Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-05

THE DEPARTURE OF MEsSRs MASON ANT
SIIDELL-THEIR ARRIVAL IN HAVANA-How
THEY REACHED CUBA, ETC.-For some time
| past, the papers of the interior have been in.
| dulging in sly hints, as to the whereabouts OF
| Messrs. Mason and Slidell. We have bitber.
10 made no allusiOn to their movements:
but the causes which induced our reticence
being removed, we may now. without indis
cretion, narrate the facts of their embark !.
ton. - --- & - 20 -
The Commissioners having resolved to
make the venture of running the blockade OF
Charleston, after mature deliberation, select
ed Tor the experiment. the staunch and swift
little steamer Theodore, which was, there
fore, got ready for sea with ali Dispatch
The preparations having been completed,
they embarked little before midnight, on
Friday, October LIB. The party of passen-
gers who were starting on this very unusual
and somewhat hazardous trip, consisted of
the following persons
Hon. ]. NJ. Mason, of Virginia, Mr.. Macfar-
land, tSecretary TO Mr.. Mason,) Hon. John
Siideli. of Louisiana, Mrs. SlidelI, Miss Ma
thllda Slidell. Miss Rosine Slidell, Mr.. Eustis,
Secretary to Mr. Slidell.) Mrs Eustis, who
is daughter of MIR. Corcoran, the Washing.
ton banker now in Fort Lafayette, Col. LIE
Mat, of Louisiana, the inventor of the grape
shot revolver, and two or three other gentle
men, whom it will be best, for the present,
not to mention. f--
The nighswas pitch dark, and about mid
night light rain began falling, which rem
dered the chances of being detected by the
blockaders exceedingly SLIM
AT one o'clock on Saturday morning, the
hasty good-byes, and God speed. you's hay
ing been said, the cables of the Theodore
Were loosened, and she glided down the har-
Dor on her important mission. As the steam
er, passed Fort Sumter, every light, on board
was extinguished, and away she went. right
through the fingers of the blockaders, far ont
at sea. 1 40 $500 - =
On the evening of TIE 18th she reached
Nassau in safety, where, had the opportunity
been favorable one, the Commissioners
would have disembarked; bet. on enquiring,
they ascertained that the English steamer
connecting with that point, touched at New
YORK. However gratifying sight of New
York might have beeH-under other circunl-
stances, the Commissioners determined in
this Instance to forego the pleasure
Sd the Theodore left Nassau and steamed
away towards Cuba. On the 18th inst. she
arrived at Cardenas, where the Commission
ers landed. The news that Southern steam
er bad arrived with Messrs Mason and Sill
dell on board, which WIS telegraphed from
Cardenas 70 Havana, was scarcely credited |
at the latter place. But when son the 18th
inst, the Theodore came up the .harbor of
Havana, displaying the Confederate flag, the
quays were Immediately thronged with thou
sands OF wondering spectators, and a most
cordial and enthusiastic reception was given
TO the adventurous little craft. The Yankees |
in Havana were, as matter of course, much |
disgruntled atfthe welcome given Theodora.i
But, on the other hand, the ladies of Havana |
prepared splendid Confederate flag for the |
steamer, which was presented to the captain |
with appropriate ceremonies The ladies of |
Aaianzas. also, took advantage of the chance |
10 send hither splendid flag for the Hamp-
The Steamship Columbia, formerly a Char
lesion vessel, but now in the armed service
OF the ianKees, was, at the time, In The har-
Dor o. Havana Luckily, however. she was
not ready to put TO sea- Her sconsort. the /
Keystone State, had gone to New York with
. Southern steamer, loaded with a valuable
freight OF arms and munitions and which
had been captured. while en-.
TO mike the run 10 Tampa, FIa. =
So the Theodore left the friendly port 'of.
Havana, unmolested, and with freight of
;otiee, sugar, saltpetre, sulphur acids, lead.
ron, shot, block lin, ETC., ran quietly in.-.i
-, we won't say where-bringing num-
Der Of Charlestonians, who had reached Ha-
rama from Southampton, about the same time
he Theodore made her appearance.