The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-08
CUBA'S NAVY IS IN PORT.
(Continued from Eighth Page.)
haven't lost much time in the last three


haven't lost much time in the last three
years, have l, Cartaya?"
Cartaya, who is a special representative
OF the Cuban junta keeping track of car
goes on such expeditions, did not think so,
and the captain mentioned a number OF
vessels of which ne mad been in command
when they carried cargoes to Gomez Gar
cia and other rebel leaders. Among the
vessels taken out by him We're the Der.
muda ana the Laurada, the owner or
which, Capt. Hart, of Philadelphia. was
recently pardoned from the penItenuary
by President Mckinley. Several times he
had narrow escape from capture, but the
Spaniards did not worry him half so much
as the Plnkertons in the employ of Spain.
Il was in Savannah two years ago"
said he, hiding out from PinkertOns. They
were hot on my trail and l laid up here
with two or three others for two weeks
to throw them off. We lay low in a pri-
vatc boarding house and eventually got
off with cargo from the Satilla river.
We never took cargo directly out Of
Savannah but we had considerable stuff
here at times. To deceive the PinllertOns,
we were compelled to ship the stuff to
several points, then reship it by round
about ways 10 where we wanted it. We
would like to have made Savannah a base
of operations but We're a bit afraid. You
see, the revenue cutter is apt 10 be in
here for days at a time, the distance 10
the bar is considerable when you are try
Ing TO get away in Il hurry, with a PROB
ability of a chase, and so We used points
south of here. Several cargOes were sent
out of the Satilla river. That was a good
point to work from
What do you think of the Cubans, cap
tain? VIII they be able to run a govern
ment of their own, do you think?'
From what 1 have seen of them 1 be
lieve they will. They have many bright,
able and honest men among them They
propose to mould their government after
this country's I have talked with many
of their leaders and ind them of one mind
about that. Many of the best educated and
most progressive men in Cuba or among
the Cubans in this country now, We're edu-
Gated III the United States, and are well
up on our forms of government. The idea
that some people have that Cuban inde-
pendent government would mean a black
republic like Haytfs, is all wrong. While
the negroes have been assisting in the bat
tie for independence il is the white Cubans
who are the main strength and the chief
brains in the struggle. The Maceos were
negroes and fine soldiers. They are both
dead now. The other leaders are mainly
whites, Cubans to the core, and patriots
throughout. Not a single man among
those placed in a position of trust has
proved a traitor, although Spain has tried
the power of gold time and again. [ have
met the Cubans time after time and tell
you they deserve sympathy and admira-
ton for the noble fight they have made"
Capt. OBrien was asked whether he
thought they would have won their indie
pendence if the war between this country
and Spain had not come.
Yes, they certainly would 1t would
have taken two or three years longer, but
they would have eventually whipped, or
tired out, the Spaniards. This revolut ton
had fine management. It's finances We're
well looked after. The junta here and
abroad went about 1t Systematically and
raised enormous sums. 1t takes cash mon
ey and plenty of it to keep landing sup
plies for forces aggregating a number of
thousands, but that is what they have
been doing for nearly three years, and
they were getting in better position every
day. Yes; Cuban independence was bound
to come this time and the Spaniards knew
it. By the end OF the century they would
have pulled down their flag and got out of
the island"
Capt O'Brien got the sobrlquet of
Dynamite" from the fact that number
of years ago he took out a cargo of sixty
tons Of dynamite on the schooner Ram
bier to Aspinwall. BY profession he is a
Hell Gate pilot, but by choice and by nat
ural fitness he is what all regard him as
the greatest man afioat to supply ,revolu-
tionists with the means whereby they NAV
accomplish their ends. And he is q quiet
unassumlng man, with none of the bragg
gadoco about him.
Messrs. John Rourke & Son win make
all necessary repairs to the Alfredo to-
day. There will, no doubt be many Wis
itors to the yacht before her departure