Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-29
THE ESCAPE OF THE FLORIDA


Official Report OF Commander Prebie
Commander George H. Preble, writing from
the L. s. sloop. OF. war st. Louis, under date OF
March lat, to the Navy Department, gives the
following account Of the last escape of the
pirate Florida. He attributes the escape to the
fact that the ST. Louis was not q steamer; for
the Governor Of Madeira adhered to his de-
CARED intenUon, and would only allow the
Florida to take on board twenty tons of coal
suf6ciept to take her to the nearest port. Her
.erling that he needed that much 70 ballast his
vessel. The Governor told him, at the sug-
gestlon Of Mr.. Bayman, that he came in with
out II, an he thought he could 60 without Il;
but If ballast was needed, there was plenty OF
stone on the beach that he might take. The re
port Of Commander Preble then continue
thus
s'As it was supposed that she would 80 10 sea
during the night, and certainly in the morning,
and had an intinlaIion that, in passing US
size might pour in q proadside, / shotted and
cast oose my guns, and had men to man the 70;
got slIp-rope on The chain, and stationed look :
outs an over the ship and in the tops; cautioned
the ofhcers % extra vigilance, aad was repeal
eddy on deck myself 10 watch, and see that n v
orders were executed. The night was dark
ana squally- The Florida lay close lato the
beach. and under the hi hland, with all her
tights covered, and, Notwithstanding all this
vigilance, she crypt out, unseen, TO the east
ward, and her departure was not discover
until tn" MOI u rose, lew minutes since A
blockade runner, the Julia, winch arrived in
1hs afternoon, reports the kearsage as having
ittt CadIz three Gays ago, destination Gnknown.
! he FLORIDA gave out that they were going TO
tadiZ JoT Goals; but think not and shall 90
10 len'Iif1er hoping. If DO not fird her there
To ri,, the Sacramento on her track.
"!hf prev ai!ing winds would not permit me-
to GIT TO tsdiz from Madeira in season to do
hfr any injury, even If thought that port her
cestira
the authorities here have doaa all they
cou 20 hasten her departure and prevent her
fuh supply, and / do not imagine that the
l. land Will be troubled By the presence OF renal
vessels ef-war very soon again. waited on
~ihF GovtrECr, TO N form him OF her int .ntior
u shli, nel 10 complete aer crew. He ass ureu
i g tSat j. should not oe allowed, though it
might lie done cian6estnely, W hich he cou 10
J q telr. have reason To believe that she
mace no addition 70 her or ", md known from
IN. u . Hept II my zig S crew snat tnres OF The
men thr brought with her deserted Ter
crew = cescrbed 10 Tne as made up of sS,riul.
u.ds, r. Ia hTen aud Portu luese, with n Z. g
rOEi's Z yDfr, and but one American Har fjrst
Leu enant IS Thomas A. Denim, formerly t.
nids Jpn n IN our service.
80 nSt.tP DO change III the appearance CT
The fltrh.a since l iast saw her, except that
oU as n IS yar6s in her main mast; then she
bed rOI p, ard she has cnapged her billet sd
-UF kItid suTroarted ~ scroll work, IN
e.! s.ch u ~ RE the arms Of tle reb.I States
hrrgt h"Ts tss Ttl5 10 E,3t, AMI dr. 10 g.s stot
J 90 ~ guaS Re tTI SD rIe ia, ;sar.ng tkat in
tts,r 'ser M. they enid frs i,t0 her trittont
ff@s'k z NJ creek ne = IL ,lt.yo, M.IS port. One
'niHs Is car:eir, rhe F.oIi!a, does not IN sud TO
y ht tssl'ss the EHHcss are largely in her
L,FoT. or exc ssuiked away from the Cd s.
J43uGs.'