The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-11-29
The Arrest Of Mason aud sIi
dcll-Intorcsting Details.

Thc Arrest Of Mason aud Sill
notwithstanding Details.
The Washington correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Press says:
The Navy Department prefers not to
publish, at present, the official reports
made by the officers of the war steamer
San Jacinto, in reference to the capture
of Mason and Slidell. The general facts
are these:
Com. Wilkes, evidently a man of'grit'
was sent out TO bring home the San ia
cinto from the coast of Africa; on his re-
turn he touched at Cieniuegos, where he
ascertained that Mason aud Slidell had
run the block kade, and were en- route 10
Europe, probably by the way of Cuba
He sailed up and went into port at Ha-
vana. There he Rscertained that the
Confederate commissioners had been
gone but few hours, having sailed in the
British mail steamship Trent, the even
ing before. 9th November,) He imme-
diately put to sea, directing his course so
as to Intercept tho vessel. When about
forty miles off Matanzas, in the old Ba-
hama Channel, the Trent hove in sight,
and the two vessels were soon within
builing distance. Commodore Wilkes
sent a shot across the bows Of the Trent
To this no attention was paid, when an
other was directed near the bow. This
brought the steamer 10. Lieutenant
Fairfax, TO whom both the Confederate
passengers were personally known, was
sent on board in bout, supported with
two more boats filled with marines
Lieutenant Fairfax went on deck and
called for Messrs Mason and Slidell, who
soon appeared. Lieutenant Fairfax po-
litely Informed them Of the object Of his
mission, aud asked them % 60 on board
his boat. To this they objected. Mason
remarked that they had paid their passage
to Europe, to the British Consul at Ha-
yana, (who acts as agent for the mail
steamship line, } aud lac would not leave
without force, Lieutenant Fairfax, point
ing TO his marines drawn up on the decks
Of the British steamer, said: you see,
sir, have the force, II that IL what you
required" ''Then you must use IT," re-
piled Mason. With this Lieut.. Fairiux
placed his hand uDon the Senator's shoul-
der and pressed him TO the gangway. Al
this junctu-e the passengers rushed for
ward, somewhat excited, and attempted
10 Interfere. The marines Immediately
showed their b0yonets, and Mason con-
scented TO the decision Of Lieut.. Fairfax,
asking that he might be permitted 10
make his protest in writing. Just q en-
q fine specimen ofan EnglishmGn rushed
ON deck in military or naval uniform,
(tho officer in command Of the mail prob
ably), and demanded why passengers on
board that ship were molested. Lieut..
Fairfax informed him that he had stated
to Captain Moir, Of the packet, why he
had arrested two Of his passengers, and
further than that he had no explanations
to make. Protests were then drawn up,
and Mason and Shdell, with their iSocre-
turies, Eustis and Mcfarland, went into
the boats of the San Jacinto. Commo-
dore Wilkes sent a message 10 the la
dies that his best cabin was at their ser
vice il they desired 70 accompany the
prisoners back 10 the United States.-l
They, however, declined, aud proceeded
On the voyage. The arest was made on
the Sth, aud the San Jacinto arrived with
the prisoners al Fortress Monroe on Fr-
day. lieutenant Taylor was dispatched