The times., 1898-06-13
HOW THE T1LLIE WAS LOST.
Spanish Spy Choked the Fiiibus-
fer's Pumps.

busters has caused the men who took part
in these expeditions to talk more freely
about their experiences while attempting
to land arms in Cuba. One of the expedi-
tIons, which until now remained a mys-
terry. although there was a general feeling
that 1t wasnone of the most valuable
which the Cubans sent out, was that on
the Tillieaia
This was the last expedition which was
fitted out by the Cuban=, and carried a
cargo more valuable to the Cuban army
than any of the other expeditions sent to
Cuba. The Tillie had on board, in addi-
ton to large quantities of arms, ammu-
milton, and supplies, two large dynamite
guns. Unfortunately for the Cubans, this
vessel never got farther than Montauk
Point. where the vessel foundered and
four men were drowned.
The Tillie was owned by James Meal
lister of Jacksonville, Fla. who had pur-
chased the steamer intending TO lit her
out to carry cattle from Florida to Gu
ba. The vessel was purchased in this
port. and just before she was about to
start the Cubans arranged with the own
ba The Cubans were to place these sup
plies on board the steamer off Montauk
Point.
The suspicion that she was a filibuster
was general at the Spanish Consulate
mere, and Consul General Baldasano order
ed his secret agents 10 watch her. They
did so. and then he made a formal COM
nj IN he fad
demanding that she be not allowed to
leave port. Accordingly the United States
revenue cutter Chandler was ordered to
be ready to stop the TiIlie if she attempt
ed to slip out at night. For several nights
the Chandler kept up steam ready TO
start after the filibuster, and then sud-
denly the order came that she need not
be followed. This order was given at the
request of Senor Baldasano, who said that
ne did not desire the vessel stopped. Why
he gave this order is best known by the
s,ory of one of the men on the boat.
which shows that spy was on board,
who tampered with the machinery of the
vessel just after she had taken on her
| cargo.SThe story as told to Tribune re-
porter is as follows:
THE TiIlie left New York at ] o'clock
on the night of January 10 last She had
cleared for Tampa, Fla. Instead of going
directly on her course, she skirted Long
Island and went 10 Montauk Point, where
she met a lighter with the arms on
board. On the lighter were a number of
Cubans who had arranged TO go with the
expedition. Capt. O'Brien, or. as ne IS
better known. Dynamite Johnnie. also
! came on board off the point. He was TO
assist in plotting the vessel into the Gu
ban harbor where the cargo was to be
landed. The Tillie was in command of
| Capt George W. Berry. The regular crew
| OF the boat had been furnished by Mr..
McAllieter. who had had her thoroughly
| inspected before she left New York. The
| United States inspectors had pronounced
| her sound in every way, including her
machinery and pumps.
| after we had taken on board all the
| supplies and the Cubans who were TO go
/ on the trip with US. we put TO sea on the
| 2lst We had a heavy cross sea at the
| time, and -ware standing well out from
| land. Up TO this time the vessel was all
| right, and the pumps, which had been
! tested, were found TO be in good order.
| On the night Of the Esd, at 10 O'Clock. the
engineer reported that the vessel was
taking water fast An investigation was
| ordered, and the pumps were set going
| Then il was discovered that the pumps
would not work, and the vessel continued
10 fill with water.
| Frank Pagliuchi Cuban engineer
| who was on board. went into the engine
| room TO assist the regular engineer. Moth
! ing could be done with the pumps, so rag
| liuehi and two other men went down lntc
| the hold 10 investigate. They stood IN
| water 10 to their armpits and were com
| PEELED 90 hold their lanterns over theli
| heads They found that the pumps haC
| been tampered with and had been nllec
with all sorts of material They tried Il
| repair them but the water was running
| into the hold so rapidly that they had tf
| give il up. When they returned 10 th'
| deck and reported the situation lint
was formed and an attempt made TO bal
| th. vessel TIE weather was intensely
cold and the men could not remain a
this work long, so they decided to tak'
! TO the boats
| The dynamite guns. which had beer
iashed on deck, suddenly broke loose ant
| began pitching backward and forward
| threatening not only to crush the men
| but also 10 destroy the small boats. Fl
| na!ly the guns broke through the raj
| and pitched overheard
| The men then entered the small boat
| and remained near the Tillie. The SCI
| was running high and life in the boat
| was terrible. especially for the Cubans
| who Were almost frozen.
! Then some of the men decided TO re
| turn to the deck of the Tfilie. which ha'
| settled low in the water but did not seen
| 10 be going down further. Two vessel:
had passed us without noticing our sig
nails Dynamite Johnnie refused to 81
| back on board the 1illie. and he. with nj
boat, remained at some distance from tn
vessel Finally the schooner Governo
| Ames hove in sight. and saw our signals
After tacl1ing five times she managed +
get I'D to the boat in which Brien was
The schooner threw a line to the boat, bu
the men were so exhausted that the.
could not take it. This was repeated twic
more and then the big schooner wa
gradually swinging away from the ope
boat and would soon have TO repeat he
tacking in order 10 get back. Once NOR
the line was thrown, and O'Bren mad
an effort TO catch X. He succeeded, an
/ Fastened il around a seat. The line wa
then carried to the sinking T;:i-e. and tn
men in the small boat were then taken o
board the schooner. They had to be lifte
TO the deck in sings, as they were to
! weak to get up the side. A volunteer cre7
from the Governor AInes took of all bu
four men from the Tsllie before she sank.
The story of how the men finally go
back to New York has been told before
| After they reached the city they bega
| to compare notes, and little quiet in
| xestigation convinced them that the yes
sci was scuttled and that the pumps ha
| been tampered with.
The fact that the Spanish consul genera
had been so willing to allow the vessel t
leave port and had withdrawn all oppo
sition was considered as one point. an
then the fact that one member of tn
crew had frequently made trips ashor
while the Tiliie was at this port AN
had been seen going toward the SPANS
consulate. was also added TO the circum
! stantiai evidence. The strongest poin
was that the man was seen coming out G
the hold of the Tillie just before she be
| gan to sink.