The New York herald., 1862-04-08
INTERESTING FROM NORFOLK. VA.

HIS EscaPe-COmm0dOre Tatnau in
Command OF tho Merrimac-The Feel
fnE In NorfOlk-Treatment of Foreign
Residents, &C., So, Sc.
we we're yesterday favored with visit from Mr. p
D. foarra, Spanish subject and native OF Cuba, for
some time resident in this city who succeeded in get
ting away from rebeldom after . long and anxious in
voluntary sojdurn Of FIVE weeks in Norfolk Mr. Ybarra
Is gentleman of Intelligence and gives very explicit
statement Of his trials In JEFF. Davis dominions.
He says that not long previous to his escape from Nor
FOLK General Huger issued order commanding that al
the cotton in the city and vicinity should be removed TO
the interior Of the country to prevent its falling into the
hands Of the Union troops aud that any disobeyng
this order would be punished by an immediate consca-
tion of the staple The same order and like penalty
Piled also to stores Of provisions.
The government inaugurated by Davis-martial law
Mr. fbarra represents as being Of the most despotic
character disgrace any civilized nation the entire
liberties of tho people being at the mercy of the military
authorities. What amount of Union sentiment there
might be in Norfolk informant could not state, as
there was general feeling Of disrust prevailing among
the people, and universal fear Of the espionage which
existed throughout the city and It's vicinity Having de-
termned to mako his escape no suggested Its feasibility
70 some five or six persons whom he could trust among
them the Spanish Vice Consul but all endeavored TO dis
suade him from the attempt as being ono Of madness
and representing to him the absolute certainty Of capture
should he make the venture He did venture, however
and fortunately with success He represents the Merr
being ahoa, ready for another fight, and that
Commodore Tatnall is to have command OF her.
Captain Buchanan, who commanded this vessel in tho
late action, is not dead He badly wounded, and
at the time Mr.. Y. loft was reported TO DO
recovering Three persons were killed board the Mer
rmac in the action with the Monitor.
The Norfolk people boast that when this vessel goes out
again she will till she has laid Washington and
New York in ashes.
Mr. Y corroborates the oft told story Of scarcity OF
specie, and brings with him specimens OF "secesh"
rsncy in the shape Of I'VE and ten cent shinpasters
There degree Of business activity apparent in
Norfolk, owing to tho military operations there but in
Savannah, Ca whence he started his way North
five weeks since, there perfect stagnaton. There
everybody was engaged in military matters and gave
thought TO any other business Whatever.
In Norfolk tho stores compelled to close at two
O'Clock P M after which hour every able bodied man
was engaged in military evolutions.
The particulars Of Mr.. Ybarra's escape give In his
own words
loft New York early in January last to visit various
portions Of the State OF Georgia. My business there
Of such nature IS compelled me to Co.
the difficulties and perpexities was certain to expe
rience Having concluded it, started from Savannah on
in order to obtain from the Spanish Consul tho papers
necessary TO provo me to be Spanish subject These
obtained, and wa: assured By the Consul that would
experience no difficulty in getting to New York.
On arriving at Norfolk March applied the Spanish
Vice Consul, Duncan Robertson, ESQ., to whom commu-
assistance in procuring for me pass to prosecute my
journey On the following day in company with the Vice
Consul had an interview with Gen Huger commanding
tho rebel forces ct this place. The Vice Consul
asked General H.. SIS there flag Of truce to enable
Spanish subjects to ieavo Norfolk" To which
Hngsr replied "No, sir there is not; nor is there
a n hn
Consul then stated 10 General H. that had
sucien TO continue my journey should my stay in Nor
folk be protractsd and that would be unjust to force
to remain until my money was exhausted. Regard
less OF this however, General H. gave encourage
He said that he had orders from headquarters
to allow any person to leave by way Of flag Of truce,
and positively declined my request few days thcre.
after made another application to him for permission
leave He then said there would be flag truce boat
going to Fortress Monroe. ] asked him. through the
Vice Consul for what reason q foreign subject and a
neutral in this war; who wished to 10 his place of busi
ness, thus compelled TO remain prisoner at large
Hc gave mo very unsatisfactory answer then asked
him, through the Vice Consul whether he would grant
liberty pass outside Of his line OF pckes but this
he also refused me, stating that succeeded passing
beyond his lines General Wool would receive me but
would send me back again to Norfolk. replied that
was confident Of finding my situation bettered could
once get beyond his lines; that could and would then
take Of myself All my efforts 10 obtain permission
to leave were fruitlcss, however Having now lost
all hope Of leaving by legitimate means concluded
TO venture an escape at ali hazards for which purpose
rsconnoerod the coast slept in the woods for several
nights ~ could not got into town after ten O'Clock p.
NJ, owing 70 the martial law, by which the city is
Very often had quite near the fort.
caons outside Of tho city, but lcarsully avoided being
by any Of the ssStinels. had been for long time
in search OF . small boat whom one day, by acci.
dent to creek about three miles outside Of the
city limits, whore found that my purpose
This boat took possession o. II however without
oars, returned 10 the city and bought pair which
I took through the woods 10 the place where the
boat lay; at night wrapped them in largo shawl 10
avoid suspicion. Here hid them in the bushes until
thA
18th Of March Saturday mAde my first attempt to
leave It was s,grming heavy and after clearing the
contrary 10 the wished TO take fearing that
my strength would fail before could reach hosptablc
shore, l reluctantly turned back and suspended my
voyage till more auspcious season. spent in this
interim many anxious hours watching for chance 10
escape. On Friday April found the wind and weather
favorable, and determined max ng another venture
In the meantime had obtained companion, a German
whose situation was similar TO my own, and whose
anxiety to leave equal to mine. On the evening Of
the 4th went to the woods whore the boat lay
aud spent our time till twelve o'clock observing the
movements Of tho guard boats that are running con-
stany back and forth to prevent tho egress any one
by way Of the river At that hour the went down
and put out, half fearful half confident of Success
but trusting TO fate. For myself was utterly regard
less Of what might overtako me. As there is shore
battery about two hundred yards from the pnce whence
We started, and fearful tho sentnes there might hear
u.s. muilled our oars. During tho voyage we were
often compelled 10 dodge the guard boats which were
plying back and forth from Craney Island to Tanners
creek, and which ran quite nj times. We had
gone about one mile and half when very unexpect.
edy q barge like hulk, stationed Craney Island
and there expected to bc hailed and prisoners
fortunately we were not discovered by those on
board Having nothing but the stars guide us in our
COURSE and these being often covered by thick clouds
we lost bearings at time; but before starting
had noticed the reflection OF large fire in the neighbor
hood Of Fortress Monroe, and shaped our
course by that. soon after starting tho wind
began to blow quite freshly, and my anxiety
Increased, as the boat was not well able 20 withstand
heavy sea. My companion never having been in such
situation before grew alarmed fears
success but told him that preferred TO sink
rather than endure the agonizing anxiety had ex-
perenced in Norfolk After four hours hard pulling the
boat being in almost sinking condition and half filled
with water my strength nearly exhausted deserted the
shore anxious ~ find. We landed at haf.past
four A. M the 5tn Saturday about three miles above
Fortress Monroe and awaited the daylight in order to
become bettor acquainted with the immediate locality
We found ourselves the haven Of destination
than We had at nrs anticipated having reversed our
boat and emptcd OF water, we started again for the
fortress IL was about half past six o'clock but
before had gone more than mile and half found
IL impossible proceed further without some noursh
mcnt-my strength had given out-so we pulled for
schooner from New York, which lay near her name
have forgotten where were Hospitality enterta ned
nv stating the