Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-27
Breckinridge-Hhis Escape In nm
Open boat from Florida 10 Cub bn.
,ndence Of The World.l

Correspondence Of The World.l
ii..n HAVANA, June IL, 1865.
General J. c. Breckenridge, accompanied
by his aid-de-camp Captain Wilson, Colonel
1aylor Wood, and two Confederate soldiers,
arrived at Cardenas on the 11th inst, In ali
open boat of about one ton burthen, from
the coast of Florida. This party, after the
capture OF the President of the late republic,
made their way to the st. Johns river,
where they procured boat in which they
proceeded up that river until they reached
a point due west of Indian river, near the
head of navigation. At st. Johns, Colonel
Taylor Wood Joined the party, having been
captured by the command of General VIII
son, but he made good his escape the same
night. 'F
The small boat was hauled across the
country from the St. Johns to Indian river,
a distance of twenty-six miles, and launch
ed for the ocean. On reaching point call
ed Gilbert's bar near the mouth of the river,
the boat was beached, and dragged across
a sand-spit sixty yards, and launched in an
inlet communicating with the ocean. On
this part of the route Indian parties sup
piled them with scant provisions OF
county" of which they made bread. For
the balance of the voyage they were COM
PEELED to live on shell-iish, caught along
the shore, and turtles eggs, of which they
also laid In stores for their voyage across
the Gulf stream.
From che inlet near the mouth Of Indian
river they coasted south some fifty or sixty
miles, when they backed their boat to hunt
provisions. AT this time United States
gunboat or 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, Breckinridge's servant, began to
get his weapons ready for use. They were
temporarily located on shell-ridge, be-
tween an impenetrable swamp anG 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 the cover of
the brush, the two soldiers took to the oars
with a will,' and pulled for the ad-
vancing boat, which they met at about
one-eighth of a mile from the shore.
An officer in the stern seat of the gig,
with a revolver in hand, hailed the boat
Wood became Immediately the toughest
'longshore woOdsman, wrecker, and fish
erman that ever lived in Florida. "His
men were paro ed soldiers; they had to
live some how; they were hunting wrecks;
and until they could find something better,
they were subsisting on the rather washy
charity of the sea-shell-tish driven on
shore and turtles eggs; they meant to get
as far as Indian Key, or possibly Key West;
they had boat load of papers. If he want
ed to see them" And the ready boys pull
ed forth their parole documents, which
were found correct. "The folks on shore
were of the >ame class; had plenty OF pa
pers-the same-and were trying to cook
dinner, II they could find any eggs or shells;
wouldn't the captain like to go along ashore
---he would be perfectly welcome to the
best they had, and their papers too TheiI
hospitality was declined-the dictum ''all
right" was uttered, and, "give too, my
boys"-when away shot the gig on her re-
turn voyage to the steamer--name moi
known. The wearied and half-starved par
ty breathed more freely after the interview
which had been rather tedious while wait
ing for the result. That evening they lef
the shore, having on board few dozen o.
eggs, cakes or cumpty-bread, anC
a few clans, so small that they
might pass for muscles. They reached
the banks in about thirty-six hours, having
spoken one vessel and obtained supply Of
fresh water the day following their depart
ure from the Florida coast, and met
with no other incident, though terribly
perplexed for want of food, until they
reached Cardenas on the morning Of thu
11th-eight days--where they were received
by the people and the authorities with
Ia oil fad
and serenaded in the evening. The ladies
wished to entertain them in their hospita
BILE homes, which was, of necessity, de-
clined for the want of suitable raiment--
The Governor of Cardenas furnished thu
party with transportation to Havana, where
they arrived on the morning of the 18th
accompanied by an adjutant of the Spanish
army, and took up their quarters at tht
Hotel Cubano. The adjutant reported hi!
arrival with his guests to Captain Genera
Dulce, who instructed him to say to Gen
eral Breckenridge that he had the stree.
dom 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, hi
would be happy to see him."
Those who know the country through
the woods from Georgia to st. Johns, (tht
puDllc TOauS WeTo DOL dFdiidolC Ioi thCii
services, except at night,) and thence by
the route they took to the coast, will appreci-
ate the troubles and dangers encountered
to get through safely, besides the difficulty
of obtaining food and supplies for the six
persons. The boat in which the voyage
was performed did not admit of more thar
one sleeper at a time, and the only naviga-
tor, Taylor Wood, had to be always on the
alert. In squall at night, he was thrown
over by a sea, but having the halyards In his
hands, he managed to get on board again
without any one being aware of his brie1
absence. Before leaving the coast they
had religious services, and on reaching Car
denas, before leaving their frail boat, they
returned thanks with prayer and praise to
the Divine Providence, whereby they had
been saved.
Breckinridge was presented to the Cap
tain-Generai Of Cuba at his country seat,On
the l4th instant, and the distinguished con-
ederate was received with heart-warm
earnestness OF manner-courteou and most
cordial. .-a-a e9sf
The Chicago Republican claims that the
minor, the alien and the negro who have
performed faithful service in the army