Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-11-23
THE PRIvATEEa FLORIDA,
Particulars Of her Capture by Wachu-
setts in the Brazilian Port Of Bahia
Another Trent Affair Great Excite
gize."
From the New York World.

gize."
From the New York World.
The lnder, the confederate organ in
London, gives the following relative to The
capture OF the confederate steamer Flori
da:
The confederate auth critics in London
have received telegraphic dispatch. da.
lad Lisbon. from Capt. Morris, comman.
der Of the Florida, stating that she was
captured on the 7th October by the fed
eral steamer Wachusett, in the harbor of
Bahia, Brazil.
AT the time of the capture the Florida
was lying under the guns of the BRAZILIAN
forts and the Brazilian fleet, and Captain
Morris was on shore. He is now on board
the steamer Magdalena, bound for South
ampton.
The London Morning Herald ed.torially
donounces the capture of the Florida in
the most indignant terms.
! The London Times says: The cspture
ofl,.e confederate steamer Florida in the
harbor OF friendly state was an act Of
simple piracy. When within neutral
port she should have been perfectly free
from moestaton.
The London Herald says that if the
Washington government does not release
the Florida all the maritime powers will
have the right 10 interfere in the matter.
From tho Journal da Bahia 0ct1
To-day we have to record another out
rage done TO our sovereignty, and another
/ slI0ht tO cnr p1aapg of Gafapse
The public knows the fact which took
place in our port between the United
States steamer Wachusett and the Con-
federate States steamer Florida but as it
may be viewed incorrectly, we will, for
our own honor, refer TO it as it took place
The Florida came in on the 5th from
Santa Cruz de Tenetiiie, in order to repair
her engine and take in water &c, for her
crew were not well, from eating rations of
salt meat, and drinking salt water filtered.
| The U. s. Consul asked the president OF
the province not 10 let the vessel into our
port, and to impose some penalty on her
for not respecting Brazilian waters in bur
ming an American vessel near the Island
of Fernando de Noronha. The President
replied that he had granted her Two days
to make repairs that her engine needed.
There was in port the United States
steamer Wachusett, which, since the com.
ing in Of the FloriIa, had put itself in
motion in the interior. Fearing some
| fight. since challenge had been given,
| the president or the provlDoe ohiainad
from the consul his word Of honor that
peace would be kept, and that no action
would take place in the port, or within
the line of neutrality. The Florida, for
better security, was placed under the bat
len les of the flagship.
On the 9th, its crew being in need Of
some recreation and rest, half of it was
put on liberty and went on shore, coming
back in the evening. Many of the men
| beng drunk, and considering himself
guaranteed in a neutral port, the captain
of the Florida let thirty Of his crew and
some of his officers sleep on shore on the
nights Of the 9th and 7th. At 3.lO OF the
break of day the officer of the deck, Hun
ter Junior, was surprised to hear the ca
blas loosen on board the Wachusett, and
her crew called 10 quarters. which was
very difficult for it to do. Nearly at The
samc time boats filled with men, boarded
the Florida receiving from her vol!ey
of n,usketry, and they were seconded by
the Wachusett, which not being seen oW-
| ing to the smoke of the tunnels and the
night being very dark, had lett her posi-
ton and rapidly ran towards the FLORIDA,
passing by the stern Of the corvett Donna
Iauuaria, which at once ordered II to heaye
To. but the captain of the Wachusett did
not heed the order, running rapidly on
the stern Of the Florida. which lay to the
north,
Hardly had she struck the latter when
she fred q shot from her DOW gan' ht
once a mast of the Florida Tell oyer, and
she lost some men but the crew returned
a feeble ere.
IL is asserted that there was great loss
of life at all points in the struggle that
took place with revolvers and cold STEEL
and that it did not last long, for the com
plsp,ept of the Florida was reduced by
neaily fifty men. Among the dead Is said
to be tho officer OF the deck, who received
a ball in the breast; and it is said that an
officer named Stone, was also killed from
a shot in the mouth. Another officer,
leapina on board the Wachusett, struck
about him and fell dead under the many
blows aimed at him.
Four sailors Of the fifteen who ieaped
into the sea escaped, and these were pick
ed up by vessels lying near. The other
eleven were shot in the water by the enc
my.
After this brief contest there came an
interval of silence, which was broken by
prolonged cheers from the Wachnsett
The chief of division, Geryasio Manca
DO, sent barge under the command o.
Lieut.. Varella. on board Of the Wachu
sett, TO tell its captain to anchor at once
or he would sink him if he tried TO con
linue his provocation. To this the latteI
replied, that on his word of honor, h'
, would do no more, and that he would g
s back to his anchorage.
But the Wachusett had s.partly mau'
fast cable TO the Florida, and then ieign