It was reported that this steamer was the Laurada, the famous filibuster, about which we spoke in Numbers 6 and 9 of the great round world.

The Laurada came back from her Spanish trip, and appeared to be conducting herself like a good, peaceable steamer; but, if reports are true, she has suddenly commenced her tricks again.

She took on coal and provisions at Baltimore, pretending she was going to Philadelphia, but she has not yet been heard of at that port.

A steamer answering to her description has appeared off Barnegat, taken on quantities of arms and ammunition, and about a hundred men, among whom it is supposed was General Carlos Roloff, the insurgent Minister of War.

The little revenue cutter Manhattan was ordered out of New York Harbor, to arrest her; and loaded with arms, and with four United States Deputy Marshals, she hurried off in chase of the naughty steamer.

She made all haste to Barnegat, having to make her way through heavy seas that tried the nerves and the stomachs of the passengers.

When she arrived, there was no Laurada in sight; that saucy vessel had made the most of her opportunities, and was a hundred and fifty miles down the coast.  The marshals got nothing for their trouble but a chilly trip and a bad attack of sea-sickness.

It seems that the secret of the expedition was ferreted out by some Pinkerton detectives, who are in the employ of the Spanish.

These worthies heard about the expedition, and hired a boat and went out after the Laurada.  They came up with her as she was taking on her cargo, but she was far enough away from the coast to be what is termed “on the high seas,” too far out for interference from anything but a man-of-war or a revenue cutter.

The story goes, that the tug which carried the Pinkerton men circled round the Laurada several times, and saw the men being transferred from the barge to the steamer.  These men, in their pleasure at having outwitted the Spanish detectives, beguiled the moments of waiting by making ugly faces at the Pinkerton men, and calling them various foreign names, until the detectives finally steamed off to give information, and get revenge.

There are rumors that two other expeditions have sailed for Cuba, or are about sailing.  The South Portland is supposed to be already on her way, and the Bermuda to be waiting off Long Island for a large party.

It is supposed that the filibusters hope the change in the Administration may have made things a little easier for them.  They appear to have waited for President McKinley’s election to try once more to help their friends.

It remains to be seen what action our new President will take in the matter.

* * * * *

The case of the Three Friends has been up in courts again.