New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-23
HOME WITH A PITIFUL TALE.
THE COMPETITORS MEN REACH PORT
FROM A SPANISH JAIL.

THE CAPTAIN, HALF PAFALYZED AND
cp.y-BA1RED-THEY TELL. OF THEIR
sUFFERINGs. AND COMPANION
DIRECTLY CHARGES SPANISH
GENERALS WITH TREAcH-
ERY TO SPAIN.
E,,,o members Of the celebrated Cuban fill
bustering expedition on the schooner Cornpeu-
tor who were captured by the Spanish in April
1896. and have since passed miserapie eN-
istence in Havana prisons, Tor ume uhuer
sentence of death, and VINO were reieaseu OH
Thursday Of last week, arrived here yesterday
or tho Ward Line steamer Saratoga from Ha-
vapa- They all bore the marks Of the fearful
trials through which they had passed They
told with difficulty the terrible tale of their sur
ferings because Of the emotion which its recoi-
,oc,ion co fr,sh in their minds. caused to them
Tears weled to their eyes constantly. as. SIT
ting in the saloon of the Saratoga, coming up
the harbor they told to the group of news
paper men who had gone to Quarantine to meet
them the story of their capture, confinement
conviction and long wait for the carrying out
of the sentence of death once passed upon them.
but afterward reversed
THIS PRISONER A PHYSICAL WRECK.
The man who showed most plainly the effects
1ailers is Ona Melton He is young man from
Kansas who Joined the Competitor expedition
IN the interests OF a Florida paper AT that
time he was in robust health, and weighed 100
mounds Now he weighs 100 pounds His face
is like that of a corpse his frame IS 80 eiiiac'-
ated that his clothes hang loosely upon IT, no
has the hunted look bred Of long imprisonment
he cannot keep still for a moment and when
talking about his trials he cannot keep the
tears out of his eyes.
The man who. next to Melton, shows most the
effects Of his confinement is William Leavitt'
cook Of the Competitor, and British SUBJECT.
The other members of the expedition IN the
party were Alfredo Laborde. a native OF New
Orleans and master Of the Competitor; william
oildea. the mate native Englishman who Is
a naturalized American citizen and the steward
Charles Barnett They were in a fairly we'll
preserved condition except Captain Laborde'
who walked upon a crutch as the result OF the
complete paralysis Of his right leg in his I'M
prisonment, and whose hair has turned from
black to gray. With these men on the sara
toga was Julio Arteaga of Quesada, young
medical student from the City College here who
went to Cuba a year ago last January to serve
IN the insurgent hospitals. but who was capt
ured and like the Competitors men. imprisoned
and sentenced to DEATH but finally released last
Thursday There are still In the Cabanas
fortress two other members of the Competitor
expedition, DR.. E. Beda and Telgeado Masso,
Spanish subjects. The former. 1t is expected.
will be released on the coming Saturday.
NEGOTIATIONS for the release Of all the Ameri-
can citizens connected with the ill-starred
pediton on the Competitor have been carried
on between the United States and Spanish gov
ernments almost since their arrest and were
crowned with victory last week when Captain
General Blanco received an order for their par
don from the Queen Regent. 1t was accom-
panied with the proviso that the men should i'm
mediately be sent away from the island and
ordered never to return. Consul-General Lee
and the British Consul, with the order for the
prisoners release, went to Cabanas fortress last
Thursday and at once conducted them to boat
In waiting They were rowed off to the Saratoga,
which sailed that evening for New-York. Vice
Consul Joseph A. Springer, who has six weeks
leave Of absence, accompanied them.
The CORRESPONDENTS STORY.
The story Of the capture Of part Of the Com
petitor expedition. after the rest of It's MEM
bers had been landed, has been told many times
piecemeal The men yesterday gave the first
connected account Of the affair. Ona Melton
told the story follows:
when the expedition had been nearly landed
on the shore warning Of the approach of the
Spanish gunboat Messagera given The
Competitor put to sea- but was overtaken.
solid shot over our decks showed what fate was
In store for us. The small boats were launched,
and the seven men left on board jumped into
them and started for the shore. We were
captured, however. one after another, by boats
from the Messagera.
After being landed we were turned to
the Spanish soldery Our arms were tied at
the elbows behind our backs and the cords
drawn till our elbows touched and our shoulder
blades were nearly dislocated We were taken
a prison near Havana. where we were kept
tncommunicado for six days in dark cells
There was furniture In the cells-nelther bed
nor chair. We were fed once a day. We were
not allowed to see the American consul Three
Of us were then put in cell six feet by twelve.
where we were kept for three weeks without
stepping out Of IL once. Then list Of Spanish
officers was handed to us from which we were
ordered 10 select one TO defend us in our trial
for life. We took the first He came to u.s.
spent just one minute In asking us II we were
guilty or not, and left.
THE DEFENCE A FARCE.
I'VE were tried and. without any defence be-
yond a short general speech by the officer
for cemency, were sentenced to death. We
were then thrown into separate cells for an
other six days ncommunicado. Then began
he work OF the United States Government in
our behalf, and We're removed TO Cabanas
Fortress, where have been confined since
/ have spent the time in large room with
about forty other prisoners Of all descriptions.
from the murderer 10 the thief. The room had
one small window and door. We were
never allowed TO go out.
Last Thursday heard the approach Of a
file Of soldiers and was told to step out into
the corridor didn't know what fate was In
store for me. There stood General Lee, how
ever, and he told me / was released. What
shall do now l don't know. l have a few
friends here, and shall probably stay in the
city for week"
BETTER TREATMENT FOR THE CAPTAIN.
The stories Of the other men were similar to