The herald., 1897-01-04
CUBAN F|UBUS|ER
COMMODORE SUNK
Seventeen of the Crew
Reach Shore
SEVEN MORE MAY Still Be Alive
Pour Met Death After the Yes
sci FOundered
BASE TREACHERY CHARGED
On the Part Of a Traitor in Pay Of the
Spanish
On the Part Of a Traitor in Pay Of the
Spanish
Whe Scuttled the Little Vessel and Disabled
Her Pumps
The Three Friends Permitted to Leave
Port to Rescue Possible Survivors.
The Insurgent Forces are Said to
be in Very Desperate Straits.
ssosiatsd Press Special Wire

the Commercial Tribune from Jackson
Vile, Fla, says: Seventeen men ac-
counted for out of twenty-eight on the
Cuban filibuster Commodore is the rec
ord here tonight, with a slight chance
of seven more yet alive. The men came
ashore at Daytona this noon, Captain
Murphy, Stephen Crane the novelist, the
cook and two sailors. One of the latter,
William Higgins of Rhode Island, died
soon after reaching land from the effects
or the high surf. One OF the survivors
gives the following graphic details:
The tug sank at o'clock Saturday
morning twenty miles off New Smyrna
All the Americans on board remained
until the last moment. A traitor in Span
ish pay was the cause of the leak. The
leak was discovered about 3 a. m. The
pumps would not work long, though
they did good service for a while. Find
ing that the water gained on us, the
vessel was turned shoreward. AS she
continued to sink two boatloads Of Gu
bans, twelve in all, were first sent off
One boat. containg six men, was cap
sized and 1 am afraid the men were lost.
One of the lifeboats, containing nine
men, was swampcd and a hastily con-
structed raft was made up from mate
rial thrown to them and they then dis
appeared from our sight
Captain Murphy. Stephen Crane, Hlg-
gins and myself and one other sailor.
took to the ten-foot dingey at the last
moment. We tried to save the men In
the water around US. but the heavy seas
and binding wind swept them from us.
1t required all our efforts to keep our
small boat right side up. For twenty
four hours we battled with the heavy
seas. constantly baling, and at last land
was sighted. As we attempted to land
the wind drove US into the breakers and
In an instant the boat was overturned.
For an hour We battlsd for life and then
managed TO crawl out on the sand al
most dead. Captain Murphy saved Mr..
Crane by helping him when a cramp
caught him. Higgins was struck on the
head by floating timbers and died soon
after landing. He was good sailor and
worked hard to sav0 his comrades. The
men are expected here tomorrow
Aid was asked from Daytona yester-
day. As the Three Friends was the only
vessels 10 port that could stand the seas
the Washington officials were wired
asking permission to send the tug out,
even with revenue officers on board
This was at p. m. yesterday. Not
hearing from this the collector again
wired the department. Then J. NJ Bar
ris wired Senator Gail and he replied
later saying he haS notified Mr.. Car
Isle and the president. Nothing was
heard from the department as to aid in
saving the lives of the American citi-
zenG up to late this afternoon. This was
brought about by a strong message from
Mr.. Barris, begging the department, in
the name of humanity, to allow vessel
to leave. This brought the required per-
mission and at $3.50 tonight the Three
Friends steamed out on her errand of
mercy.
NO FEAR OF FILIBUSTERS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-The Span
ish authorities feel little apprehension
from reported flibustering expeditions,
owing to the thoroughness with which
the Cuban coast is being patrolled by
the Spanish forces. 1t is pointed out
that the success of the expeditions large
ly depend upon the ability to deliver the
goods to the insurgents, and that the
mere landing of an expedition counts
for little. Under the system establish
ed by General Weyler, the movement of
any insurgent force toward the coast is
noted as step toward meeting an eX
pedition. The insurgents have no pack
trains or the ordinary means of trans
portation of military stores and are
obliged to receive and carry goods by
hand. In handling boxes of guns or any
considerable supply of ammunition a
large number Of men is necessary to
dispose of an expedition. For this rea-
son the approach of the Three Frineds'
expedition was made known to the.
Spanish commanders by the movement
of q large insurgent force towards the
coast. A battle ensued and the insur-
gents were driven inland. The point at
which the Three Friends subsequently
tried to land was that for which the in
surgent force was headed AT present
1t is said, the patrol is SO complete that
no considerable force of insurgents can
move without unnasking the destina-
tion of an expedition and thus giving
ample time for it's apprehension.
This is but one meaGis of apprehen-
sion, however and it does not diminish
the scouting Of the expedition before its
departure. According to official adj
vices received here, the Insurgents are
in desperate straits since the death Of
Maceo. The report that Gomez passed
the eastern trocha is evidently unfound-'
ed Reports say that Gomez is still held
to the eastward Of that strategic line
1t is believed also by officials that thes,
insurgent leader, Lacret, is either dead
or dangerously wounded. The disposal
of him from the actual field of conflict is
regarded as next in Importance to the
death Of Macso. 1t Is pointed out that