Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-11-22


removed, we may now, without indiscrehon, mar
rBte the facts of their embarkation.
The commissioners having resolved to make the
venture of running the blockade of Charleston,
after mature declaration, selected for the expert
ment the s.sunch and swift little steamer Iheo-
dora, which was therefore got ready for sea win
all dispatch. The preparations having been COM
pleted they embarked a little before midnight on
Friday October IL. The party OF passengers
who were starting on this very unusual and some d
what hazardous trip consisted Of the following
persons
Hon. ]. NJ. Mason, of Virginia; Mr.. Maciar-
land Secretary to Mr.. Mason Hon. John elldelI,
Of Louisiana; Mrs. Slidell, Miss Matbilde Sill
dell, Miss Rosaline Sldell Mr. Eustis, Secretary
TO Mr.. Slidell; Mrs. Eustis who is a daughter OF
Mr.. Corcoran, the Washington banker, now In
Fort Lafayette; Colonel lie Mat, Of Louisiana,
the inventor Of the grapeshot revolver AMI two or
three other gentlemen, whom it will be better Tor
the present not to name.
The night was pitch dark, and about midnight
light rain began falling, which rendered the
chances of being detected by tho llockaders OK
ceedingly slim.
At one O'clock, on Saturday morning the hasty
" good byes" ard God speed yous' having been
said, the cables Of the Theodore were loosened,
and she glided down the barbor on her important
mission. As the steamer passed Fort Sumter
every light on board was eXtinguished, and away
adcrs, far oft at sea.
On the evening of the It'll she reached Nassau
in safety, where, had the opportunity been IA
vorable one, the commissioners would have disem-
barked but, on inquiring, they ascertained that
the English steamer connected with that point
touched at New York. However gratifying a
sig ut of New York ight have been under other
circumstances, the commissioners determined in
this instance to forcgo the pleasure
So the Theolora left Nassau and steamed away
towards Cuba On the 10th inst, she arrived at
C4rdenas where the commissioners landed The
news that a southern steamer had arrived with
Messrs. Mason and Slidell on board, which was
telegraphed from Cardenas 10 Havana, was scarce
ly credited at the latter place. But when, on the
18th inst, the Theodore came up the harbor OF
Havana, displaying the Confederate flag, the
quays were Immediately thronged with thousands
of wondering spectators, and a most cordial aud
enthusiastic reception was given to the adyontu-
rous lit craft. The Yankees in Havana were,
matter Of course, much Disguised at the wei
come given TO the Tbeodora But On the other
hand, the ladies' Of Havana prepared a splendid
Confederate flag fer the steamer, which was pre-
scented TO the Captain with appropriate ceremonies
lie ladies Of Mantanzas also took advantage Of
the chance to send hther a splendid flag isI the
Hampton Legion.
The steamship Columbia formerly Charleston
VIC sci, but now in the armed service Of the Yam
KEGS, was at the time in the harbor Of Havana.
Luckily, however, she was not ready to put to
sea Her consort, the Key stone State, had COMO
to CIV York with a southern steamer, loaded
with a valuable freight Of arms and munitions,
AID which unfortunately, had been captured
while endeayoring 10 make tho run TO Tampa,
II rida.
80 the Theodore left tie friendly port Of lava
ma uulnolesicd and with freight Of coffee, sugar,
81 t2etre, sulphur, acids, lead, shot, block tin,
&c. ran quietly IN -, We won't say where
bringing a number OF Chsrlestonians VINO had
r,a.hed havana from southampton about TIC
tiulc the Theodore made her appearance.
it il ascortained that the Yankees keep fast
} acht constantly plying between Key F" est ana
Havana, simply for the purpose Of gaining intel
ligerce Of our naval movements.
The Tbeodora - rTisato vessel, a1d Is IN
arB.od.
The Mercury can pow write another
chapter on the adventures Of Mason and
Sl,dell, and nlrrate how they got On
board al English vessel going direct To
Europe, how very to.n after they left lIa-
V ma and while tho vessel was making its way
along quietly on tie north side of Cuba, aad
While thty WIRE seated as comfortably as
pss,ible IN the cabin, chuckling over
their success ia outwIttiDg the Yankees, aud
discussing their plans to get money, guns.
y Iwder, and shot for their armies, aud 20
persuade the British ministry that the way
f 7 their manufacturers to make money was
To take sides at once with the Southern Con
iylcracy at once they heard some unu-
4 =. l. =
10 heir great disgust they saw c.oss 10y an
ugly black looking craft under United States
colors, and showing Il yillainous set Of teeth
too, which looked as If they could Lite as
well as bark.
What was worse. the commander seemed
to have got a suspicion OF their presence;
and all ghc English Captain could say OF do
would not Iacily HIM and make lin q" let
them alone" Have them or board Of his
o,ea grssd the impudent Yankee Captain
would, and did-and thus they were put IN
TIC way Of gong to New York after
ADJUST whore they did not want to 20.
The English vessel from which Mason d S,i-
dell were taken was the TrGt,a ship running
between Vera Ciuz and SOUTHAMPTON, RIA
Havana and St. Thomas \ mail under
charge of Il British mail agent is carried on
board Of it. The san Jdcinto was on her
return voyage from AlrIci, via the West
Indies, and just in to Cicnfuegos.
The American Consul at Havana let Can't.
Wilkes know that The Trent had sailed aud
had Mason, Slidell, and their Sccrctarlcsyn
board. Capt. Wilkes needed no counsel but
his own in the premises, and determined at
'nce, that if the rebel emissaries got safely
Icross the ocean it should not be his fault.
lie soon overhaulel the Treni in the narrowest
'art of the Blbama channel \ shot across
Icr IorclOot brought her to, and Lieut.. Fair
az with five officers and thirty-f7c marines
Don made known their errand to the Capt.
i the Trent. As Lieut.. Fairfax personally |
new the meo be was aft-r, az attempt 1T !
oncealmcnt would have availed nothing, and |
emonstrances and threatened resistance did /
o better, 50 Mcssrs Mason and Shdell with
,usts & MacFarlane, their Secretaries, went
yer the ships side. Two Of the party ,SiidcN
nd Eustis, had their wives and children with
hem. Cxpt. Wilkes offered them all free
aesagc to New York but the wives though
hey would be more comfortable in England
nan perhaps in Fort Warren with their
rsbands. At any rate the husbands left
ithout them.
The pubic qualification at the capture Of
lose two arch traitors, exceeds all bounds II
S to the propriety Of the act, though We
Ave seen remarks in two or three journals
ritten on the spur of the mo
ent, before there was time to examine the
blect-to the effect, that tie ACT was not
lowable according to National law, the
'ntrary opinion is heard on every hand
here there has been time for examination.
fact the authorities to Justify tn visit
d seizure are overwhelming in number and
light. 1t is also beyond dispute that Capt.