The New York herald., 1864-04-04
NEWS FROM FLORIDA.
EFFECTS OF TEE RECENT GALE.
Details Of the Capture Of the Re
bel SlOOp Florida,
ke.s &e.s Ass
Our Key West Correspondence.

KEY WEST, Fla, March %, 1864.
The United States Neamer Ronegsuchle Captures Pritc
re Captain OF the Prife an Old AcQuaindnce-7hc
Equ nocial Gdle-SOypossd Waifs-Disossr 10 Blue
nose Bric, dc.
The United states steamer Honcysucke, Acting Master
Sears commanding, has arrived bringing with her
prize which she captured the Goth instant in latitude
IS IS N. longitude So so W. The captured vessel is the
rebel sloop Florida, Elliott MASTER from Havana TO
port in particular. She had board general cargo,
ouch powder, shot, nails coffee &C. No other vessel
in sight at the time OF her cape and therefore the
Florida is the absolute prize Of the Honey ysuckle.
REBEL CAPTAIN.
Elliott who commanded the Florida has fallen into the
hands OF officers commanding vessels the East Gulf
squadron twice before. In my lettcr to the HERALD
dated October Z, 1858, spoke Of small soop
named the Last Trial, WHICH cleared oseDsibly
from Havana for Nassau, with an assorted cargo, six
days previously. In the approved fashion of blockade
runpers however instead Of the OF the Last trial
being shaped for Nassau, eudeavor was made to
her Charottes Harbor, the coast Of Florida but
she encountered heavy weather, and her captain
washed overheard. In this predicament,' wrote, ga
by the OF Elliott, who represents himself
passenger charge Of the vessel and, making vir
tue of necessity, determined running her into this
place, which he did Monday night, when Mr.. Elliott
surrendered her AS prize TO the United states This
the last trial or the Last Trial but II decided
give her temporary commander trial more and.
lo be turns mp as master OF the Florida bound from
Havana to nowhere 10 particular, with cargo consisting
of such harmless paythngs rs nails coee powder and
shot and other delcacles Elliott claims TO be English
man; but, with the rcdoubtabe wouter Won Twiler,
must say, ~ doubt
THg RECENT GALES.
The vernal equinoctial gale, of which We had pre-
monitons day or two ago is now blowing though not
with any great violence here The nearly north
east II is to be feared, however, that in other lati
tuies considerable damage has been done. Certain
schooner
tides-Peter Columbus by name-brought in yester
dav several boxes Of boots and shoes which he
says he picked up the beach Carystort. He
also reports that he saw quantity OF hay floating on the
water On reporting the facts 10 Captain Welsh the
agent TO the Board Of Underwriters this morning that
gentleman who does not conceal his distrust OF the
wreckers Of this place questioned him closely about tho
affair." upon which he acknowledged that there
sci IA signt NJ the tline neu why nld YOU not com
puncse with hero was tue next query "Because the
too rough.n was the response THAT is n likely
story remarked Captain Welsh. "lf the sea was so
rough ~ TO prev mt you from commu ncsing with YES
sci in the ong, how was It not too rough Tor you TO
land on that beachY Remember, yon are talking 10
sailor. and you cannot humbug me- Captain Welsh,
who seems determined TO do his whole duty to bis con
sttuents Indignant and makes secret OF his
indignation whoever he catches tripping IN the wreck
ing business, whether as prncpals or as accessories,
must expect no mercy at his hands.
The army tug Exact left here this morning for New
Orleans, with a number OF refugees from Florida on
board.
baed fort Meyers, in Charottss Iiarbor, Florida but
aa,bor,e mnabe TO trace II to ,s source The military
r,sha 40 ID
one OF those eanard ls truth The story seems to be
vabe notorie,y ercee ceeicn hey Yves. enjoys an unea
correspondent and burning Il se mere a.
gcnt hunter Of news all OF H. 100 hean
during our novciate, would he hoaxcd evsT, a.. erd
write such whoppers to the Journal OF which he
to be jealous atache. would make the hair orhos.
pleasant cbroDisles, Ferdinand Mcndez Pinto Georss
Psalmanazcr, Baron Munchausen and Charles Macxay
stand on end What makes the Fort Meyers story the
improbable is that General Woodbury. and his Adiu
tant General Capt Bowers both at hat place that
nothing has been heard from them about the capture
~ to be hoped that they have not been "gobbed up"
which Is not likely.
Every arrival OF re'ugees-many Of whom are desert
ers from the rebel army-frcm Florida confirms the
peated assertions OF former refugees that the rebel
forces In that state fast melting away by desertons
The flordians In particular heartily disgsted
rebel rule and long heartily 10 return 10 their first love
acd take shelter under the protecting folds OF the Union
tlg.
The British brig Louisa, A. X stsood master, from
Nova Scotia bound for Havana put here yesterday IN
distress Captain Atwood reports that TO the southeast
OF Key West he encountered heavy gale whcn carried
away the foremast, in consequence % which he had
cut away everything, snd as was impossible Tor him To
reach Havana in his crippled condition he determined TO
put IN here She brought 10, IN TOW of the United
States steamer suntower.
Captain Welsh, the agent Of the Board Of Underwriters
OF opinion that u Is best 10 seud TO New York for
teras TO put the brig repair and to send her cargo TO
Havana by another vessel She within sixty miles
of Havana when the disaster happened