The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-06
ON A BARREN ISLE
LEADERS of TAMPA CIGARMAK.
DssS' STRIKE WERE NARROWED
BY THEIR CAPTORS
NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH
High Handed Action of Tampa Mob
wal Receive Attention From the
United States District
Attorney.

KEY WEST, Sept. 5.-The thirteen alb
Quoted leaders of the striking cigarmak-
ers of Tampa, Fla, have returned from
exile. The men who composed the con-
troll committee Of Resistencia union. Of
Tampa, arrived here on a small fruit
schooner, the Gertrude Of this port
Marooned on barren inhabited isle off
the coast of Honduras they have, by un-
expected turn of fortune, escaped death
from exposure and starvation and they
made their way to civilization and safe
ty. They believe it was the intention
OF their captors that they should never
return from exile. The authorities OF
Washington have instructed the United
States district attorney at Jacksonville,
Fla, to make an investigation OF the
matter. Sworn dispositions of the men
taken before federal officials have been
mailed to Washington. The party con-
sisted OF six Spaniards, six Cubans and
one Engltshman. The Cubans and the
Englishman, however are naturalized
American citizens The men whose
names are Francisco Roderuiguez Ra-
mon Pignero, Luis Barcia, Revino Prieto,
Jose Sfuego, Pedro Caroilas, Estanislan
LAMA, Eustacio Veldaz, Badilio Par
ronde. Jose Belen. Walden Valdaz. Gre
cencio Gonzales and Charles Kelly all
bear evidence of the hardshfps encoun-
tered during their forced exile and pre-
sent pitiful appearance. The stories
they tell are substantially the same, diff
fering only in details as to vice resorted
to by their abductors. Luis Barcia, who
was taken at midnight from the bedside
of his wife. whose death since has been
reported, says he was forced into
closed carriage and taken to the railroad
station, where he was put into an efNstric
car. of which the lights were out, the
current having been shut off. Eight Of
his comrades who had been similarly cap
tured were put with him into the rear
compartment of the car and taken TO
Ballast point, a few miles west Of
Tampa, on Hillsborough bay. Four other
members of Resistencia union had
previously been taken through the woods
in wagon to the same place where
tug with steam UP awaited them.
Several of the guards on the car, the
men say, were prominent 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 derisive
farewells from the abductors on the dock
The tug headed for the schooner Marie
Cooper, which was riding at anchor In
the stream with all sails SET The men
were transferred to the schooner under
heavy guard This was on Tuesday
night, Aug. g. a. stiff breeze soon carried
them down the bay and out to sea. Day
followed day in dull monotony without
any indication that a landing was con-
templated. The kidnapped men who had
been kept in ignorance not only of their
fate, but of their probable destination
were at length told they would be land
ed 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 IN,
formed this was their destination. It
wars a long, low stretch of sand beach
without sign Of human habitation The
men were landed at night each one re-
ceiving S., a box of soda crackers, two
small hams, three cans of beef and
about a gallon of water were placed on
the beach. The schooner Immediately set
sail and disappeared. For days they
wandered along the beach outstanding
their meager supply and without en-
countering a. human being or sighting a
sail. Their small stock Of provisions
finally gave out, the water supply was
exhausted, the hands and faces were
burned by the tropical sun; their feet
bllstered by long march. They began to
despair Of ever reaching home and had
almost given up when they were discoy.
cred by an Indian. He brought aid and
took them to the plantation Of Mr.
Bruno, where they procured small
boat to take them to Truxillo. They were
told by Mr.. Bruno that from the descrip-
ton they gave of the island they had evil
IDENTITY been landed near the mouth of
the Plantation river. At Truxillo they
had the good fortune to meet two Cubans,
formerly residents of Florida who sup
piled funds and hired schooner to take
them to Bonaceo. There they found the
schooner Gertrude seeking cargo fruit for
this market. They chartered her and
sailed for Key West