| Show was the hawkins a Plan ff tP chicago jan 29 A special from washington D C says there Is a curious rumor afloat here to the effect that the true story has not yet been told as to the alleged wreck of the steamer hawkins which had set out to carry a load of men and ammunition to cuba some people close to the revolutionists say lay that the whole thing Is a plant and the spanish minister and the united states have been cleverly tooled fooled for some reason that cannot be d definitely traced there Is a belief in the cuban colony that the arms supposed to have been on the hawkins were either trans shipped at sea or else were sent out secretly on some other vessel and suspicion intentionally directed against the hawkins for the purpose of throwing the spanish spies and the united states revenue authorities oft off the track people hero here are wondering what the steamer was doing on long island sound if 1 it was en route to cuba minister de lome was apparently supplied with the fullest information in connection with the movements of the steamer hawkins and acting on his instructions officers of the navy and revenue marine were instructed to look after the steamer and its intended consort all the way from hampton roads to tampa tarn pa while the stories of the survivors api pear to read straight enough the general opinion Is there has been something crooked about the whole transaction it Is known here now that in a previous case the cuban revolutionary committee supplied the spanish minister with false information regarding an alleged filibustering expedition an and d then while he was busily engaged with the assistance of the united states in endeavoring to head it off a genuine expedition slipped out without notice and made a successful landing in cuba the understanding seems to be something of the kind was attempted to be done in the case of the steamer illah hawkins hawking but just what the wreck had to do with it or whether it was part of the pro gramme at all cannot be definitely ascertained |
