Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-06-30
gaiIg empire.
BreCklnrIdge-Hls Escape Iu
an Open Boat from Florida TO
Cuba
Correspondence oithe world,l
HAVANA, June II, 1865,

lOoIIehponueuce o. the Morld,l
HAVANA, June II, 1865.
General J. c. Breckinridge, accompanied
by his Aidrde.camp Captain Wilson, Colonel
Taylor Wood, and two Confederate soldiers,
arrived at Cardenas on the llth inst, in an
open boat Of about one ton burlhen, from the
coast of Florida This party after the cap
ture 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 point due
west OF Indian river near the head Of naviga-
ton, AtSt Johns, Colonel Taylor Wood
Joined the party, having been captured by
the command OF General Wilson, but he made
good his escape the same night.
The small boat was hauled across the coun-
try from the St. Johns to Indian river, a
distance of twenty-six miles, aud launched
for the ocean. On reaching point called
Gilberts bar, near the mouth Of the river, the
boat was beacbed, and dragged across u sand
spit sixty yards, and launched in an inlet
communicating with the ocean On this part
Of. the route Indian parties supplied them
with scant provisions of "cumpty," OF which
they made bread For the balance Of the
voyage they were compelled to live on shell
fish, caught along the shore, and Turtles eggs,
of which they also laid in stores for their voy-
age across the Calf stream
From the inlet near the mouth Of Indian
river, they coasted south some fifty to sixty
miles, when they backed their boat to hunt
provisions. At this time a United States gun.
boat or transport running down south between
the shore and the Florida reef observed the
yarty, and the comm ander dispatched boat
from the vessel to ascertain who they were
and what they were doing there. Asthe boat
began TO show herself, there was some excite
ment in camp, and Thomas, Breckinridges
servant, began TO get his weapons ready for
use. They were temporarily located on shell
ridge between an impenetrsble swamp and
the waters OF the ocean, 80 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 in.
stantly accomplished, and the others having
retired under the cover of the brush, the two
soldiers took to the oars Awith a will. and
pulled for the advancing boat, which they met
at about one. eight Of a mile from the shore.
An officer in the stern seat Of the gig, with
revolver in hand hailed the boat with the
usual marine questions. Taylor Wood be
came Immediately the toughest 'Iongshore
woodsman, wrecker, and fisherman that ever
lived in Florida. "His men were paroed
soldiers; they had 10 live some how they
we're hunting wrecks and until they could
6nd something better, they we're snbsisting
on the rather waShy charity OF the sea-shell-
fish driven on shore and turtles eggs they
rNeant to get as far as Indian Key, or possibly
Key West they had boat load of papers, if
we wanted TO see them" And the ready
BOYS pulled forth their parole documents
Z .,6;ak mara fonud onrraof uTha folks nm
shore were of the same class had plenty OF
papers--the same-and were trying to cook
dinner, il they could find anv eggs or shells :,
would mt the captain like to 90 along ashore
l-he would be perfectly welcome to tbeIIbest
they had, and their papers too p Their hos
pitality was declined--the dictum "all right
was uttered, and, "give too, my boys'-when
away shot the gig on her return voyage to the
lsteamer--name not known. The wearied and
lhalf.starved party breathed more freely after
the interview, which had been rather tedious
while waiting for the result That evening
they left the shore, having on board few
dozen Of eggs, cakes or cumpty bread and
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 iol-
! lowing their departure from the Florida coast,
and met with 20 other incident, though terri.
bly, perplexed for want of food, until they
reached Cardenas on the morning Of the llth
eight days-were they we're received by the
c people and the authorities with great kindness
we'll feed, well refreshed, and serenlded in
, the evening, The ladies wished TO entertain
them in their hospitable homes which was
I of necessity, declined for the want of suitable
3 raiment The Governor of Cardenas furnish
2 ed the party with transportation to Havana,
: where they arrived on the morning of the
3 18th, accompanied by an adjutsDt of the
Spanish army, and took up their qrarlers al
: Hotel Cubano. The adjutant reported his ar
rival with his guests to Captain General Dulee
who instructed him to say 10 General Breckin
ridge that he had the freedom Of the city
and Cuba for himself and his friends AZ 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.
. Those who know the country through the
woods from Georgia TO St. Johns (the public
roads we're not available for their services
except at night and thence by the route they
took to the coast, will appreciate the troubles
and dangers encountered to get through safely,
besides the officially Of obtaining food and
! supplies for the six persons The boat ia which
/ the voyage was performed did not admit Of
more than one sleeper al a time and The only
navigator, Taylor Wood had to be always on
the alert la a squsll at night, he was thrown
over by sea, but having the halyards in his
hands, he managed to get on board again
without any Que being aware Of his brief ab.
sence Before leaving the coast they had re-
ligious services, and on reaching Cardenas,
. kafo.a laay;no thsir frai hoat tbay retn.o "a