New-York tribune., 1912-03-17

N3II~SN other one two months later; and the
oNXN1N\Hu Governments inability to convict
TNSS6AS any of those who played an active
0 ] !. ] : ! 4 !. ]. !. ]. 4:
iD2&IN part in the expeditions set the Wash
BSI/T6T$N95 ington authorities by the ears. Pres-
hlNHAM dent Cleveland was thoroughly angry
WlEEl4lW over the way in which his neutral
WSAIV ity proclamation had been dcted,
NZNT and by his direction peremptory
- (TA ~ commands were issued that he be-
" ~ licved would certainly put an end to
S& tilibuStcrng. The Spanish Govern
OI(O mcnt which had been complaining
bitterly of our freedom Of action, was
advised Of these additional precautions, and the chiefs Of
both capitals took fresh hope that there would be no
further straining of their diplomatic relations.
Increased activity by the Revenue Cutter Service
was ordered and the Navy Department was called on
for assistance The dynamite cruiser NcSuvuS under
Lieutenant Commander John +. Plsbury, stationed
at Jacksonville TO prevent any more expeditions from
leaving that port She remained there, off the Mar
ket-st wharf for than year The fast cruisers
Marblchead and Raleigh and the light draft gunboat
Marietta were assigned to patrol the coast from hey
West to Jacksonville In addition, there were halt
dozen revenue cutters that watched the ports north OF
Jacksonville and crulscd along the coast ne authori
ties were confident that barrier had been established
which would be impossible for us to break through
On shore the force of detectives was largely increased
and all customs officers cautioned against sumber
when any suspected fibustcrS were IN SIGHT
The Dauntlcss, having more than paid tor herself
a Jacksonville syndicate and being used as tow.
boat between Jacksonville and the bar at the mouth OF
the ST. Johns River. The Cubans reserved first call on
her. and were pay much less than the regular prcc Tor
her services for her owners did not expect 10 poO
from her operations rs a fbustCr. BY dcvotlng the
DaunCss lawful navigation for the greater part OF
the time she acquired mixed reputation, IN place OF
one entirely bad and the authorities were confused II
never would have done for 70 use one snip all the
time. The Three Friends was also towing between
Jacksonville and the bar Both vessels were closely
watched by the Ncsuvius but unless there was some,
thing suspicious in their movements, or IN the general
situation the warship did not follow them up ana down
the river on their routine trips
A6Y arrival soon started some talk that were plan
l~I ming another violation Of the neutrality law; but
pretended To be SICK and was not much IN evidence
The unfaing Fritot for whose genius for deception |
had come 70 have great admiration, and were working
together, and tracks were 50 FAINT that no one
seemed able to follow them.
ANYTHING doing We would the DauntcSS on account
Of her record Of unvarying success; so we naturally
selected the Three Friends. George l BaltZcll col
ccor Of Customs at Fcrnandina, twenty-five miles up
the coast who was the most faithful kind Of public
want and one Of the few men IN Florida VINO were not
active sympathizcrs with the Cubans, had been IN
,ulping i'm much loud talk about fbuStcrlng. They
arc sending expeditions out Of Jacksonville whenever
they want TO- he frequently dccarcd; "but should
ike 10 them try TO get one out OF fcrnandina by
gosh, III nail cm to the cross in holy minute II they
start anything here
Fcrnandn.t was rs good a place We knew Of to
start from: 50 we concluded to accommodate the cX-
pIoSivc Mr. Baltzcll When plans were completed
we tclcgraphcd Palma, and two carloads OF revolution
arv equipment. including one HotchI,s twcvcpoundcr,
one thousand rifles five hundred thousand car
trilgc- and lp Of small arms dynamite, and machctcs,
were expressed To- Jacksonville. They wcrc ntcrccptcd
in the |ro, fashion at siding north Of Callahan and
their content, transferred To- other The two cars
that had started from Bridgeport, Of which the sIccpcs'
-lcuths had the lines and numbers empty but sealed
were run on into Jacksonville, where the waiting de-
,cctivcs proceeded 10 guard them day and night ! ne
two cars that carried the arm, were switched OIL at
Callahan and run To- lulcc between Jacksonville
and FcrlanIina, where they patiently waited for some
one 10 claim them.