Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-09-06
STRIKE LEADERS BACK
FROM ENFORCED EXILE.
FORCIBLY TORN FROM HOME AND
FRIENDS AND
FAR AWAY
TO A SANDY DESERT ISLAND.
ESCAPED EAT FROM HUNGER
AND THIRST BY THE MEREST
GOOD LUCK.

KEY WEST, Fla, September o.
The thirteen abducted leaders OF the
striking cigar makers of Tampa, Flor
ida, have returned from exile. The
men who composed the central com
mittee of Resistencia Union of Tampa,
arrived here on a small fruit schooner.
the Gertrude, of this port. Marooned
on a barren, uninhabited isle off the
coast of Honduras, they had, by an
unexpected turn OF fortune, escaped
death from exposure and starvation
and made their way to civilization
and safety. They believe it was the
intention Of their captors that they
| should never return from exile.
The authorities of Washington have
instructed the U. S. District Attorney
at Jacksonville, Fla, of make an inves-
tigation of the matter. Sworn deposit
tions of the men taken before Federal
officials have been mailed to Washing
ton.
The party consisted Of six S~paniards,
six Cubans and one Englishman. The
Cubans and the Englishman, however,
are
NaturaIixed American Citizens.
The men all bear evidence of the hard
ships encountered during their forced
exile and present a pitiful appearance.
The stories they tell are substantially
the same, differing only in minor de-
tails as to the violence resorted to by
their abductofs. One of the men,
Louis Barcia, who was taken at mid
night from the bedside Of his wife,
whose accouchment had taken place
three days before, and whose death
has since been reported as a result OF
the shock, incident to her husbands
disappearance, says he was forced into
a closed carriage and taken to the
railroad station, where he was put into
an electric car. of which the lights
were out, the current having been shut
off. Eight of his comrades, who had
been similarly captured, were put with
himself into the real compartment of
the car and taken to Ballast Point, a few
miles west of Tampa, on Hillsborough
Bay. Four other members of Rests
tencia Union had previously been tax
en- through the woods in a wagon to
the same place where
A Tug With Steam Up
awaited them. Several of the guards
on the car, the men say, were promi-
nent citizens of Tampa and well
known to them.
After a brief conference at Ballast
Point the thirteen men were dragged
aboard the tug and the start was
made amid derirsive farewells from
the abductors on the dock. The tug
headed for the schooner Maria Cooper
which was riding at anchor in the
stream with all sails set. The men
were transferred to the schooner under
a heavy guard. This was on Tuesday
night, August 9Th.
A stiff breeze soon carried them down
the bay and out to sea.
AS Gay followed day without any in
aication that a landing vas contem-
plated, the kidnapped men, who he'd
been kept in ignorance, not ONLY OF
their fate, but of their probable desti-
nation, became uneasy and requested
TO know where they were beng taken.
| They we're told they would be landed
On English soil, far enough away to
| prevent a return to the United States
for a long time.
On the Seventh Day
land was sighted, and the captives were
informed that their destination had
been reached. Nearer approach re-
| vealed a long, low stretch of sand beach
| without sign of human habitation. The
men were landed at night, each one
receiving five dollars.
A box of soda crackers, two small
hams, three ans Of beef and about a
gallon Of water were placed on the
CedcQ. me DOdtS tuSu RETURNED 10 the
schooner, which Immediately set sail
and disappeared in the distance.
For Gays they wandered along the
beach, outstanding their meagre sup
plies and without encountering a hui
man being or sighting a sail. Their
small stock of provisions finally gave
out, the water supply was exhausted,
their hands and faces were burned by
the tropical sun and their feet blistered
by long marches. They began to de-
| spair of ever reaching home, and had
| almost given up the fight, when they
were discovered by an Indian. He
| brought aid, took them to the MAN.
land and guided them to the planta-
ton of a Mr.. Bruno, where
They Were Well Received.
Their immediate wants were supplied
and they procured a small boat to take