Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-14

Ting Into conviction that Stlveira ana nlH
associates have already safely landed their
booty, in all probability in Venezuela. and
that the landing made the Carmelina has
been scuttled.
the precaution to ship double the ordinary.
coal supply of the vessel the bunkers must
have been emptied long ere this. The ship
was used for traffic between Havana and
Puerto Cabeflo, Venezuela, and for this
short trip no heavy coal supply is ordi-
narily carried
Statement by John Fiske.
I'm my OPINION said John s. Fiske, one
OF the members of Ceballos & Co., today,
"Silveira could have landed at La Guayra,
the principal port of Venezuela, and with
the connivance of President Castro. which
1t is certain he could have had, he could
have kept the intelligence of his debarka-
ton from reaching the outside world. But
we do not think he landed at La Guayra,
for the reason that there are hundreds of
other places on the Venezuelan coast
where he could have landed without risk
of giving the slightest clue to his where
abOuts"
Mr.. Fske secuted the idea that any part
of Silveiras large fortune had found its
way into the pockets of Cuban insurgents.
If he was at all interested in the insur-
rection, he said. we had not then nor have
we since the slightest intimation Of it,
II don't believe that Silveira gave up any
money to the insurgents remarked w liam
L
find out about him he was not that kind of
a patriot"
From conversation with bankers and
business men having large interests in
lished that the fugitive Cuban was the most
notorious lobbyist on the island. In all mat
tiers relating to appropriations franchises
and, In general, acts affecting private bust
said than any other man with the legisa-
ture to the short-lived republic
Speculation in Bonds.
His greatest stroke of business in this
profession. 1t is conceded by all familiar
with the reports teeming in Havana year
ago, was the appropriation of $16,OOOOOO in
cash and s12, 900 in bonds for the pay
ment of the remaining half of the Cuban
soldiers warrants This appropriation was
secured last year.
According to Mr.. Ceballos, his house paid
to Silveira amounts ranging from So to 95
cents on the dollar for the S5OOO,OOO war
rants secured by Ceballos & Co. AS
Stunning that the many other American
and foreign bankers who purchased them
from Silveira paid a similar amount or, for
the sake of the argument assuming that 80
cents on the dollar was the price left to
him, there still remained to Slveira mar
gin of profit of 80 per cent, for it has been
very clearly established that the, soldiers
did not receive more than an average of 30
per cent for the warrants they sold.
Silveira, as was stated by one of the
bankers interested in an authorized inter-
view in the case, was the collecting agent
not only for Ceballos & Co., but for many
other bankers both in this city and abroad.
He had a profit of 80 per cent coming to
him on the payment of the warrants and
he must have been interested in at least
600 OF them. Thus he had, If he were
interested in but a quarter of the warrants,
more than 100000 for profit and working
Silveira's prominence as a lobbyist Is in
teresting also in connection with a report
that he was interested with William Te-
Burbridge of Tenderloin fame in
that venturesome individuals project for
the establishment of a race track near Ha-
vana. Burbridge opened in Havana an
fitted gambling place, which
was closed by the police, but since then he
appears to have come to an understanding
with the Cuban authorities. The report is
that the understanding was reached through
the meditation of SilVeira- Il
Havana Race Track.
For the past year much has been heard
from time to time of big race track in
suburb of Havana on which there was to
be racing in the months during which the
metropolitan season is closed. Big Tim
Sullivan and Frank Farrell have been re-
ported to be interested in the project and it
has been understood that the track would
be opened during the coming winter. Sill
veira. according to a report, was interested
In this scheme. securing stock, not from the
investment of capital, but as a return for
influence with the authorities.
An army of accountants is busily engaged
In getting the affairs of the suspended firm
into tangible Shape. 1t Is believed that the
worst Is now known regarding the liabili-
ties and that the original estimate of 49,
100000 will not be exceeded. The ability of
the firm to resume business, 1t is believed,
depends largely upon conditions in Cuba.
The members Of the firm have practically
abandoned hope of securing the money car
ried by Silveira.