The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-30
eaesd-eJ. so esq
NR CROSSES FROM FLORIDA IN
A SMALL OPEN BOAT.
Breckinridge's Warm Reception ny
the Cuban Authorities.

HAVANA. June 17.-Gen. j. c. Brecknridge
accompanied by his aid-de-camR Captain -
Wilson, his faithful war servant InonAS. IoI.
Taylor Wood, and two Confederate solalers.
arrived at Cardenas on the 11th inst. in an open
boat of ab0nt one ton burthen from the coast
of. Florida. This party, after the capture OF
the President of the late Republic, made their
wav to the st, Johns River, where they pro
cured boat in which they proceeded up mat
river to point due west OF Indian klver, near
the head Of the narty having besn
cartnred by the command of Gen. Wilson,
which captured the President OF the Coincide
racv bv acc;Geat, but he made good his escape
the same night.
The small boat was hauled across the coun.
try from the st. Johns TO Indian Riyer, q dis
lance of twenty-siX miles, and launched for the
ocean. On reaching point called Gilberts
Rar near the mouth of the river, the boat was
heached and dragged across o sand pit sixty
Yards. and launched in an inlet communicating
with the ocean. On this part of the route
Indian parties supplied them with seant pro-
visions of county," of which they made
bread. For the balance of the voyage they
we're compelled to live on shell fish. caught
along the shore, and turtles eggs, of which
thew laid in stores for their voyage across the
Gulf stream.
From the inlet near the mouth of the Indian
river they coasted south some fifty or sixty
miles. when they beached their boat to hunt
provisions. At this time United States gun.
beat or steam transport running down south
between the shore and the Florida reef, OBJ
served the party, and the commander dis
patched boat from the vessel to ascertain who
they were and what they were doing there.
As the boat began to show herself there was
some excitement in camp, and Thomas began
to get his weapons ready for use. They were
temporarily located on a shell ridge, between
an impenetrable swamp and the waters of the
ocean, so that if they lost their boat they would
perish in the swamp. Taylor Wood, with the
cool determination of Rough and Ready"
his grandfather, ordered his two men to launch
the boat, which was instantly accomplished,
and the others having retired under cover OF
with will, and pulled for the advancing boat,
which they met at about one-eighth Of mile
from the shore An officer in the stern seat of
the gig, with a revolver in hand, hailed the
boat with the usual marine questions. Taylor
Wood became Immediately the toughest long
that ever lived in Florida. "His men were
paroled soldiers they had to live somehow;
they were hunting wrecks; and until they
could find something better, they were subsist-
ing on the rather washy charity of the sea-
shell, fish driven on shore and turtles eggs;
they meant to get as far as Indian Key, or
possibly Key West; they had boat-load of
., j.
ready boys pulled forth their parole documents,
which were examined and found correct. THE
folks on shore were of the same class; had
plenty of papers-the same-and were trying
to cook dinner if they could find any eggs or
shells; wouldn't the captain like to 60 along
ashore-he would be perfectly aoeIcome to the
hospitality was deelined--the dictum "all
right" was uttered, and, "give too, my
boys when away shot the gig on her
return voyage to the steamer-nane not
known. The wearied and halfstaryed party
breathed more freely after the interview which
had been rather tedious while waiting for the
result. That evening they lett the shore hav-
ing on board few dozen of eggs, cakes Ofcum-
ty-bread, and few clans, so small that they
might pass for muscles They reached the
banks in about thirtysix hours, having spoken
one vessel and obtained supply of fresh
water the day following their departure from
the Florida coast, and met with no other Incl
dent though terribly perplexed for want of
food, until they reached Cardenas on the
morning of the 11th-eight days-where they
were received by the people and the authori-
ties with great kindness, well fed, well refresh
ed, and serenaded in the evening. The ladies
wished to entertain them in their hOspitable
homes, which was, of necessity, declined for
the want of suitable raiment
The Governor of Cardenas furnished the
paIIltS Will IItuSpOTtallOu W d3V2ua, WutTc
they arrived on the morning of the 9th, &C.
companied by an adjutant of the Spanish army,
and took up their quarters at the Hotel Gu
bano. The adjutant reported his arrival with
his guests to Captain General Dulce, who in
structed him to say to Gen. Breckenridge that
he had the g freedom of the city and Cuba, for
himself and his friends, as long as they might
wish to remain; and when he was rested from
his fatigue, and at his own convenience, he
would be happy to see him."
Col. Chas j. Helm presented Gen. Breckin-
ridge to the Captain-General of Cuba at his
country seat, on the 14th inst, and the distin-
guished Confederate was received with the
heart-warm earnestness of manifestations
and most cordial-the Captain General express
ing deep sympathy, and regretting that cir
cumstances had rendered it necessary that he
should be guest among strangers for a little
while; but he might rest assured that the laws
of hospitality should not be violated in Cuba,
and that he should not be allowed to feel that
he was stranger in the land of the stranger
that as long as he desired to avail himself of it.
Cuba should be a safe asylum for himself and
friends.
FROM RICHMOND.