Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-25
Reasons Of the Competitor Prison
ers for Gratitude.
VIEW OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
Men Treated Literally in Light of
Their Offense.
ONA MELTON'S NARRATIVE

Melton and other members of the Compel
itor party have privately stated since their
arrival in New York that when Consul
General Lee notified them in Havana of
their pardon by the Spanish government
he cautioned them to say as little as pos
sible Of their experience in captivity, and
to abstain from making any harsh COM
ments on the action of the Spanish gov
eminent. According to the story, Gen
Lee impressed upon the prisoners that their
release had been ordered by the queen re-
gent as a special act of comfy to tie
United States, and said it was desirable
that they should not say anything on their
return to the United States that might give
ofense to the Spanish government or in
terfere with the negotiations now in pro-
gress between the United States and Spain
looking to a peaceful settlement of the
troubles in Cuba.
There are no means of verifying this
story in this city, as the officials of the
State Department and of the Spanish lega-
ton say they have no information on the
subject. 1t was said at the State Depart
ment that if Gen. Lee made the request at
tributed to him, he did so entirely of MS
own volition, as no instructions had been
sent him or the subject.
Attitude of the Government.
One of the officials discussed the matter
with Star reporter with unusual freedom,
on condition that his name should not be
used. He said that although Gen. Lee had
not been instructed to caution the released
prisoners iii the manner indicated, it was
his opinion that if the matter ever came
before the President or the Secretary of
State his alleged course would be APP
proved. To his mind the Spanish had a
good case against all of the Competitor
prisoners, and would have had no trouble
In convicting them of a violation of the
neutrality laws. and had treated them lib
orally in condonihg their offense
1t should be remembered, he said. that
the Sagasta ministry. who are entitled to
the thanks Of the prisoners for their re-
lease. cannot properly be held responsible
representative in Cuba-Gen. Weyler-to
whom principally they owe their harsh
treatment in prison. Then, again. contin-
ued the official the Sagasta ministry had
pardoned the men, who were arrested by
the previous administration solely as an
act of friendship to the United States, re-
CARELESS of the question of their guilt or
II nocence, and it was only natural for the
United States government to show proper
appreciation of the act and a desire to
avoid anything in the matter that might
possibly tend to make friction between the
two governments. 1t was hardly right he
said. for nation to ask another govern
ment to do thing and then criticise it for
doing it. The President and his cabinet, he
added, are convinced that the present gov
of Spain is earnest in it's desire to
ameliorate the conditions in Cuba and
have concluded to allow reasonable time
for the accomplishment of the proposed re-
forms on the island.
Nothing Heard of the Claims.
So far nothing has been heard at the
State Department of the purpose of the
Competitor men to file claims against the
Cvo ,fCh r;ar
on account of their imprisonment, but
those of the officials who have considered
the question say it is extremely doubtful
if the United States would press such
claims in view of the admissions of some
of the men since their release, that they
were engaged in flibustering when cap
tured. One of the officials called attention
particularly to Ona Melton's statement in
regard to the matter as showing the true
character of the expedition. He laid parti-
cular stress upon the following extracts
from Motions signed statement:
The Capture of the Competitors.
1.-The schooner Competitor sailed from
Key West at II pm, April 20, 1886, bound
ostensibly for Lemon City, Fla. Colonel
Monson and Captain Christs who COM
manded the Competitor expedition and a
few other filibusters were aboard The
anchored OF Cape Sable forty
eight hours later, having eluded the reve-
nue. cutter Winona by running through a
shallow and dangerous channel that it was
lot supposed the schooner could pass. At
Cape Sable men, rifles, machetes, dynamite
and 10000 rounds of ammunition were TAX
en- aboard. The number OF filibusters was
now Increased to fifty-three. Alfredo La
horde was captain of the schooner; Will
liam Gildea, mate; William I.eavitt and
Benjamin Gurk. sailors, and Charles Bar
net, cook. All the other men were en-
rolled on the list of expeditionaries except
Teodoro Maza.
THE Competitor sailed from Cape Sable
at sunrise on April 23, and was steered
for Rebecca light, in the gulf. From there
the schooner was headed southwark to-
ward Cuba, and at l pm. April o. anchor
was cast behind bar between one and
two miles from Berracos, a small place on
the north coast of the province. of Pinar del
Rio.
"a little after o'clock all of the arms
and ammunition had been landed two of
the small boats were just starting to return
from the land. and the third boat. filled
with expeditioEar.es and sinking to the
sunwales, was just ready to leave the
for the land, when the Canon
ero Mensajera was sighted not more than
two miles away, and coming around a
small key that hid us from view.
In less than five minutes after the gun
boat came in sight the Spaniards opened
fire on us. 1t was not-posstble for us who
were left aboard to escape to the land, as
tie small boats were gone: or to weigh
anchor, make sail and try to run out to
sea. as three of the sailors were in the
small boats There were six of us left
Alfredo Laborde, William
Gildea. DIR. Elias Vedia, Teodoro Maza, an
named Quesada and myself
1t was a long distance to shore. but Gildea,
Laborde and Quesada decided to try to
swim 1t. Quesada was seized by an i'm
mense man-eating shark before he had
swan 100 yards. He threw up one hand,
uttered a sudden cry and disappeared. The
shark had first passed very close to La
horde, who was ahead, giving him a great
scare; then 1t passed him by, and seized
poor Quesada. who was only few yards
away.
The gunbcat ran alongside the schooner
and a small boat vas hastily lowered and
filed with marines, who followed the two
remaining swimmers. Laborde was over
hauled about half way to the land, but Gill
dea, who was an expert swimmer, had
reached the shallow water before the Span
iards overlook him. Benjamin Gurk. one of
the sailors who landed the last boat load,
went with the expedition into the interior
William Leavitt and Charles Barnet re-
turned to the land when the gunDoat OPEN
ed fire. but the expedition had already left
fer the interior and they could not over
take 1t ana were captured that night
1.-The Spaniards captured few boxes Of
cart ridges that Col Manson wac ppeIIod