The New York herald., 1864-11-29

Tie Navy Department has also the following ele
gram
FORTRESS MONROE, Nov. 2s, 1894.
Hon. ciDEoS WgIFs, Secretary OF the Navy
have just received telegram from the commander
OF tho prize steamer Forids, informing that had
byan army steamer and badly damaged. have not
heard the particulars l win inform the Department
when receive Tie written report.
DAVID u. PORTER, Rear Admiral
Onicial Statemene from tho Navy De-
parinnent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. "a, 1904.
statement appeared in OF today 4
parers, erronsously attributed the Washington agent
and reported for the Associated press tina, Commander
Collins has bean ordered to return TO Bahia, Hraz with
his quasi pr1e her officers and crew, and ting TO
give the result OF the action or the government upon
that subject with other assumed facts In the
nec;on. No such telegram originated with the ngen'
and reporter Of the Associated press But there is the
best authority for saying that all statements TO ,hs
effect that differences of opinion have arisen the Cab
net concerning the OF the pirate Florida that
decision has been made for against her restitution
are without foundation. Ne action Of the government
has been taken the case and discussion or It has
been held and tho Navy Department authorizes the io
loving statement
at Hampton Roads proceed TO Boston for repairs,
taking with her the prisoners captured the Florida
be consigned TO Fort Warren Before the order reached
the vessel the prisoners had been sent Point Lookout
and in day or two were transferred Dy the army
authorities TO the Old Capitol They were Immediately
ordered back to Point Lookout TO be returned to the
Wachuse.t, which at sailed for Boston, arriving
there on Friday las.
The Florfda's Officers Consigned to Fort
Warren.
Bosros, Nov IS, 1864.
The captured ofncers and OF the pirate Florida
have been sent 70 Fort Warren.
Important Question: What or the seix-
ure OF tho FlOrid a!-DescripttOn OF tho
Port OF Bahla-Phrticu n OF tho Cap-
ture or tho Fiorida-COnsul Thomas f..
Wilson tho Cause or the Capture.
washington correspondence tNov 20 Of the Ptsorrg
Every person thinks and It Is said that the admuissra
ton takes the vew of the subject that te seizure
OF the Florida justnab, because the ports 6 Brazil
1862, and that the matter viii be easily adjusted by the
two governments.
Wilson, the Consul 70 Bahia has taken prominent part
In the capture Of the Florida have taken pains 80
ascertain the facts in the case from one Of the officers on
board the Wachuset. Bahia Is situased On the Bay OF
All Saints, on the east coast Of South America thirteen
degrees south Of the EQUATOR and about the centre OF the
dred thousand and o. the largest cities Of South
America The provnce Of Bshia s one se she mos. eh
exported to Europa The city is situated on peninsula
between the and the bay. and is elevated about
Ave hundred feet above the lsvel Of the sea-
Eariy in 1852 the Sumter, under Captain semnes,
visited the ports Of Bahia and Maranham, sod in 1898
was again In Pernanbuco. Tho Alabama and Georgia
were togehor in port Of Bahia Nay, 1865. whore
they met two British parks with powder and coal The
Brazilian government allowed all but the powder to be
loaded on tho praes The Tuscacosa was 10 the port Of
st. Catherine In December 1865 when she took On oosrd
stores. Over three bundred prieoners from vessols
~
thrown upon the American Consu In the ports OF Brsz.
costing tho United States gorernmsnt many thousands Of
dollars.
70 Illustrate the difficulty OF ovcrhaung particular
vessel the an will state that during the eniire
month OF last September the United states sooDe owar
Tcondcroga, Kearsarge st. Lonis and Wachuset were
oil cruising In the neghborhood Of the equator and
within ot two hundred miles, (the government
having received information that tho Florida VISA
to De IN tina. ~ ina. @ a .%e; and
to say they did not only fnd the Florida, though for
considerable part OF the time cruising on the sae area
but they never encountered each other. Vessels
spoken every day that had been boarded by OF
these ana by tho Florida. but they never met.
The Florida ndng from some OF tue vessels that she bad
boarded that they after her, put into Bahia she
short Of coal aud fearful OF ebcnunering OF
these vessels when she was not 10 condition 20 escape
The wachu.ett the port OF Bahia the ID
October and the Florida came 10 october 8, and Tor
safety, at the Invitation or the Brazilian Admiral,
anchored under the guns Of fort aud alongside their
vessels
declined to have anything TO do with the capture OF inc
Florida while in port Our Consul Nr wilson cha enged
the captain Of the Florida 10 meet and light the Wschn
seu outside the port, which Captain Morris declined
accepting.
were determined 10 rid the OF this scourge when
they had opportunity and resolved 10 obtain tug
and run her down, but were unable to procure atug
After three days OF urging aud reasoning with Captain
Collins by Mr.. Wilson and all the officers of the Wacnu.
seit held council and after long consultation the
Captain agrecd but with great renonce TO capture her
10 port.
in the morning Of October I. the Wachuset got under
way and direct for the Fotds, determined 10 sink
her by running into her under tut lead of steam. Tn
fortunately in the Darkness iosiead of striking the fo-
rda amdshp she struck asietn and bad her mizze1
knocked overheard and part Of her buwarks cut
down the water Inc. The crew OF the Florida, who
were awake fred volley with small arms, severely
wound ng three men on board cf the wachisott. Ibo
wacbusci swung round with The tue and returned tbe
lrs with OF her oroadside gunS-one onc.hundred
pound rde, the other tnirty-two pound smooth bore
al the time demandnE tho surrender Of tue fior
da lieutenant IN command slid that nnder the CIR
curnstauces he would Two boats we're Immediately
Low cred from the Wschusett, and hawser being made
fast to tho florles commenced TOWING her out;
By this time THO Brazilian lors IA tue hsrbor undo
wh6le guns the Florida laid opelct their batteries,
sioop of six guns got under way and ran along
Brszillan nan war OF eighteen guns, 10 tow he
action Al the -sme time q "gg' from one ~ u
lillian men.of.war ran Alongside tho Wacnusot
msnded that there "shouid be ~ more nring /"
OF The waohuseti.p Captain Collins replied
firing was all ovoTn apd continued s,esmn'
with tne Florida IN low. The brazilian wa
commenced hrng solid shot which, no
over the Machusett without striking nor,
avoid a conflict with the Brazi.ian az
would complicste the matter, Captein
out 10 sea, the Brazilian steam sloof
eighteen gun mau.o .of.war 10 tow
The capture made undor a ~
Ave guns and within few hundr
war yeas and suoiher fort of tw
perhaps, one Of the most da'
during the war.
Prom the night the
action, Mr. Wilson
Iy, scepinrf
urr'