Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-12-26
[Signed]
Sec'v of Treasul

Narrative OF he PtIrssr OF Tran,.''
This gentleman writes a letter to the London IlmeS
giving account OF the arrest. We copy the following
details of bis report:
The firing was Immediately followed by boat push
ing off from the side Of the San Jacinto containing be-
tween twenty and thirty heavily armed, under the
command of the First Lieutenant, who up the
quarter deck and asking for captain Moir, demanded
list Of passengers. AS his fright ofsearch' de-
nied the information required was OF course, peempto
rily retosed. He then stated that he had information
that Messrs Slidell, Mason, Euss, and Mcfarland
board. and demanded that they should be
given up.
This also being Indignantly refused Mr. Sidell him.
self came forward, and said that the four gentleHon
named were then before him, but appealed to th ~
fish flag under which they sailing, tor protection
The Lieutenant said that his orders to take them
on board the San JacntO by force if they wound not
surrender He then walked to the side of the ship and
waved bis hand Immediately three heavily armed
boats pushed of and surrounded the ship and the party
of marines who came up and took possession OF the
quarter deck these, however he ordered down on the
main deck, to take charge of the gang way ports.
Capt Williams, r. n, the Naval Agent, in charge
of the mails who Of present during this in
terview them the of Her Majesty, he being the
only person board directly representing her, made
vehement protestation against this piratical act.
ANY open resistance to such force was OF course
hopeless although from the loud and repeated paudts
which followed Capt WiIamss protes'ation, and which
Joined in by every one without exception, OF the
passengers congregated the quarterback of all
nations and the manifest desire of some to resist
to the last have no doubt but that every person would
have Joined heart and soul in the struggle had Com
mander but given the order.
Such an orde- he could not under such adverse Cir
cumstances, enously give and it was therefore
e nsdered sufficient that party OF marines, with bayo-
nets fixed should forciby lay hands the gentlemen
named This was done, and the gentlemen retired to
their &C bis to arrange some few changes of clothing
A most heart-rending scene now took place between
Mr. SIidel bis eldest daughter, noble girl devoted TO
her father, and the Lieutenant
1t would require far able pen than mine to
describe how with flashing eyes and guiverng lips she
threw herself in the doorway OF the cabin where her
father was resolved to defend him with her lite, TILL on
the order being given to the marines to advance which
they did with bayones pointed at this poor deenceess
girl her father coded the pifu by escaping from
the cabin by window, wien he was Immediately seized
by the marines and hurried into the boat calling out
to Captain Moir he left that he held him and his Gov
eminent responsible for this outrage
If farther proof were required Of the meanness and
cowardy bullying in the line of conduct pursued by the
Captain of the San Jacinto may remark, first, that
on being asked il they would have committed this out
rage if had been man-o-war, they replied, GER
tainy not - and, secondly, that Captain Wilkes sent
an order for Capt Moir to go aboard his ship and
second for Captain NOR to the Trent closer to
the San Jacinto Of course not the slightest notice
was taken of either ORDER nor did they attempt to
force them
| A fire broke out on tuesday evening il the smoke
house in rear tire COMMANDMENTS Quarters the Arse
nal The building and its contents were destroyed
having been completely 10 flames in the interior before
the fire was discovered.
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, J
NORTH CAROLINA ARSENAL AND ARMoRY
Fayetteville Dec. Is, 1861.
Nfe<<,x Hale & Sons: Permit ire through Your col
umns 10 lender my warmest thanks to L-sc OF rlebd
who rendered such prompt and efficient service in ex
tinguishing the fire in the Arsenal grounds last evening
Very truly and respectfully,
JNO. c. BOOTH, Capt. Art'y Comd'g.
Fay. Observer.