The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-11
DIVERS QUARREL OVER \ SAFE.
Captain Of Transport William Defies
Cuban Police.
(By The Associated Press,

Santiago de Cuba, March 10Th, rival
ry over the possession of a safe ielong-
ing TO the sunken Spanish torped, gun
boat .furof almost caused a secondnavai
battle yesterday. Condoya, the agent of
Sne Ward Line, with his Cuban yaftf}efs 5.
mas been engaged for several m,,atls in
wrecking the warshsps, and Aas pera}rll-
ed considerable work ih ayRaMtting the
Furor, which work was difficult en- ac-
count OF the depth of the water, twelve
1atnomS, Recently he located safe sup
posed 10 contain So, 900 in Spanish gold
ana returned to find the buoy removed.
He was compelled to come TO this city for
a pilot, and returned to the wreck OF the
Furor yesterday, where he found the
American transport Williams, with a
diver down. A rival diver thereupon de-
scented, and each of them claimed that
ne was the first to take possession of
the SAFE A quarrel ensued and the
traD.sport's diver came up, alleging that
dts rival had threatened him with a
knife, Condoyas diver attached line to
the safe, which he and his companions
claim the American officers took forcibly,
sbtimidatirg them with rifles from the
transport. Captain Parr says the line
succeeded in attaching line which Sc
cured the treasure. On board the Will
Hams were Captain Blunt, assistant
quartermaster in charge Of the trans
portation; Lieutenant Hamilton, engineer
officer and Superintendent Fowler, or the
Barbour Ashphalt' Company.
The American officers disclaim any
financial interest in the expedition.
Captain Blunt says he allowed the
divers and others to use the Williams be-
cause, temporarily, she was not needed,
and stood on her deck with rife, which,
he says, was not loaded, during the quar-
rel He disclaims any intention of using
his position, his uniform or arms 10 in
timidate the Cuban divers.
Lieutenant hamilton says he accom-
panied the expedition as a spectator.
Both boats eventually returned to the
harbor, and Condoya secured an order
from the court directing the police to
take possession of the safe.
Fifteen armed policemen On the tug
Colon, followed the Williams, Inanoedver-
ing around the bay for an hour. Finally
the tug went alongside the Williams, and
the police, with drawn revolvers, pre-
pared to board her, when Captain Coop
er, commanding the Williams, confronted
them with a rifle and announced his in
tention to kill the first man who STEPPED
on board. He claimed the civil courts
had no jurisdiction over Government
ships. The police thereupon retreat ed
behind the pilot house and the Colon re-
turned to her wharf. Condoya TIT re-
ported the affair to Department Com
mander Whiteside, who ordered : aft
Adjutant Hartford to investigate the mat
ter. Hartford and some press representa-
tives searched the Williams at midnight
and no safe was found. Captain Blunt
and Captain Cooper disclaimed ahy
knowledge of the present Whereabouts of
the. safe which Fowler says was thrown
overheard. Fowler declined to say wlieth
er the contents had been removed. lie
had a half interest in the expedition
and says he is partner of NcGraiI,
a civil employ of Captain Blunts offc.
Condoya is an American citizen and
makes serious charges against Captain
Blunt which Commander Whitesde viii
investigate. The Cubans resent the action
of Captain Cooper in refusing to accept
the service of legal process, and they
call Williams a pirate under the Ameri-
can flag.
Many Americas rritic'sc Capi"'l Coop
er's action.