Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22
CUBAN GOVERNMENT
TO PENSION WIDOW
OF NOTED FILIBUSTER
Wife of Capt. Sam Hughes,
in Need Now, to Be
Helped by Country Hus-
band Befriended.

Cuba will be asked within few days
to pay a part of the debt she owed to
the late Captain Sam Hughes. the king
Of fllibusters whose gun-running expedi-
tions, more than anything else, made
possible the freedom of the island
Philadelphans who were warm per-
sonal friends OF Captain Hughes during
his ilbustering days and later when he
was captain of the port here. have ''sug-
gested" to the Cuban Government that
q pension be granted his widow, left
destitute because Captain Hughes was
a generous and improvident sailor.
When Captain Hughes died on July
Il, last, he left behind him only unpaid
bills. He had made several fortunes dur
Ing his fllibustering days. His widow has
been an invalid for several years. She
went to Thornmount, Green Island. Bel
fast Ireland, year ago to visit CAPTAIN
Hughes mother. The mother of the fill
buster died two months before him, but
. Mrs. Hughes has re mained there at Bel
fast She does not know that the Cuban
Government probably will grant her a
pension, Friends recently learned that
: the captain left nothing for his widow
/ SUGGESTS CUBAN AID
. George F. sproule, secretary of the
Board of Commissioners Of Navigation,
an intimate friend of Captain Hughes for
20 years suggested the idea of a Cuban
pension to j. ]. Luis, Cuban Consul here.
who frequently served as agent for the
Cubans In the ilibustering.
The Suggestion was sent two weeks
ago TO General Emilio Nunez, the most
powerful member of the present Cuban
Cabint and President MenocaTs principal
advisor, General Nunez was the man
to whom Captain Hughes sold the arms
and ammunition in 1906, 1907 and 1908,
sometimes directly and sometimes through
Mr.. Luis.
Mr.. Sproule came to me with the ad-
dress of Mrs. Hughes" said Mr. Luis
today. THE Cuban Government wanted
70 send her letter OF coincidence. Mr..
.fsproule said that a pension would be
oetter, as Captain Hughes had left moth
ing | was surprised, but was glad TO
INFORM General Nunez of Mr.. Sproule's
suggestion.
General Nunez was commander OF the
army Captain Hughes supplied with
arms and ammunition He is now Sec
IetaIy OF Agriculture and president of
the veterans Association. l, of course,
Scula do nothing officially. but General
Nunez will probably arrange it,"
g, Mr sproule today explained that
SIMON Gratz and DR.. j. Catetan Flynn
ot 10 North Sixth street, also were
psiues TO the suggestion" DR.. Flynn
many years. io'
Inc fillbuster whose memory Cuho
Snl honor in substantial manner. was
ooFh IN Belfast. and went to sea when
BOY on the Samuel Louther ships
LIN 5eliast He came here in 1879 and
Linz "lth tne Merchants and Miners
me on the old steamer William Crane.
o. commanded at various times the
kSSeaha, Bernard, Bermuda, which was
TS SNgVed 10 have been blown up at pier
,s,o IN the Delaware River In August.
he ana tne Laurada, the ship in which
e engaged IN filibustering The Lau-
tor1 a was named after his two daugh-
Laura and Ada, who are now dead
MADE CAPTAIN OF PORT.
At the outbreak of the Cubap war
captain Hughes enlisted in the Ameri-
ush navy and was given the rank Of
"eu'shant' He performed valuable
services as he was familiar with the
"eSt Indies waters. He commanded
'he Bermuda after the war and after
ofB,zz ~NNPtTu lHt position OF CHIEF
L'r.S OF the United States transport
sHe' under command of CAPTAIN
noa nvott; He was later appointed com
conrt When he came back TO this
ttbSahtty tba he was appointed captain of
ne E port Of Philadelphia.
p'alh Hughes widow came from, the
ST. seaiarlng people as the flibuster.
TboD,aas mas Two brothers living. Captain
af tG5las pI,, A Parkhill a retired shipmaster
delobid aSt and James Parkhill. of Phila-
~ one was with her husband on several
occ,Is az H'loIStering expeditions. on one
itis@ s.oH, when the United States author
sEa we're suspicious of Captain Hughes.
ds,nbiG1e hpaned him when he left Phila-
mnni,tI t" WIN cargo of arms and am
tbs,, ~ The port officials. although
let bf naa been ordered to watch him,
the, '',in .I pass out the Breakwater when
bacy, saw MS wife on deck She was sent
Cisna.nSen Hhen the Bahamas were reached.
iess HeLaI neral Nunez is aware Of The sery.
tbe S%Iten Mrs, Hughes herself rendered
cons, T,u9an pan Government. and the cuban
be ra, mere is daily expecting a favora-
ern,,ep.y ep.y TO the letter he sent his Gov
Of tc1ieHt, caIt. In the meantime, the old friends
P'elh Hughes are assisting her.