The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-07
TRICKED BY JIMINES
HOW A CUBAN FILIBUSTERING Ex-
PEDITION MISCARRIED.
Steamer Fanita Taken Possession of
mingO RebeIs-Arrested Later.
Copyright 1888. by the Associated Press.)

KEY WEST, Fla, June 6.-Tbe steamer
Fan1ta, formerly of the Clyde line, which
sailed from Mobile May "a in suspicious
manner, concealing her destination, arrived
here to-day. She was well down in the
water and fully loaded, apparently. Her
captain and crew refused to make any
statement whatever regarding the trip fur
Their than that the Fanita sailed from Mo-
bile with general cargo, discharged it, and
had now called at Key West for orders.
This statement in no way tallies with the
appearance of the vessel, which is certainly
not in ballast. 1t was learned later from a
reliable source that the Fanita had taken
cargo of arms and ammunition, with sew
eral tons of dynamite, from Mobile, and
that so far from being engaged in peaceful
and legal traffic, she had been for two weeks
on filibustering expedition.
From Tampa the Fanita was ordered to
Mobile, ostensibly to take an expedition to
Cuba. under the charge of Generals Jimines
ard MorrillO, both Dorinicans, but strong
sympathizers with the movement for Cuban
independence. The Fanita's cargo was
taken on board, and during the night the
Fanita, with the two generals and captain
and another officer slipped out to sea with
out exciting suspicion. On the afternoon of
May % she was sighted and hailed by an
American war ship in gulf waters. An en-
sign was sent aboard the Fanita to exam
inc her papers and inquire as to her des-
tination He was told she was bound with
supplies for the insurgents, and was allowed
to proceed unmolested Her voyage after
that was uneventful until she reached Great
Inagua, where the expedition was met and
joined by Chris Roberts, an expert pilot,
TIA A. (t11ho CHI
hurried consultation took place between
Roberts and General 'Jimines, and the
Fanita's captain was ordered to steer for
Port de Paix, Haiti, it being unsafe to land
in Cuba. Shortly afterwards a Spanish
gunboat was sighted cruising along the
coast, but she took no notice of the Fanita,
despite the fact that she was then almost
within the three-mile limit.
Port de Paix was reached in safety and
General Jimnes went ashore and sent ais
patches. On his return he ordered the
Fanita to Cape Haitien. There General
Jimines again went ashore. returning to
the ship with ten men, who. he told the
captain, were laborers engaged by him to
unload the cargo as soon as the vessel
reached Cuba. He added that his advices
were still to the effect that it was unsafe to
land an expedition in Cuba just yet. and
that he desired to touch at Monte Christi,
San Domingo, where important news was
awaiting him.
Monte Cristi was reached on Thursday.
June 2. On casting anchor the captain was
surprised to see General Jimines come on
deck in uniform and Iully armed followed
by General Morrillo and the other two of
ficers, similarly equipped. They ordered
thirty-seven rifles and two cases of am-'
munition to be put aboard the long boat
that to them ashore, and then
commanded the ten alleged laborers to take
their seats in the boat, Chris Roberts re-
manned on board the Fanita. The captain
understood that something was wrong, but
he was treasured by Roberts and General
Jimnes, and shortly after O'Clock in the
morning the boat was rowed ashore by
three sailors and the second mate of the
Fanita.
No sooner had they reached the wharf,
where General Jimines and his party landed,
than vOlley of musketry was heard and
three of the party fell wounded The first
to fall was General Morrio pierced
through the breast by bullet. Troops were
seen advancing in large numbers and the
little band Of fourteen was soon cut down
to five. The sailors in the Fanita's boat
were seized with terror and showed off from
the wharf amid rain of bullets. General
Jimnes jumped into the boat just in time
and Selling an oar, Joined the crew in pull
ing for dear life. Lne last that was seen of
the landing party was the figures of two
men covered with blood, the clothing torn
from their backs struggling desperately
against superior odds in the face of blazing
and smoking musketry.
Jimines reached the Fanita in safety and
none of the crew was injured, but it was
a narrow escape. The captain hoisted the
boat and without losing a moments time
put to sea. The Finita headed for shore
where she landed Jimines and Roberts on
Friday, and then returned here without de-
lay with her entire cargo. The captain re-
fuses absolutely to make statement, but
m and
nothing of the true character of the expe-
dition.