The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-06
TO STARVE
ABDUCTED STRIKE LEADERS
TELL OK AWFUL SUFFERING
Were Left ON Island to Perish From
Starvation and Exposure.

New York, sept "a Speclai 70 bhe
Herald from Key West, says:
The thirteen abducted leaders Of the
striking cigar makers of Tampa, Fla,
have returned from exile. The men who
composed the central committee of Re
sistencia Union of Tampa, arrived here
on small fruit schooner. the Gertrude,
of this port. Afarooned on a barren. Un-
inhabited isle off the coast of Honduras,
they had by an unexpected turn of fort
une escaped death from exposure and
starvation and made their way to civili-
zation and safety. They believe it was
the intention of their captors that they
should never return from exile.
The authorities of Washington have in
structed the United States district attor-
ney at Jacksonville, Fla, to make an in
vestigation of the mater. Sworn deposi-
tions Of the men, taken before federal
officials have been mailed to Washing
ton. The party consisted of six Span
iards, six Cubans and one Englishman.
The Cubans and the Englishman. how
ever, are Haturalized 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 details
a to the violence resorted to by their alb
ductors. One of the men. Louis Barcia,
who was taken at midnight from the
bedside of his wife whose accoUchement
had taken place three days before. and
whose death has since been reported as
a result of the shock incident to her hus
bands 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 of. Eight
of his comrades who had been similarly
captured, were put with himself into the
rear compartment of the car and taken
70 ballast point, few miles west of
Tampa. on Hilisborough bay. Four other
members of the Resistencia union, had
previously been taken through the woods
in 4 wagon 10 the same place, where a
tug with steam up, awaited them. Sew
eral OF the guards on the car. the men
say, were prominent citizens Of Tampa, /
and we'll 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 ab-
ductors 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 !
10 the schooner under q neavy guard. |
This was on Tuesday night. August s.
A stiff breeze soon carried them- down /
the bay and out to sea.
As day followed day in duh monotony /
hot
was contemplated, the kidnapped men /
who had been kept in ignorance, not !
only Of their fate. but of their probable /
destination, became uneasy and request /
cd 10 know where they were being taken. /
They were told they would be landed on /
English soil FAR enough 10 prevent re-
turn 10 the United States for a iong
time.
on the seventh day land was sighted /
sud the captives were informed that 4
their destination had been reached. I
Nearer approach revealed a Ions. low
stretch OF sandbeach without q sign OF 4
human habitation. The men were landed 1
II night. each one receiving >.
box Of soda crackers. Two small I
hams. three cans Of beet and about e i
gallon OF water. were placed on the /
beach The boats were then returned +
10 the schooner which Immediately set 4
sail and disappeared in the distance.
For DAYS they wandered along the /
beach. outstanding their meaEre supplies /
ana 7ithou- encountering human 4
being or sighting a sail Their small .
stock of provisions finally gave out. the 4
water supply was exhausted. their hands
and faces were burned by the tropieal f
san. and their feet biistercd by long
marches. Trey began 70 despair OF
ever reaching horne and had almost given +
az the fobt. wher they Eere discovered i
hv an Indian EIe brought aid- took them 4
20 the mainland and guided th "a q fha /
r'antatier OF 1fr. Bruno. wnere they
were well received. Their imnedi ate
wants we're Supplied and they 1roearsd q /
small boat % take them 90 TTuEilio. f
TEey we're t2sd by Mr. Brano that from f
the feerrfrtian thcy gave ~ the is and .
thsg Sad evidently been landed near the .
month os FIautatien river. Al TgzEito i
thev had tine god fortune t7 meet tvo 4
C'-,rsrz formerly residents ~ Egorila.
and rsv enzaEe5 On fruit cuit1re there 4
Who s-naiiss funds snd nirzd a schooner
to take Them n Bara-ro. where thev
w-r eouaIlr fertuaate to fad tae
scfaorer Gs-tru5e ~eei5ag cargo - +
frrIt for th.s marset TaeT caartsress 4
le- and saae1 for Key Wsst
John Nelson IA I.zinfsI cead siou
Een Fark sept s-JaAn Nsr ifa
tss,fe rder ere wss in1are7 - eaE
azsn s4a4rr Caritn ssetassfsg
ght s. rH as Believe hi sd
hare was 10 rsfefFtlaae tfanse 81 his
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