The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1898-05-22
NOTORIOUS CAARAC1RBACN
After Five Months on an Island
South Of Cuba "Ike' Ander-
son Returns.
U.S.S. CASrINE BROUGHT HIM
President Mckinley Feared the Lives
af Phosphate Company Men
Working on the Island ofNa-
yassa and Orders Them
Home.
U.S.S CAS'rINE BROUGHT HIM

There is now in this city, figure for
years familiar to the police and perhaps
one Of the most notorious characters IN
Abe State. This man is "Ike" Anderson,
eolored. ~
Last August this well-known jailbird
vas compelled to flee the town, he having
been charged with selling liquor without
license. :.
Though fugitive from justice "lke''
has lead honest life since that time ana
has had his taste OF the present war be-
sween United States and Spain. lie has
lust arrived in Wilmington from the Is
land of Navassa, which lays south OF
Cuba, having landed in Key West, Fla,
last Monday on the gunbuat Castne:
From Key West to Port Tampa he sailed
on the famous plant steamer Mascotte
and then left Tampa Monday night
bound north. ;,
With Anderson were fifty-two coloredi
men and2eleven white men. They had
all been,employed by the Navassa Phos-
nbate Company, and had for five months
been digging guano on the West Indian
Island.
The Nayassa Phosphate Company,
which is located in Baltimore, caused
sheir men to be withdrawn from the
island at the request OF President NC
Kinley, who fearing their lives, dis
patched the Castine to their relief. j,
Just after rounding the western end OF
Cuba, the Castine spoke the New York
Herald dispatch boat, flying the Brazilian
aag. A blank shot from the Castine
brought the dispatch too, and after the
necessary and satisfactory examinations
we're made both boats proceeded on their
course.
The island of Navassa is between Cuba
and Jamaica and is covered by rich de-
posits of guano. The deposits are oper-
ated by the Navassa Phosphate Company
with head officers in the city of Balti'
more. The gang OF tifty-three negroes,
of which Anderson was a member, were
sent to the island last September, under
the direction OF James A. Woodward
and ten other white officers. Woodward
was subsequently made Governor OF the
isand on which there was no inhab-
Hants but the Phosphate Company's
people. John C. Lawrence, M. d., was
the surveyor of the party.
The men signed articles OF agreement
in Baltimore binding them to the COM
pany for a year, but President Nc
kinley's order brought them home alter
serving only about five months. The
nca received $40 per month, payable
yearly.
lSavassa is about eight miles in circum-
ference and at various points is ex-
tremely high. Kingston, Jamaica. is
within few hours sail and on numer-
aus occasions Anderson reports that the
men while on the high points could dis
singuish the flashes OF fire from the
guns located on Spanish shore batteries,
along the southern coast OF Cuba.
The Nayassa Phosphate Company had
established small settlement winch Is
now broken up The ships at the island
loaded with guano were brought into
Port Tampa safely.
On the island the company had estao-
,ished Jail, and for each day a man was
confined therein he lost his wages and
balh so pay 80 cents board. The men
started to work at 6 Il, III. and quit at
40 .. M, retiring promptly at 10 p. w.
The absence of liquor on the Ia ano
vas Il source of worrment to notorious
ike" but he now hopes to keep out %
New Castle Jail, in which place he lat
served hundred sentences.