Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-29
Chase After and Capture ofthe Re-
bel Commissioners.

At Cienfuegos Capt Wilkes learned that
the Theodora hal run the blockade al
Charleston. with Messrs. Mason and Sldell
on board, and had arrived at Havana. He
determined, ii possible. to intercept the
Theodore on her return voyage, and al
though he had been Iwenty-six months on
the station on the west cost OF Africa-all
the time engaged In the active pursuit of
slavers, and with his officers and crew mucn
reduced, and just oil diligent search of six
weeks duration for the Sumter-Capt.
Wilkes took on board sufficient coal and
made for Havana. which he reached on the
28th OF October last, where he found that
Messrs. Mason and Slidell were being feted
by the EIabanese, and where. with their
families and attendants, they boarded at the
Hotel Guiana, and had been waited anon
! by the Spanish and English authorities and
treated with the most obseauious respect.
Capt. Wilkes also learned of the design OF
/ Masoa and Slidell 10 take passage in the
I British packet Tor Europe and made every
effort to procure assistance so that size could
not possible escape some one of our Ameri-
/ can cruisers I; bat tie Powhatan could not
! be found, and the Huntsville was under the
caulking process, 50 there was no help for
him but to undertake the intercepiion alone
This he deemed surest in the old Bahama
Channel, and he accordingly made for the
narrows near the lighthouse Of Parcdon
del Grand, about 2I0 miles from Havana.
where the channel is about fifteen miles
broad. The San Jacinto reached that
poinr on the evening of the eth November
instant, aud laid off and pivot guns loaded.
Lieut.. Fairfax, the executive officer on
board, had orders from Capt. Wilkes, to
have two boats ready manned and armed
10 board the British packet as soon as she
should be hove to, and in the event of Mes
srs. Mason, Slidell, Eustis and Mcfarland
being on board of her, 10 make them prison-
ers and send them Immediately on board
the San ,Iacinio, and also TO offer in his
name, 10 their families, his CABIN. in The
event they should determine to take pas
sage to the United State in the San ,Jocinto,
assuring them that all the attention and
comforts he could command would be Mac
ed at their service, and closed the order
with the following remark !" trust that all
hose under your command in executing this
important and delicate duty, will conduct
themselves with all the delicacy and kind
ness which becomes our navel service y
Near noon on The Sih November ;ns,,nt
the smoke o. the English steamer Tren, !
with Mason and Slidel on board, was seen
and IN an hour thereafter her identity was
made sure. A shot from the bow Of The
Dan Jacinto was fired across her bow as
she came along, and she hoisted the Eng
lisfl fias, but showed no intention of slacken-
ing her speed or Of heaying to. The ia.
cinio boosted the Stars and stripes and fred
another shot across the bow Of the Trent
aud this brought her TO. An officer on
board the steamer tells the following story
OF the boarding of the Trent, and The can
lure OF the rebel commissioners. which we
md IN the New Port Mercury:-
''Our captain hailed her and said that h..
would send boat on board, and ordered
Lieut.. Fairfax 10 board her; he went in
the second cutter, at the same time Lieut.
0Feer was already in the third cutter 10
shove from the port side, should his assist
ance be required. On coming alongside he
packet, Lieut.. Fairfax ordered The ot,ar
officers to remain IN the boat with The CREW
until force should become necessary. and !
went on board alone. The captain of the
mail steamer refused TO show his pa,ers and 4
passenger list, knowing very well the object |
OF our VISIT and the character and mission /
ol the hour gentlemen above named. B.,
Ar Mason being recognized, a pant of The
armed crew was ordered from the boat and I
came ON board Messrs. Mason and Sl;de,I
were ihen persuaded to come on board the 1
SAli Jseln'o but declined, and said they
would only yield to force Mr.. SEdeIl mai
ing the remark that it woald require con-
siderable force TO take him ON beard the
San Jacinic.' Lieut.. Fairfax then ordered
Dir. Houston to return to our ship aad re-
port That the Confederate Commissioners
were on board the mail steamer and refused
70 come on board the San Jacinio by other