The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-13
COMES NEAR PREGlPITATING A NAVAL
BATTLE.
RIVAL WRECKERS CONTENDING
Over Its Possession - Parties First
Finding 1t Claim that Omcers OF the
American Transport Williams Took
1t from Them by Force-Police, Under
Order OF Court, Attempt to Search
the Williams and are Driven Off by
Rifies-safe Disappears.

santiago de CUBA, hdrcn IU.-Ine
rivalry over the possession of a safe
belonging to the sunken Spanish tor
pedo gunboat Furor almost caused a
second naval battle yesterday.
Condoya. the agent of the Ward Line,
with his Cuban partners, has been en-
gagged for several months in wrecking
the warships and has performed con-
siderable work in dynamiting the
Furor, which work was difficult on ac-
count of the depth of the water
a safe supposed to contain $4,000 In
Spanish gold and 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 Will
liams. with a diver down. A rival
diver thereupon descended, and each
of them claimed he was the first to
take possession of the safe. A quarrel
ensued and the transports diver came
up, alleging that his rival had threat
ened him with knife. Condoya's diver
attached line to the safe, which he
and his companions claim the American
officers took forcibly, intimidating
them with rifles from the transport.
Captain Parr says the line failed to
raise the safe and their diver succeed
ed in attaching a line which secured
the treasure. On board the Williams
were Captain Blount, assistant quar-
termaster, in charge of the transporta-
tion steamer Hamilton, an engineer Of
nf Z Sl,a
harbor as president of the company.
The American officers disclaim any
financial interest in the expedition.
Captain Blount says he allowed the
divers and others to use the Williams
because, temporarily, she was not
needed, and 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 uni
form or arms to intimidate the Cuban
divers. Lieutenant Hamilton says he
accompanied the expedition as spec
tator.
Both boats eventually returned to
the harbor, and Condoya secured an
order from the court directing police
to take possession of the safe.
Fifteen armed policemen on the tug
Colon followed the Williams, maneu-
rering around the bay for an hour
Finally the tug went alongside the
Williams and the police, with drawn
revolvers, prepared to board her, when
Captain Cooper. commanding the Will
liams, confronted them with a. rifle and
announced his intention to kill the first
man who stepped on board. He claimed
the civil courts had no jurisdiction
over government ships The police
| thereupon, retreated behind the pilot
house and the Colon returned to her
wharf
Condoya then reported the affair tC
Department Commander Whiteside
| who ordered Staff Adjutant Hartford tc
investigate the matter. Hartford and
some press representatives searched
the Williams at midnight and no safe
was found. Captain Blount and Cap
| tain Cooper disclaimed any knowledge
| of the present whereabouts of the safe
| which Fowler says was thrown over
| board. Fowler declined to say whether
| the contents had been removed. He
| had a half interest in the expedition
a civil employe Of f6aptain Blount's
| office. Condoya is an American citizeE
| and makes serious charges against
| Captain Blount which Commando
Whiteside will investigate.
| The CubanS resent the action OF
| Captain Cooper in refusing to accep
| the service of legal process, and they
| call the Williams a pirate under ths
| American flag.
| Many American criticise Captain
CooperS action