The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-09
Newspaper Boat Visits the Wrecks
and Picks Up Few Span
ish Prisoners.
EAGER TO SURRENDER
Lest the Cubans Machete Them--These Tell How
Their Officers Shot Men Who Deserted Their
Guns-BIack HuIks on the Beach.

OF the larger steamers. were also adver
tised for sale on the same date. Som
Of the cargo of different vessels was take
on shore and stored in warehouses. Some
such as sugar and jerked beef, was Ief
on board.
FOR several days prior to the saleTbuyer
arrived from cities of the north, south an,
west Dealers and spectators came /,
from New Orleans, Mobile. Charleston
chicago, Philadelphia, New York. and els
where. There were enough present t.
insure fair competition Some, after al
investigation, withdrew and came nom.
without waiting for the sale. Some stave,
20 see 1t out The general opinion seemed
20 De that the purchase Of some of tn,
principal commodities offered presented
the elements OF very respectable gamble
me rice and canned goods were of gen.
orally undesirable quality, being of grade,
tnat are prepared with special view tc
Inc requirements of the Cuban market
and Of little value for American trade
! Ihe sugar was raw and packed in sacks
IN oulK IN the vessels. 1t could only be
handled by parties who were in toch with
the refnertes. Samples from the to,
showed up reasonably vel, but the DUAL.
! lty and condition Of the bulk of it was q
! problem. The jerked beef was not an at
! tractive looking substance, but I'D 10 the
tlme OF the sale, II appeared to be in sound
! condition. Whether It would keep so IN
| til some Cuban port Should be opened I'D
and market found for II was a mater
OF some doubt. Buyers were here who
were amply able TO swing the whole of it.
ana there was good money in 1t at four
| cents pound If it could be kept and
sold. There was 900 tons of it.
The sale opened on Monday, but what
was said to be tour of inspection of the
vessels. The marshal provided a small
steamer, one Of the observation-disclosures
for the transportation of those who
wished to examine the vessels. The ex-
animation was somewhat farcical, and
consisted Of pleasant little sail of an hour
or less. No information was furnished.
and no stop made for inspection. Prob
ably the formal proceeding was all that
was really necessary, though it epcites
some comment and criticism. Upon the
return of the steamer the crowd gathered
around the steps of the government build
ing, where the sale was to take place
After long period of bell ringing by the
crer through the streets, and a good deal
OF shifting about to find the principal spot
mast suitable for the proceedings and
most convenient for the throng of buyers
spectators and idlers the terms of the
sale was announced and the auctioneer's
glib tongueturned loose. The sale began
with the vessels.
The first haat a0I5
forty-one tons. She was started at $500,
and crept up by tens and twenties to
about $500. After hanging at that points
for few minutes. she took a fresh start
and ran, by small advances, to 81 350-at
which she was knocked down TO local
parties This sale seemed to gauge the
rest, and twelve smacks were disposed of
in quick succession at from $500 to s.. 700
the total of all being a little over $4,000
an average of $1,000 APIECE. Most of the
boats are well built, copper fastened, and
provided with tanks for the preservation
of fish alive. The purchasers were local
merchants, who will use the vessels for
supplying fish TO the Havana market from
FLORIDA coast catch, as soon as the doors
of the market are opened by the American
navy and kept open by the American army
The trade IS quite a lucrative one. and
the purchasers of the boats hold them at
figures which should enable them to
make some money, though there was lit
tie slaughter in prices.
The larger vessels, the briggs and schoon-
ers, brought but low prices because Of
their condition. Two were bought by
agents of the Ward Line for use as
lighters. All of the larger steam vessels
are 10 be sent to the larger cities for a
better market. The steamer Boliver was
sold to a local firm for $500. and the East
Coast Railway System paid $1,000 for the
Argonauta, which will probably be put
into service on the line between Key West
and Miami, where something of the kind
is much needed. A little more of compe-
ution would nave increased the prices Of
the steamers, but when necessary re-
pairs and improvements are made the
boats will not represent any very remark |
able bargains.
After the vessels were sold their car
goes were offered. The raw sugars were |
bought by New York parties az prices |
which give a fair chance for profits. The |
rice went 10 local merchants. who paid A |
: lNt% eNeaA more Aale1lt TIE same grade OF \
goods would bring n New York. but they 1
will make q good thing on it for local /
trade. Flour and beans found no purchas- /
ars on the first day OF the sale. and were |
withdrawn for later effort, in the hope Of |
a better market. The beef found a few
,ustome-sfOr small lots of 500c pounds.
and ar agent Of the Red Cross SOCIETY
took 2ooo0 pounds on account Of the So
,iety. The fate Of the rest Of the lot Of
,pr) tons remain in doubt Il Is too large
4 cargo for disposition in any marv-e;
likely TO open Immediately. and the risk
y decay Is considerable. There was
arga amount of miscellaneous cargo %
,ood products and suHe-jes. from maca-
'cni. chocolate. and Goldfish. 20 trunks q
contents. and alleged sarEiaes.
packed about five 20 the box. The gen
,ral resCl; % the sale was good. A very
ldy sum VIII be obtained for division
among NE csptors and Uncle sam viii
lave few dollars . help in paymen; OF
war expenses
he auxiliary cruiser Yankee arrived in
&c Larb0r Of Key West on Monday.
sew ships q our navy nave seen more
,ctive service. OF done more shooting than
' = @'S iiaS t-a0 z Soo1 de@a- OF
zrget practice. win something besides
loating barrels for targets. In fact. she
las shot away a considerable par. o. ne
-mEunietc1 in making holes IN Spanish
property along the CUoaa coast Her ten
iX-ineA guns and her lighter armament
lave done quite hi, OF active work from
santiago 20 CienfueEoes. she returns il
Ncellent condition. her crew well and
leAr5y. and her injuries 70 men or ship
.rlAs-r arrA-. - Ia ! .