Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-07-12
From the Baltimore American Of Tuesday
THE PIRACY OF THE ST. NICHOLAS.
CAPTURE OF THE "FRENCH LADYn AND
COMPANIONS
DELIVERED TO GENERAL BANKS AT
FORT McIIENRY

District Police, aud Mr.. John Homer of this
city, captured yesterday afternoon no less an i'm.
portant parsonage than Captain Thomas, of st.
Mary's county, alias the "Frenoh Lady" whose
exploit in Selling the steamer st. Nicholas
short time SINCE while in the Patuxent river,
was so boastingly proclaimed by the Secession
journals Of this city as "briliant Exploit
The particulars of the affair. as narrated by
passenger on board the steamer Mary Washing
ton, we're as follows; Lieutenant Carmichael,
with Mr.. Horner, left this city on Sunday morn
ing in q small sloop for Fair Haven GU Herring
Bay, near the lower portion of Auna Arundel
county, for the purpose of arresting certain
Neale Green, n noted barber doing business on
Pratt street, near Frederick who is charged with
being participant in tho assault oil the AIassa-
chusetts Regiment on the 18th of April, and with
other offences. Owing 10 head winds the sloop
did not reach the place of destination until about
o'clock yesterday morning, On landing the
officers proceeded to a house IN the vicinity and
arrested Green, who had designed remaining
there for some time, but proposed sending his
wife to this city by the steamer Mary Washing
ton, which usually stops at Fair Haven
The officers, with Green and his wife, took
passage ON the Mary Washington without any
knowledge of those board. Shortly after
leaving the Lieutenant entered into conversation
with n number of passengers and ascertained
that Capt Kirwan, with the engineer and an
other officer Of the steamer st. Nicholas, as we'll
as others who had been taken prisoners when
the steamer was seized by Thomas, the "French
Lady," and his party, had been released by
them and were returning to this city on the Mary
Washington. The officers also ascertaned that
among the passengers on board we're seven or
eight of the captors, with Captain Thomas him
self, who, doubtless exhilarated by the success
attending their first achievement, were disposed
to make another venture, probably on the steam.
or Columbia or some other steamer plying on the
Maryland rivers.
As soon as satisfactory information on this
this point was obtained and each one of the purity
recognized beyond doubt Lieutenant Carmichael
directed Captain Mason l.. Weens, the comman-
der of the Mary Washington, 10 proceed on
reaching this harbor, to land the passengers at
Fort McIIenry, The direction was given while
the steamer was near Annapolis. Shortly after
while Lieutenant Carmichael and Mr. Horner
were in the ladies' cabin they were approached
y Thomas, who desired to know by what author
ivy the ordes had been given for The steamer to
touch at Fort MclIenry. The Lieutenant in
rmed him that it was through authority vested
IA him by Colonel Kenly, Provost Marshal of
baltimore. On hearing this Thomas drew his
ltisto. and calling his men around him, threat
,ned to seize and throw Carmichael and Hurnor
overheard The lutter drew their revolyers and
defed the other party to proceed TO execute
ia the cabin for short tune, the female pas
sengers running out screaming, but the other
male passengers stood up with Carmichael and
llorner, aud compelled Thomas and his compan
ions TO remain quiet. Matters thus stood Oh
tho boat until the steamer approached the Fort
wharf, when the Lieutenant went up aud inform
ed General Banks ofhis important capture.
The General instantly ordered out company
of infantry, who marched to the steamboat
m nj
Thomas, for whom search was made for an hour
and n half. lie was then found concealed in the
drawer of bureau in the ladies' cabin, in the
aft part of the boat Az first it was apprehend-
ed that Thomas would make a desperate resist
ance, but he disclaimed any such design, alleging
that he was too weak to resist. He and the
other prisoners were then marched to the fort
and placed in confinement.
The witnesses, some ten or twelve in number,
were also detained at the Fort during last night
OF the prisoners, Thomas was the only one who
had any baggage, he having small valise with
d bundle, in which was contained full uniform
of ZOuave including cap, n number of letters
and papers, among which was said to be n com.
mission in the Confederate army The names of
those arrested with him could not be ascertaiued
last evening
Neale Green was brought up by Lieutenant
Carmichael and taken to the Middle Police Sta
tiOn, where he was locked up for examination
He couiesses that he left this city on account of
having committed an assault on n soldier.
On the 4th of July certain suspected parties
were seen examining tho steamer Columbia, of
the same liue as the ST. Nicholas now lying idle
at Fardy's shipyard, near Federal Hill. They
went aboard and inquired of Captain Harper
what was her speed how much coal was on board
of her, and whether she could be chartered ?
On being told that she was not for charter, one
of them on leaving the boat was heard to say
that they "would have her anyhow" The facts
were Immediately laid before Provost Marshal
Keny, who, suspecting it to be their intention to
seize her quietly at night, get up steam and
move out Of the harbor, Immediately ordered an
armed guard on board, whilst part of her ma
chiuery was also removed by the officers. The
return of Captain Thomas may have some con.
nCction with the movements Of this party, OIL
perhaps the seizure of the Mary Washington OF
her return trip.
Colonel Kenny received information on Saturday
of the whereabouts Of Neae Green. and immcdi-
atey despatched Lieutenant Carmichael to arres
him. The expedition has proved most success
full one, and reflects credit alike on Col Kenly
and the efficiency and determination of Lieuten
ant Carmichael.
We learn from the passengers of the ST. Nichol
as that the schooner load of ice captured by tn
piratical expedition, and taken to Fredericks