The _Competitor_ was sighted by the Spaniards, and captured by them, but
all but five of the men on board escaped.

Three of these men were Americans who had sailed the ship.

The prisoners were taken ashore and tried by court-martial. They were
accused of piracy. They pleaded that they had not undertaken the voyage
to Cuba of their own free will, but had been forced to do so by the
passengers. They insisted that they were innocent of any intention to
wrong Spain.

In spite of this they were sentenced to death. They declared themselves
to be American citizens, and their sentence was suspended until the
truth about their nationality could be learned.

It was found that they were really Americans, and so the Government
immediately sent a protest to Spain, and the three men were sent to
prison until an answer could be received.

After a long time word came from Madrid that the men were to be granted
a new trial. Ten months have gone by since the new trial was ordered,
and still these prisoners have not had justice done them. They have been
kept in close confinement in the Cabanas prison, and have been punished
as much as if they had been really guilty, but their trial has been put
off for one reason or another until it now appears as if the authorities
did not mean to give them an opportunity of securing their freedom.

The schooner has also been held all this time by Spain, and her owners
are anxious to have her returned that they may have the use of her