The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-03-04
ON A QUESTIONABLE MISSION.
American FIllbusters Coin: to socth
America Their Exact Destination Care
fully Concealed from the Public.

Kansas City, Mo-, Feb. 2S.-The first
detachment of the filibustering eXpedi-
ton organized here for AZ invasion OF
Central America left Kansas City at
1929 o'clock last night. The soldiers
o. fortune numbered about $50, and
we're provided for in four special
coaches, which were attached to the
regular south-bound passenger train
Oh the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Mem
phis road.
William &. Thompson, former cap
tain of Co. d. Fifth Missouri volun-
teers, was in command. On the same
train, as regular passengers, were
Capt. George Z. Whitsatt, late of Co.
G., Fifth Missouri volunteers; Capt. a.
NJ. Casey, late of Co. NJ, Third MissoG-
ri, and L. \. Witten. n lawyer, who has
been active in recruiting the adventur-
erS.
Expect to Take Ship at Mobile.
The filibusters expect TO take ship
az Mobile or New Orleans, though Oh
tliis point the majority of them have
not been fully advised, and at the port
of embarkatiOn they expect to be
joined by other ~detachments from St.
Louis. Chicago and other cities.
II is now beyond question that the
men composing this expedition expect
tc see fight in Central America. Re
pcrts as TO their destination have been
conflicting. both Guatemala and Hon
Iuras having been mentioned, but men
who are leaders in the adventure have
secretly Informed their friends that
The real destination is Nicaragua.
Quietly Gathering for Two Months.
For over two months recruits have
been quietly gathering in here. TIL.
men enlisting have been assured that
the invaders have good backing. ami
have been told that capitalists of ma
tionaI prominence are furnishing the
the expedition.
Alleged Purpose of the Expedition.
The purpose, it is alleged. is TO Sc
cure control of the government of Mica
raGua. but whether in connection with
the revolutionists now waging war in
Nicaragua. or Independent of them, is
rot known. 1t is limited that if the eX-
petition shall prove successful the
n:en WHO are furnishing the money en-
poet 10 secure valuable concessions
and to have something to say about
TIE future control of the Nicaragua
canal. However, others are quite posi-
tive that the destination is Honduras.
and still others have been told that
Guatemala is the republic TO be over
thrown.
Promised Rich Rewards in Land.
Whatever the destination. the men
who are to DO the fighting have been
promised rich rewards in lands in the
country to be seized.
+. \. WittcH.a lawyer. vino has been
active in organi2ingth companies here.
and who left with the men last night.
declared yesterday that the men had
been hired to work on = railroad.
1t is a matter of fact. however, that
the men are NOT labnr@rS. and that
nearly all of them have been trained Dv
the United States for lighting. Almost
Ia a man they were memherS.o of the
Third and Fifth Missouri regiments.
rs Gently mustered out. Hesides thu
three captains of Missouri regiments
and several non-commisSioned officers.
who went last night. several other Of
fcers, men now holding good posi-
lions, We're urged to join the eXpedi.
ton. being promised handsome re
wards.
Ma Warrant for A-rrstin- the Invaders.
Mai. Warner. United States district
attorney. and United States Marshal
Durham investigated the affair yester-
day. but when the band started south
last night both declared that they had
discovered nothing 10 warrant the ar
rest Of the alleged invaders. They
have advised the Washington authori.
ties fully.
DR.. i. +. Heath. consul here for
Honduras. has also notified his govern
ment. and the HOndUran consul al
/ New Orleans of the movement.
CREATED nJITTE 4 SENSATION