The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-24

|
picked up two more boats, both of which
were crowded full of men. The Helen
Benedict got another one of the boats
while the Crosby saved the fifth. Ten
men were drowned by the capsizing ssof a
boat near the Crosby but these were the
only men lost out of the steamers crew
and passengers of 100 men.
| Hardly had Captain Howes picked up
the last boat from the steamer when the
rescued men set up shout and some of
them fell down upon their knees and
began to pray for the steamer which they
had SO recently deserted was seen to rise
\ in the air until she was almost perpendic-
lar and then plunge stern foremost into
the angry sea.
Capt. Howes now had time to turn his
attention to the rescued men and for the
first time began to suspect that he had
saved the crew of q filibustering steam
er. But he is wise man and some times
it is not best to know too much. This
was one of the times when Captain Howes
believed he should say little. He and
his crew busted themselves in making the
Ishipwrecked men comfortable. None OF
| the rescued sailors had saved any clothing
and were wet through, half starved and
very cold. Dry clothing, warm food and
comfortable quarters were provided for
them as far as possible and the schooner
was headed for New York Then for the
first time Captain Howes found out who
l.; ha ic+i oh d
looking man, with the ugly scar in the
center of his forehead drew the captain
into the cabin which had been placed at
their disposal and produced his card. 1t
read
"Calixto Garcia Yinguez."
The man could speak English we'll but
was evidently Spaniard or Cuban.
Captain Howes learned later that he was
Gen. Calixto Garcia, his full name being
Calixto Garcia Yinguez. The young
man Captain Howe learned was Carlos
Garcia, son of the general. Another
distinguished looking man in the cabin
of the Beebe was DR.. Enesebo Hernandez
now surgeon general Of the Cuban army
anu UQtT0 were SSf0ldl OGllOI ALO0ASSA ihOh
and others who have since attained high
rank in Cuba These men said little to
Captain Howes about their affairs realiZ-
ing that it would be dangerous for them
to say too much and that it would go
hard with the captain should he know too
much. But in general sort of a way
Captain Howes learned that the sunken
steamer was the j. W. Hawkins and he
suspected that she was carrying at the
time of the disaster we'll equipped fill
clustering expedition.
The Beebe soon spoke tow boat off
Sandy Hook and as the Cuhaps had lost
everything they possessed when the Haw.
kins went down Captain Howes paid the
tow boat to carry the 72 men he had res
cued into New York.
| Before the Cubans went over the side OF
the Beebe into the tow boat they drew up
q document which Captain Howes values
very highly and no wonder, for II ever
the brave islanders succeed in casting off
the Spanish yoke it will be worth
| thousands to him or his heirs. The ad.
dress reads:
eve, the undersigned members of the
| Cuban army, hereby beg TO express our
sincere thanks to the noble and brave
Csptain W. III. Howes of the schooner
| Leander V. Reabe who saved the lives of
70 men, all passengers of the steamer
Hawkins which was wrecked in latitude
| 80. IS, longitude 1888"
Captain Howes was also presented with
| g potion which Gen. Garcia took from
| the lapel of his coat and asked Captain
Howes to wear. 1t is Masonic emblem
on one side while on the other is enameled
the Cuban flag. Gen. Garcia requested
| CAPTAIN Howas to wear this button with
the Cuban flag turned inside until such
time as that flag is recognized by the
nations OF the world. Captain Howes Is
wearing this button n ,w and IN his
picture, which is given herewith may be
seen the button but with the flag turned
inside. Captain Howes expects very soon
to be able to wear that button with the
flag outside.
From the time that Captain Howes res
cued Gen. Garcia his acquaintance WIN
the man ue6p6neu lUbO iIIcAdoh1P "~
since Gen. Garcia got away to Cuba low
months after the wreck Of the Hawkins
on the elibusterer Bermuder Gen. Garcia
has been in constant correspondence with
CAPTAIN Howes, and both the captain ana
his wife have Eeen to New York several
times to visit Mrs. Garcia. A few weeks
ago when Captain Howess son was born
he was named after Gen. Garcia and Sat
urday Mrs. Howes received letter from
Mrs. Garcia congratulating her on the
birth of the boy and thanking Mrs. Howes
and her husband for naming the baby
boy after Gen. Garcia. Mrs. Garcia also
sent Mrs. Howes a beautiful pin, with the
Cuban flag enameled on it and with the
Cuban coat of arms Also Il is needless
to say that both Mrs. Howes and the cap
tain prize this pin very highly.
| In Gen. Garcia's last letter to Captain
Howes part of which was shown the
reporter for the1 PRESS Gen. Carols
states thnt the Cuban army, Of when
IL i, 20 4 IorC