The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-18
Oar Key West Correspondence.

York volanteers Ensign Jones, u s. NJ, and eleven in
the steerage.
Oar Key West correspondence.
KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. IL, 1854.
Dor some months past, the readers OF she HERALD
are doubtless aware, English steamer had been lying
IN Bayana waiting for favorable opportunity 10 the
blockade. Her name N the Cumberland. What added
70 the interest e In this the impression that
should she succeed IN getting into rebel with her
valuable cargo she would be fitted out as Q privaeer,
and issue forth FOR the purpose Of preyna
mor0o after the manner OF the Alabama, Florida and
other Southern rovers. To ths end IL alleged that
the Cumberland had formidable armament 90 board,
furnished By some accommodating British nrm OF the
Laird Lindsey stripe, ready TO be mounted soon
her cargo discharged in Mobile other port In
Rebellion. Under such circumstances strict watch
was&ept on the Cumberland, and information Of her
doings ~as from tipe to time transmitted from Havana
to Rear Admiral Bailey, commanding the East Gulf
squadron At this station, and that indefatgable officer
Issued general order for oil the vessels belonging the
squadron 10 be on the alert for the woudbo prvaeor
Not for ono somsnt was the vgilant surveillance by
tbe blockadng vessels relaxed Every thing consistent
with international county and the rights Of neutras
done prevent tho Cumberland from giving block
aers the slip and deprvng gallant ars OF ono Of tho
richest prizes Of the present WHOM lo two weeks
and bali ego, The peysenoas reached this place
"1he Cumberland has escaped from Havana" But
whiIo this unpaatable norsel was being dgested y
some end others "chewipg the cud Of rejection
thereon Smollet hath it, the loyal folks Of this little
sand bad their hearts cheered by the intelligence that
tho United States De Soto, Captain Scott had
arrived and that tho Cumberland captured by
close behind This was Monday last, and, sure
enough two three hours after, the Cumberland her,
sell 10 charge Of Acting Master L. n. Partridge,
prize msster was seen coming through tho northwest
has had hann A0nA hu
the DO Soto, In consequence Of the valuable
cargo board, while the Do Soto herself, from
ship channel. Much adroitnass seems been
csed by Captain Scott and considerable Ingenuity mani
run out Of Havana aud then falling in with her at tho
right time and In the right spot TO make her easy prey
To those who can see deeply into mlstone, leave the
putting Of this and that together and arriving at cor
rect solution Of the odus opsrandi by which the whole
delicate transaction was carried out.
or the capture itself have nothing or an exciting ma
ture TO record There was no long stern chase no waste
of"vianous sapetre NO screaming of shot and shell.
Tho whole affair conducted most prosaic
monplaco manner and did not der from the most ord
capture Of ten ton sioop. laden with physc and
Soass vorS II gold CaasSo@ bands 10 the spaeo Of
few minutes 70 the profit Of Uncle Sam and his handy
marncrs Tho main chance beng secure. che romance
can be disrcnsed with But 70 the record.
On the 5h Of February, az the Cumberland making
the best Of her way towards obo her captain ana pas
OF prcsieroas run, with large prints looming up 10
perspective, check suddenly put 70 their gayety BY
iimo she Was sighted from tho deck or tho DO Soto,
about hafrast eight O'Clock he morning. Cumbcr
10 min west Ions,ads On sshns Ser she 10 sec
Immediately gave chase, and running at tho
rate Of twelve and half knots, gaining tho cumbcr
land (Which the stranger known TO bel very fast
although she had been reported as fifteen knot vessel.
AZ twenty minutes past ten the Cumberland was under
tho guns u the 10 Soto, from which boat hoisted
board tho prize. Captain Bskeney commanding the
Cumberland, together with her officers and crew, were
then transferred TO The De soto when prize OF
twenty. seven and two engineers, commanded by
Acting Master artrdge, were sent from the cruiser TO
convoy Of the Do Soto, as aready mentcncd
The OF tho Cumberland well assorted one and
very valuable Among other things found on board were
hundred barrels OF gunpowdcr and large number OF
quantity OF uue gray reei Uniform cloth and bales upon
ber Of ready made rebel uniforms, boots and shoes
In short, everything necessary for the outfit Of
ray that the cargo cost seventy thousand pounds In
gold 10 lngand that Tho. ship was sod there Tor atty
we're expended on her in Havana The cargo has not
yet been disturbed and Is therefore impossible 70 tell
whether there are any cannon In the ncd and tho cap
tan and passengers, 81 keep dark the subjects
although, as the captain engaged only in Havana
aud most Of the PASSENGERS arg from hat pace is Just
sposibc that they know nothing about tho matter.
u Is said that Captain Bakeney received no 1893
sum than twelve thousand dollars advance to venture
on tho run ho frankly owns that he IS New yorker
carry much oose coin about him under tho crcum
are mosy nj aa y a. Ss a.
tain to have Iheir eye teeth for not dollar
OF the 6l.hy ucrov found any Of thcm Perhaps
hcy Did rats, and "know trap0 The captain Is, at
any rat for this Is the second he has becn brought
up with round turn while engaged In the blockade run
ulng bus1oss ITO takes things as phiosophio lily as
gentlemen Of his genus generally do The passengers are
equally unconcerned, apparently, about tho matter.
several OF them are stopping at tho Russell House 90
have had au opportunity OF knowing their names through
tho register Among them a.gonteman OF whom have
oitn heard but whom never knew, namely, the Illus
lous John Snooks ksq whose residence 70 10 the cheer
qi bcaty ths North Pole; 20 no says under bis own
signature. ,t q.
While Tho Cumberland hay In Havana tho DO 5oso was
frequent visitor there Tho officers aud crows Of tne
vessclsusc 70 meet frequently and lots OF chan
wore won, 70 pass between chem over their grogtne
cumberlands declaring, course, that tho 10 soto
could never eaten tner vessel while the Do soos who
knowihe qualities Of their craft would turn their guilds
and, In the rockng manner peculiar 70 tho sops OF
Neptune Intimate their Intention OF trying, They have
done So aud succeeded, and tho Do Soto has earned
another title 70 be considered tho crack vessel for speed
Of the Enst Gulf squadron. 60 we'll WA u understood
that there was 70 DO contest OF speed between Tho
vessels circumstances favored IT, that on Mr. Partridge
tho boarding officer Mailing Captaa Blakeuey from along
side tho latter oavsd Ia Immediately, and owned himself
| beaten.
Tho 10 scso, By Tho way, LETT on Tuesday even.
i0g 10 search ~ 10 said Of another blocksdsrunnlng
steamer called the Alicia vessel that said 70 be OK.
remedy swift, aud ~ fortunate a. swift Tho Cumber-
land an iron side-whcel steamer about seventeen
Il III W ana oUhs focl