment has made a big mistake.
l Inc scSuEIuS Is Sllll III port, ana mas
the port we'll guarded against anything
Of a flibustering nature. The tug Alex
ander Jones is lying at the railroad
docks with her steam very low.
jacksonville, Fla, April A tele-
phone message from Fernandina to
| The Times-Union states that the tug
| Alexander Jones was brought in there
late last night in charge of an officer
from the cruiser Vesuvius. The gov
eminent vessel came in today. The tug
was seized on Cumberland Sound on
suspicion of being a filibuster, but as
nothing suspicious was found on her
she was held On the charge of violating
the navigation laws, being without
lights when seized by the Vesuvius.
The cruiser was out all night, and her
appearance spoiled a large expedition
that was ready to sail from that place.
The tug Panama was lying at the dock
there at midnight with several large
barges alongside of her loaded with
arms and ammunition. When the
Jones came in they took alarm, and the
barges were run off up the ST. Mary's
river and hid, so that when the Vesu-
ViuS came in she found nothing sus-
picious on the tug. AS the tug was
fired up, and had a big lot of coal on,
she was viewed with suspicion. The
Jones had a lot of Goa on, it is said.
and a very large crew for so small a
vessel.
Washington POSt)
Jacksonville, Fla. April 4.-The
cruiser Vesuvius prevented a Cuban ex-
petition from leaving F~ernandina last
night, and captured the tug Alexander
Jones, of Wilmington, N. c.. The
cruiser left here suddenly yesterday
yesterday afternoon upon information
furnished by spanish Vice consul
POtOus that an expedition would leave
F~ernandina at II o'clock at night. The
cruiser went down the river and an
chOred off Fernandina bar. About II
o'clock a tug with only two lights burn
ing at the masthead was seen to ap-
proach, and the fash light of the Vesu-
vius was thrown Upon her. The tug
proved to be the Alexander Jones, and
the captain gave as an excuse for his
presence hat he was waiting for lows.
An officer from the Vesuvius was
placed aboard, and then the cruiser
went out to sea in search of the Ber-
muda, which was expected.
A steamer was finally seen coming
from the south, having the same. sig
nails displayed as those of the Jones.
The flash light was again used, at
which the steamer turned and started
in another direction. A signal from the
Vesuvius brought the steamer to a
StandStili, however, and it was seen to
be the Bermuda. The Bermuda, how
ever, was outside the three-mile Limit
and under the British flag, so that the
commander of the NesuviuS had no III
thOrity to detain her. The Bermuda
apparently had no cargo on board,
standing very high out of the water.
The Jones was escorted into the port
of F~ernandina and turned over to Col
lector of Customs Baltzell, who placed
a deputy aboard The tug will prOba-
bly, be fined for a violation of the navi-
cation laws in having only two lights
displayed.
The plans of the Cuban were for
General Sanguilly to leave this city
with a party of Cubans for F~ernandina.
A small tug was then to tow two light
ers loaded with arms n ammunition
and the men out to the bar where they
were to be met by the tug Jones with
coal and provisions aboard, and every
thing was to be transferred to the Ber-
muda The quick action of the VeSu-
vius prevented their plans from being
carried out.
CBy Associated Press.)
Jacksonville, Fla, April 5.-The tug
Alexander Jones, which was seized by
the Vesuvius at Fernandina Saturday
night, is still detained; but no charge
has been preferred. The captain denies
that ne was doing anything but waiting
for lows, although suspicious indicate
otherwise. The tug will probably be
fined for violation of the navigation
laws, for not displaying the proper
lights. The Vesuvius returned here to.
day, but reported nothing new. Cap
tain Pillsbury evidently made a mis-.
take in not waiting for the Bermuda tC
speak the Jones, when it could have
been caught as we'll.
General Sanguilly and staff are still
-, biIipo- OF npn ~ Tho bnfalC baro~