The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-03
AN ALLEGED DESERTER
VOLUNTEER WHO DID NOT LAND
WITH THE CUBAN EXPEDITION.
Further Details of the Trip of the
Transport FIorida-Hungry In
surgents and PacificOs.

TAMPA, Fla, June 1.-The transport Flo
rlda, which left here over two weeks ago
with one of the largest expeditions for the
arming and reinforcement of the Cuban
army ever sent out from Tampa, returned
here to-day. Confined ON board with the
grave charge of desertion against him is an
American who enlisted in the Cuban volun-
teers who were sent on the Florida, but
who, according to Captain Silver who pilot
ed the expedition to its destination, at the
last moment, when all the supplies had been
landed and the volunteers were ready for
their march into the interior showed the
white feather and ANONYMOUSLY hid him
self on board the transport. The mans
name is said to be Tate. He lives in Tampa
and joined the volunteers some time before
their departure. Tate was not discovered
until some time after the Florida had left
Point Banes, where the landing was made,
and though at first it was strong inclina-
ton to turn back and put Tate on shore, 1T
was finally decided to bring him to Tampa
as a prisoner. Tate, in defense of his ac-
ton, told Captain Silver that he had killed
a man on shore and did not dare stay with
the volunteers for that reason. The off,
GERS place no confidence in this story, how
ever, but believe that the appearance of the
insurgents who met the expedition and the
stories of privations 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 expedi-
lions have beer published, but additional de-
tails were learned from Pilot Silver and Cap
tain Dorst who had charge of the expedi-
ton. Although Spanish soldiers were with
in three miles of the landing place and two
Spanish gunboats were only five miles away
absolutely no trouble was experienced in
landing the stores The Spaniards undoubt-
edly knew that stores and volunteers were
being put on shore, but they did not come
near. There were no Interruptions during
the entire three days the Florida spent in
the harbor. The transport was met by a
crowd Of perhaps 300 pacticos, old men and
women, emaclated and almost naked, who
had heard of her coming, and assisted with
an eagerness that was almost pathetic in UNI
loading the cargo of the Florida.
On the second day of the Floridas stay
in the harbof, good sized body of Cuban
insurgents in command of General Rayo APP
peared on the shore and the work of UNI
loading was then pushed with the utmost
vigor. The day previous the force under
General Rayo had an engagement lasting
several hours with a large body of Span
ish troops which resulted in defeat of the
latter The insurgents lost dozen killed
came that the steamer Florida was on the
coast and, without stopping for rest or
rations, 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 nothing to eat but few bananas
apiece, they went to work at once unload
ing the F1ordas cargo. The cases contain
ing the rifles were broken open, the con-
tents distributed among the men and put
on the pack mules for conveyance. So hun
cry were the insurgents that several cases
of bacon were broken open by them and the
contents eaten raw.