Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-07
HOW A FOURTEEN-MAN REv0LU.
TION WAS PUT DOWN.
THE CRUISE OF THE FANTTA
HER CAPTAIN NOT AWARE OF THE
NATURE OF THE TRIP.
Thought He Was CarPyinG . Filibus-
tering Party to Cuba Instead Of
the Nucleus of . Revolution
Against the Dominican
Government.

KEY WEST, FLA, June 6-(Copyright.
1888. by the Associated Press.) The steam
er Fanita, formerly of the Clyde line. which
sailed from Mobile, May "a, in a suspicious
manner, concealing her destination, ar
rived here to-day. She was well down In
the water and fully loaded, apparently.
Her captain and crew refused to make any
statement whatever regarding the trip.
further than that the Fanita sailed from
Mobile with general cargo, discharged 1t.
and had now called at Key West for orders.
This statement in no way tallies with the
appearance of the vessel, which Is certainly
not In ballast. 1t was learned later from
a reliable source that the Fanita had taken
q cargo Of arms and ammunition. with
several tons of dynamite, from Mobile, and
that SO far from being engaged In peaceful
and legal tranic, she had been for two
weeks on a filibustering expedition.
From Tampa the Fanita was ordered 10
Mobile, ostensibly to take an expedition TO
Cuba, under the charge Of Generals JIM
inez and Morillo. both Dominicans, but
strong sympathizers with the movement for
Cuban independence. The Fanita's cargo
was taken on board and during the night.
the Fanita, with the two generals, cap
tain and another officer. slipped out 10
sea without exciting suspicion.
On the afternoon. of May 2. she was
sighted and hailed by an American war
ship in Gulf waters. An ensign was sent
aboard the Fanita to examine her papers
and inquire as to her destination. He was
told she was bound with -supnlies for the
insurgents and was allowed to proceed un-
moiested. Her voyage after that was un-
eventful, until she reached Great 1nagua.
where the expedition was met and joined
by Chris Roberts. an expert pilot. well
acquainted with the Cuban shores.
A hurried consultation took place between
Roberts and General Jiminez and the Fan
3tk1 Sabtain was ordered to steer for Port
de Paix. Hayti. 1t being unsafe to land IN
Cuba. Shortly afterward. .. Spanish gun
boat was sighted, cruising along the coast.
but she took no notice Of the Fanita. de-
spite the fact that she was then almost
| within the three-mile limit.
Port de Paix was reached In safety. and
General Jiminex went ashore and sent dis
patches. On his return he ordered the
Fanita to Cape Haytien. There General
Jimines again went ashore, returning to the
ship with ten men. who. he told the cap
tain. were laborers engaged by him to un-
load the cargo a soon as the vessel reached
Cuba. He added that his advices were still
to the effect that It was unsafe to land an
expedition In Cuba just yet. and that he de-
sired to touch at Monte Crtsti, San Domin-
60, where important news was waiting him.
Monte Cristi was reached on Thursday,
June 2. On casting anchor the captain
was surprised to see General Jiminex come
ON deck in uniform and fully armed. fol-
lowed by General Morillo and the other
two of1cers, similarly equipped Z. They
ordered thirty-seven rifles and two cases
Of ammunition to be put aboard the long
boat that was to row them ashore, ana
then commanded the ten ALLEGED laborers
to take their seats in the boat. Chris Rob-
erts remained on board the Fahita.
The captain understood that something
was wrong, but he was treasured By Rob-
erts and General Jiminez. and shortly
| after 6 o'clock in the morning. the boat
was rowed ashore by three sailors and
| the second mate Of the Fanita.
No sooner had they reached the. wharf.
where General Jiminez and his party land
| ed. than q volley of musketry was heard.
| and three Of the party fell wounded The
| nrst to fall was General Aofillo. pierced
through the breast by q bullet. Troops
| were seen advancing in large numbers
| and the little band Of fourteen was soon
| cut down to five. The sailors In the Fan
| ita's boat were seized with terror and
showed OF from the wharf. amid rain
| Of bullets.
General Jiminez jumped into the boat
| Just In time and, seizing an oar. joined the
| crew in pulling for dear life. The last that
| was seen of the landing party was the
| figures Of two men covered with blood.
| their clothing torn from their backs.
struggling desperately against superior
odds in the face OF blazing and smoking
| musketry.
| Jimine1 reached the Fanita In safety and
none of the crew was injured, but 1t was
| a miraculous escape. The captain hoisted
| the boat, and, without losing q moments
time, put to sea. The Fanifa headed for
shore. where she landed Jimines and Rob-
erts on Friday, and then returned here
| without delay with her entire cargo. The
| captain refuses absolutely to make q state
| ment. but evidently he was imposed upon
and knew nothing Of the true character Of