The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-06-12
CAPT MALFITANO
ON MEXICAN
PRISON
CONTINUED from First Page

I the CuSUOm mousse all the Jlm5 DeIHS
i heavily guarded. There we AL made
statements as to where we were fish
ing.
I Carried to Jail.
/ THE next place we were carried
vas the Jail. And Oh, such a Jail
or prison. 1t was about fifteen by
twenty-five feet, and there were al
ready about fifteen drunken negroes
and Mexicans fighting, vomiting and
rolling over the floor. Such filth
never hsfOre saw. and the stencil was
almost unbearable. There was no
ventilation, and small toilet in one
coil er gave fourth smell that was
s!cicling. No food or water was
furnished US, not that We could have
eaten anything if it had been fur
ntshed us, but we did want some
water. Me and my boys got to-
gether at one side and remain9I
standing there until finally the other
prisoners were allowed to go out in
the yard which circles the Jail l
! legged the officer to let us go out
there too, telling him of the awful
smell and the vermin of the jail, but
he refused. Finally he consented
and We were allowed to go out, only
20 be told about fifteen minutes later
TO get back in jail
| Il endeavOrcI to send word to he
American consul, as l wanted 10 get
word home, or get some understand
| ing about the case, and what was to
| be done with us. The officer said ne
had told the American consul, but
later found out he had lied, as the
consul said he had never heard of
| the matter.
Finally Released.
''Finally before dark the door open
| ed and we were told to come out.
| We thought that we were to be taken
to the penitentiary as nothing would
have surprised us after the treat
ment we had received, but on the
contrary were given our liberty. No
explanation was offered as to Our ar
rest.
Il and my men then went 10 the
custom house and asked to be al
lowed to go aboard our vessel. This
was refused. l then asked that we
be allowed to 90 on board and get
our clothing and personal effects. as
we had nothing" This was also re-
fused and l BaSTtOld that the boat,
fish ana everything on board belong
ed to the Mexican government This
included my nadtical instruments.
Well, told thesboys to stay where
they were UNTITLED could find the
American consul, (which finally sue
ceeded~ in Fioing sahd he furnished US
with place IA sleep and food for
that night and suntil he heard from
the American ambassador at Mexico
City. We stayed around Progresso |
for over a month, trying to get
possession of our vessel, but without
success. > They told us that the courts !
had decreed, that she g had lawfully |
been seized. andfthere was no use to |
stay longer. The American consul |
then sent us home By way of Calves
ton, and l tell YOU we we're glad to /
get away from. that place.
Method Of Mexicans.
But, l want to tell you something
about this seizure business aud now
it is done. l was told by a marine
hospital surgeon at PrOgresso that |
he day We sailed from Pensacola a
telegram was sent from this city to
the Mexican government giving the
name of the boat, my name and the /
number of crew. This was also done
at Mobile and Galveston.
This much Iiwas told, but | will
also tell you what l saw ana heard.
One evening the gunbOat officers said
to me- that would now go out and
get boat from Mobile Sure enough
a Mobile smack was in port next
morning The next day they said
they would be back in the morn NJ
with a Galveston smack. and when
went and looked out into the harhOr
| saw a Galveston smack just as they
said they would get one.
Another thing l want to tell you
about is what one of the sailors on
the Vera Cruz who could speak Eng
lish told one of my men. 1t was
during the time they were towing us
to port, when the sailor told my man
that if they would swear that we had
been fishing when caught that all
would be allowed to go except me-
ana if they didn't swear as they were
waited that they would be sent to
the penitentiary. The sailor then
told my man how much each man of
the crew would get as prize money!
and seemed surprised when my man
told him that if one went to prison
all would go, and that he didn't pro-
pnse to swear to any les. There is
the man there, pointing to one of
the crew. who will verify what l say.
HC is the one who they wanted TO
swear We were fishing.
Yes, We had a pretty tough eX-
reience," concluded Captain Nal
6tano," and l guess none of US want
any more of Mexican justice"
Maund and Maunder.
Neither maund. a basket. nor maun-