Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-15
THe Sofzuro OF Mason and SIidell-
neport o. Lieut. Fairfax.
u. 8. srbAMnR San JAcIRTo, I
W. VI AtNna Nov 10


Sin: AZ 1 90 p. M. on The 9th inst repaired
alopqside Of the British mail packet in an arm
ed cutter, accompanied hy Mr.. Houston, Second
Assistant Engineer, and Mr. Grace, the boat
swain. / went on board the Trent alone, leav-
inv the two officers In the boat, with orders to
await until Il became necessary TO show some
force, was shown up by the first officer TO
the quarterback, where metthe Captain and
informed him who was, asking TO see bis pas,
senRer liet. He declined letting me see il.
then told him that I had information Of Mr..
Mason, Mr., Slidell, Mr. Eustis and Mr.. McEar-
land having taken their passage at Havana 10
the packet To- st. Thomas, and would satisfy
myself whether they were on board before al.
loving his steamer 70 proceed. Mr. Slidell, ey-
idently hearing his name mentioned, came up
TO me and asked If i wanted to see him. Mr..
Mason soon joined us, and then Mr. Eustis and
Mr.. Mcfarland, when ! made known the object
of my visit. The Captain of the Trent oppos.
ed anything like o search Of his vessel, mol
would he consent to show papers or passenger
list. The four gentlemen above mentioned pro.
tested also against my arresting and sending
them to the United States steamer close by
There was considerable noise among the pas.
senRera lust about that time, and that led Mr.
Houston and Mr.. Grace 10 repair on board with
some six or eight men, all armed. After seve
raj unsuccessful efforts TO persuade Mr.. Macon
and Mr., SlidelI to 70 With me peaceably,
called to Mr.. Houston and ordered him to re-
turn to the ship with the information that the
four gentlemen named 10 your order of the 9Th
met were on board, and force must be applied
10 take them out OF the packet
About three minutes after, there was still
greater excitement on the quarterback, which
brought Mr.. Grace with his armed party. /,
however, deemed the presence of any armed
| men unnecessary and only calculated to alarm
the ladies present, and directed Mr.. Grace to
relurn to the lower deck, where he had been
since first coming on board. II must have been
less than half an hour after boarded the
Trent when the second armed cutter, under
Lieut.. Greer, came alongside (only two armed
boais being used.) He brought in the third
cutter eight marines and four machinsits, In ad
dition to a crew Of some twelve men. When
the marines and some armed men had beer
formed just outside Of the maindeck cabin
where these four gentlemen had gone to pack uI
their baggage, renewed my efforts to induce
them to accompany me on board. Still refus.
ipg to accompany me unleis force was applied
/ called In TO my assistance -four or Eve off
GERS, and, irst taking hold Of Mr.. Mason't
shoulder, with another officer on the opposite
side, went as far as the RangWay Of the
steamer and delivered him over to Lieut.. Greer
to be placed in the boat / then returned fol
Mr.. Slidell, who insisted chat must apply
considerable fofce to get him to 20 with me;
calling In at least three officers, he also wal
taken Ia. charge and handed over TO Mr.
Greer. t,s'1 t5llio B5