Evening star., 1898-06-02
Volunteer in Cuban Army Becomes
Panic Stricken.
BROUGHT TO TAMPA A PRISONER
More Details of the FIorida's Sue
cessfuI Expedition.
PAYIN THE TROOP s

TAMPA, Fla, June 2.-The transport
Florida which left here over two weeks
ago with one of the largest expeditions for
the arming and reinforcement of the Gu
ban army ever sent out from Tampa, re-
turned here today. Confined on board
with the grave charge of desertion against
him, is an American, who enlisted in the
Cuban volunteers, who were sent on the
Florida, but who, according to Captain
Silver. who pioted the expedition to it's
destination, at the last moment when all
the supplies had been landed and the volun-
teers We're ready for their march into the
interior, showed the white feather and ig-
ANONYMOUSLY hid himself on board the trans
port
The mans name is Tats. He lives in
Tampa and Joined the volunteers some
time before their departure Tate was not
discovered until some time after the Flor
ida had left Port Banes, where the landing
was made, and though at first there was
a strong inclination to turn back and put
Tate on shore, it was finally decided to
bring him to Tampa as a prisoner.
Had Killed a Man in Cuba.
Tate, in defense of Lis action. told Capt.
Silver that he had killed man on shore,
and did not dare stay with the volunteers
confidence in this story. however but be-
lieve that the appearance of the insurgents
who met the expedition and the stories of
privation and hardships they told took all
the fighting enthusiasm out Of Tate What
action will be taken in his case has not
yet been decided. The main features of
the Florida expedition have been published,
but additional details were learned today
from Pilot Silver and from Capt. ]. H.
DcIst, who had charge of the expedition.
Although Spanish soldiers We're within
three miles of the landing place and two
Spanish gunbOatS were only five miles
away, absolutely 10 trouble was expert
cnced in landing the stores. The Spanards
undoubtedly knew that stores and volun-
teers were being put on shore, but they
did not come near. There were no inter-
ruptions during the entire three days the
Florida spent in the harbor.
The transport was met by q crowd of
perhaps 800 pacificcs old men and women,
emaciated and almost naked, who had
heard of her coming ard who assisted
with an eagerness that was almost pathetic
in unloading the cargo.
Insurgents Help Unload.
On the second day of the Floridas stay
In the harbor q good sized body of Cuban
insurgents. in command of Gen Rayo, ap-
peared on the shore, and the work of I'M
leading was then pushed with the utmost
vigor.
The day previous the force under Cen
eral Rayo had an engagement lasting sew
eral hours with a large body of Spanish
Il oops, which resulted in the defeat of the
latter. The insurgents lost dozen killed
during the pursuit of the Spaniards. Word
came that the steamer Florida was the
coast, and without stopping for rest or ra
tions the insurgents took up the march to
the sea, eighteen miles distant No stop
was made until the shore was reached, and
although the insurgents for twenty-four
hours had had nothing to eat but a few
bananas apiece. they went to work at once
unloading the Florida's cargo. The cases
containing the rifles were broken open, the
contents distributed among the men and
put Oh the pack mules for conveyance. So
hungry were the insurgents that several
cases of bacon were broken open by them
and the contents eaten raw.
The work of paying off the troops at
Tampa was commenced today. Over $780,
900 will be distributed in the next two or
three days by eight paymasters who are
here