The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-13
SAILORS LOSE A PRIZE
SCHOONER SALIVA MARIA WRECKED
ON SHOALS NEAR KEY WEST.
An ObstreperOus Spaniard COwed
Wanted to Obey Instructions.

KEY WEST, Fla, Aug. 12-The two
masted Spanish schooner Salve Maria of
about thirty tons, was wrecked last night
On the shoals of the western dry rocks
nine miles southwest of Key West. She
is a total loss. The ten men on board of
her were taken off to-day by the govern
nent tug Accomac and brought here. They
are Boatswain's Mate McManus and Sea-
man McKeown and Foley, of the gunboat
Hornet, who were the prize crew selected
to bring her to this port, and seven Spanish
prisoners including Captain Pallebante
who owned the boat. her crew of four, and
two of the captains friends, who are
designated as passengers.
The Salve Maria captured by the
Hornet off Francis Key, near the Isle of
Pines, last Saturday night. She was in bal
last, carrying only the personal effects of
the Spaniards aboard her. Captain Palla-
banto, who is a native of the Island of
Majorca, explained that he had recently
purchased the schooner, which was almost
new, and, with his companions, had put out
of Batabano to avoid death from starvation,
intending to make for the first Central
American port that offered food and shell
ter They did not deny that they were loyal
subjects of Spain.
The Hornet took the schooner in tow I'M
til last Wednesday, when a stiff breeze came
up and it was decided to send her in under
her own sail. The prize crew, consisting of
McManus, McKeown and Foley, were put
aboard and the Hornet left her and pro-
ceeded to Key West, arriving here the same
night. The schooner was then about eighty
miles southwest Of here. All went well UNI
til II o'clock last night, when the Salve
Maria, under full sail, went bow-on upon
the shoals without moments warning
Several holes were stove in her hull and she
filled with water up to the deck line. The
vessel and her company lay helpless all last
night, but fortunately the wind and weather
were favorable, and being well supplied
with fool the men suffered no great hard
ship. During the night, however, one of
the Spanish passengers grew fractions and
insisted that something be done to relieve
the situation. To check any possibility of
trouble Seaman McKeown promptly thrust
a revolver into the Spaniard's face and
warned him that if he did not keep quiet
he would blow his head off. The threat
proved effective and the prisoner was
Early in the morning the pilot boat Gla-
nee, under Capt. Samuel Weltus, came upon
the wrecked mariners and offered to bring
them to Key West but in spite of the perilS
and discomforts Of the situation McManus
answered that his orders were to take the
ship in and he would not leave her. The
pilot boat returned and reported to Com
modore Remey, who sent the tug Accomac,
Captain Angus to the rescue. The tug at
tempted to pull the schooner off, but after
Sc veral futile efforts it was decided that she
was too far gone to warrant further trouble,
and after her men had been transferred the
water-logged schooner was abandoned.
The Spaniards all carried revolvers and a
goodly quantity of clothing, which was de-
stroyed to avoid infection. They were
thankful for their rescue. and he who had
been unruly was so eager to reach the tug
that he dropped his umbrella overheard,
and in his efforts TO save it fell into the sea
after it, He was fished out unhurt.
TTr,av 1fVqcr he he TTICn WI
aboard the Hornet pending further instruc-
tions for their disposition. McManus de-
clares that the shoals upon which the
schooner grounded were not indicated on the
chart furnished him and which was his sole
guide in navigating the boat. They are,
however marked by a beacon