The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-26
WRECK OF THE TILLIE.
Four of the Crow Lost. Nineteen
Survivors Brought to Providence on
n COasting Schooner.

PTONluenCe, IT, l., Jan. E0.-NlIeleeH
survivors of the suspected filibuster-
ing steamer Tillie were brought to this
port by coasting schooner today. Four
men We're lost. Captain John O'Brien
was among those saved.
The Tillie was abandoned last Sum-
day afternoon while Off Barnegat in
the midst of a terrible storm. 1t is be-
lieved she was scuttled by traitors who
had Joined the party on board for the
purpose of destroying the vessel The
nineteen who were saved escaped with
great difficulty. The other four men
could not be taken off and they went
down with the vessel.
Forty tons OF dynamite, three dyna-
mite guns and considerable quantity
of ammunition intended for the Cuban
insurgents was on board the Tillie
when she sank.
Captain Waldemar, of the Governor
Ames, says Of the rescue:
Sunday afternoon about 2 O'Clock,
while twenty-eght miles south by west
of Shinnecock, we sighted a small two
masted schooner flying her colors union
down. Steering toward the steamer
and watching her through the glass,
we saw that she was deep in the water
we made out two boats filled with men
just astern of the distressed craft. The
wind was blowing forty miles an hour
and the sea was fierce. The waves
were breaking clear across the Ames
amidships, and we had our hands full
to manage our ship, but We realized
that the steamer was sinking and that
many men We're in peril of their lives,
and resolved to do what we could to
aid them. The course of the Governor
Ames was changed to bring her as
close to the steamer as possible and
when within a quarter of a mile of her,
the five-master was hove to. Two boat
loads dropped down to the Ames and
were pulled aboard. The second mate
of the Ames and four seamen volun-
teered to return to the Tillie to the aid
of the eight men still on board the
sinking craft. They brought back four
at the risk Of their own lives. Dark
ness had set in by the time they re-
turned to the Ames, the wind had in
creased to a hurricane. and the only
course left was to abandon the four
remaining men to their fate. The Til
lie was even with the water line at the
time, and undoubtedly sank almost i'm
mediately."
Upon reaching Providence the sur
viors, after expressing their gratitude
to Captain Waldemar left Immediately
for New York. Ten of the rescued men
were Cubans. The names of the lost
are Horacio Pevia, Alfred Bermudez,
Cancellori and the steward whose name
is not known.
New York, Jan. 25..-The steamer Til
lie sailed from this city early last
Thursday morning. She was cleared
by James McAllister, until recently
she was owned by the Vermont Central
railroad, but Is now alleged to belong
to Mr.. McAllister.
Rumors that the Tillie was a filibus-
ter We're freely circulated in this city
after she had sailed, and revenue Off
GERS were said to have chased her. Mr..
McAllistcr also denied that the boat
was connected with any tllibustering
expedition.
According to the clearance papers,
the Tillie was bound for Key West in
ballast She was a very old boat hay-
ing been built in 1852 and was 142 feet
long with a beam of 26 feet. When sold
by the Vermont Central it was said
that she would be dismantled and turn
ed into a coal barge.
Captain John OBrien, reported to be
among those saved, is supposed to be
the we'll known Johnnie" O'Brien, who
took part in several filibustering ex-
petitions. His home in Kearne, n. j.,
was watched by detectives during the
past two weeks. The vigilance of the
detectives was somewhat relaxed when
it was stated that Captain O'Brlen was
sick in bed with a dangerous fever,
and they only realized today that he
had given them the slip.