The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-05
NARROWED.
Striking Cigar Makers of Key
West Who We're Abducted
Have Returned From Their
Long Enforced Exile.
ON A BARREN ISLAND
They We're Placed by Their Cap
tors With Little to Eat.
Wandered For Days Before See
ing a Human Being.
ON A BARREN ISLAND

New York. Sept. 5.-A special from
Key West says:
The IL abducted leaders Of the strilS-
ing cigar makers Of Tampa, Fla. have
returned from exile The men who com
posed the central committee of Resisten-
ella union Of Tampa arSived here on a
small fruit schooner. the Gertrude, OF
this port Marooned on a barren, unin-
habited isle Off the coast of Honduras
they had, by an unexpected turn Of for
tune escaped death from exposure and
starvation and made their way to civil
zation 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 United States district az
torney at Jacksonville. Fla. to make an
investigation of the matter. Sworn dep
ositions OF the men taken before federal
officials have been mailed to Washing
ton.
The party consisted of six SpaniardS
six Cubans and one Englishman. The
Cubans and the Englishman however
are naturaIzed American citizens. The
men all bear evidence Of the hardships
encountered during their forced exile
and present a pitiful appearance The
stories they tell are substantially the
same. differing only in minor details as
to the violence resorted to by their alb
ductors. One Of the men. Luis Barcia.
who was taken at midnight from the
bedside of his wife. whose ACCOMPLISHMENT
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
ell
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 to Ballast Point,
few miles west Of Tampa. on Hillsbor-
ough bay. Four other members of Re
sistencia union had previously been Ia
ken 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 prominent citizens Of
Tampa and we'll known TO them
After a brief conference at Ballast
Point the Is 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 Copper which was rid
ing at anchor in the stream with all
sails set The men were transferred to
the schooner under u heavy guard This
was on Tuesday night. August 8.
A stiff breeze soon carried them down
the bay and out to sea
AS day followed day in dull monotony
without any indication that a landing
was contemplated. the kidnapped men.
" no had been kept in ignorance not
only of their fate. but Of their probab
destination, became uneasy and request
ga to know where they We're being ia
ken. They were told they would be
landed on English soil, far enough away
70 prevent a return to the United States
FOR q. long time.
on the seventh day land was sighted
and the captives We're informed that
their destination had been reached.
Nearer approach revealed a long low
stretch Of sand beach without sign OF
human habitation- The men were land
ed at night. each one receiving So.
A box Of soda crackers, two small
mans. three cans Of beef and about a
gallon Of water were placed on the
beach. The boats then returned to the
schooner which Immediately set sail and
disappeared in the distance.
For days 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-
Bpair Of ever reaching home, and had
almost given UP the fight when they
We're discovered by an Indian He
brought aid. took them to the mainland
and guided them to the plantation of a
Mr.. Pruno. where they were well re-
ceiVed- Their immediate wants were
supplied and they procured small boat
10 take them to Truxillo. They were
told by Mr.. Bruno that from the de-
scription they gave of the island they
had evidently ben landed near the
mouth of Plantation river
At TruxillO they had the good fortune
TO meet two Cubans. formerly residents
Of Florida and now engaged in fruit
culture there, who supplied funds and
hired a schooner to take them to Bon
AGO, where they were equally fortunate
to find the schooner Gertrude seeking a
cargo Of fruit for this market They
chartered her and sailed for Key West.