The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-11
PR UNDER
AIMERlC LAG
This IS What Cubans Call the U. S.
transport Williams.
.DlspUT OVER SPANISH SAFE s:
E,onnd Aboard the Sunken Furor and
Supposed to Contain Il, o0o-Al- &
most Caused a Second Naval
Battles Serious Charges.

= SANTIAGO, DE CUBA, March 1o.-The
rivalry over the possession OF q SAFE De--55
longing to the sunk KEN Spanish torpedo
gunboat Furor, almost caused q second
naval battle rs erday.s Condoya. the
agent of the Ward sLine,5SWi With his his tcuoan /
partners, has been engaged Tor several
mon tbs in wrecldng the swarships, and has
nerfor1ned consid cradle work In dynamit--
Ing the Furor, which work was diff cult
on account OF The depth of the wafer
twelve fathoms. - 80 So
Recently ne locat ted a safe supposed to
contain $1,000 in Spanish gold, and re-
turned to find the buoy removed. HE was
compelled TO come TO this city for a PHO q
and returned to the wreck OF che Furor
yesterday, where he found the American
Transport Williams with a diver down.
a rival diver thereupon descended, and
each of them claimed he was tie first to
AXE possession of the safe. "A quarrel
ensued and the Transports diver came up,
alleging that, his rival had threatened him
with knife.
ATTACHED "A LINE.
Condoya's diver attached line to the
safe. which he and his companions claim
the American officers took forclbiy, mum
ting them with rifles from The trans
port. (
CAPTAIN Parr says the line failed to
raise the safe and their diver succeed
ed in attaching q line which secured
the treasure. On board the sWillla VIVA ms ;
we're Captain Blunt, assistant quarter
master in charge OF the transportation;.
Lieutenant Hamilton, an engineer oHicer
and Superintendent Of the Barbour AS As.
phalt Company They all dlscialm any
financial interest in thu expedition. Cap
tain Blunt says he only allowed the divers
and others to use the Williams because
5emporarily she was not needed, ana
stood on her deck with a rifle, which
he SAYS was not loaded, during the
Quarrel He disclaims any intention
Of using his position, his uniform or arms
to intimidate the Cuban divers.
Lieutenant Hamilton says he accom-
panied the expedition as spectator.
Both boats eventually returned to the
ma rhoI and Condoya secured an order
from the court directing the police 20
take possession of the safe.
Fifteen armed policemen on the tug
Colon followed the Williams vancouver
ing around the bay for an hour. Finally,
the tug went alongside the Williams, ana
the uolice. with drawn revolvers, prepared
to board her, when Captain Cooper, COM
manding the Williams, confronted them
with a rifle and announced his tnten-
ton to kill the first man who stepped
on board He claimed the civil courts
had no jurisdiction over government
ships.
POLICE REITERATED.
The police, thereupon. retreated behind
the pilot-house, and the Colon returned
to her wharf.
Condoya then reported the affair to
Department Commander Whiteside, who
ordered staff Adjutant Harford to In
vestigate the matter. Hartford and some
press representatives searched the VIII
liams at midnight, and no safe was
found. Captain Blunt and Captain Cooper
disclaimed any knowledge OF the pres
emit whereabouts of the safe, which foVv-
gler says was thrown overheard. Fowler
declined to say whether the contents had
been removed. He had a half interest In
the expedition, and says he is partner
Of McGrail, a civil employes OF Captain
Blrnt's Office.
lCondoya is an American citizen, and
makes serious charges against Captain
Blunt, which Commander Whitesfds viii
investigate.
| The Cubans resent the action of Capt.
Cooper in refusing TO- accept the service
| Of legal process, and they call the Will
liams "a pirate under The American flag.
Many Americans cr!ticise Captain Coop
ers action.