ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Morning News

Fishermen Rescuers of Elian Gonzalez Feud Over Boy's Fate

Aired April 19, 2000 - 10:31 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Elian Gonzalez's ocean ordeal ended just a few miles from the coast of Florida when two commercial fishermen hauled him on board. Now those two men, cousins, in fact, are feuding over the boy's fate.

Reporter Olga Vilaverde (ph) of CNN Miami affiliate WPLG now shows us the latest example of the passions that are fueling this case.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OLGA VILAVERDE, WPLG-TV REPORTER (voice-over): We first met the two fishermen four and a half months ago when the two rescued Elian at sea. Donato Dalrymple and Sam Ciancio, two cousin who have known each other for 40 years. And today that bond is broken.

SAM CIANCIO, RESCUER: I will never break bread with my cousin again, ever.

VILAVERDE: His cousin Donato, who Sam says is being manipulated by leaders in the Cuban exile community and the Cuban American National Foundation, being told what to say and how to say it, and for one and only one objective.

CIANCIO: He used a child to get fame and glory. He's using a child to get fame and glory. He told me behind closed doors that he believes this child needs to be back with his daddy. And now in public, he won't come out and he doesn't have the backbone to say it.

DONATO DALRYMPLE, RESCUER: I've gotten no fame and glory, I've just lost sleep. I've lost food, nutrition, worry, the anxiety, anything to keep this boy here.

VILAVERDE: Just two weeks ago, both cousins went to Washington and sat down with Elian's father. Ciancio describes the meeting like this:

CIANCIO: This guy's a nice father. This guy's a loving, caring father. He loves his -- he got on his knees and cried and thanked both of us -- I mean on his knees and cried and thanked both of us in that meeting. You know, I seen -- I was in that room with Donato. When he came out and said the guy was emotionless, that was -- this guy picked Donato up off the ground when Donato was crying. VILAVERDE: He says both he and his cousin agreed Elian belonged with his father. But moments later, Ciancio says his cousin changed his story for the TV cameras.

DALRYMPLE: He said that he wished that he could feel the same sense as me, to be as tearful eyed, but he has no tears at this moment. He said maybe when little Eliancito is in his arms again, maybe his emotions and tears would come back to him.

VILAVERDE (on camera): He says in the meeting, Juan Miguel broke down in tears, was very emotional. And then you came out saying, you know...

DALRYMPLE: No -- Juan Miguel broke down in tears? No, I broke down in tears. Juan Miguel hasn't cried a tear.

VILAVERDE: He said that, in that meeting, you told your cousin, Elian should go back to Cuba with his father.

DALRYMPLE: No, that's not true.

CIANCIO: I believed he's being brainwashed. I believe promises are being made to this kid. Promises are being made to Donato.

VILAVERDE: Opportunities?

CIANCIO: Opportunities -- golden opportunities.

DALRYMPLE: Well, the only golden opportunity I have, that means I have a part in heaven, you know what I mean, eternally. But as far as finances, nobody's promised me anything.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: Again, that story out of Miami, our affiliate there, WPLG, reporter Olga Vilaverde with that conflicting story this morning for us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.