The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-06-30
Escape Of Breckilr4dge.
Havana, June II

soldiers arrived al Cardenas on The 11lh
inst, IL an open boat If about one ton
buElheu, from tue coast Of Fiorda. This
party, after lhe capture Of he President
of the late republic, made their way to
The st. Johns river, where they procured
a boat in which they proceeded up the
liYe' until they reached a point due west
Ct Ind an riyer, near tho head Of nayiga>
ton. At 81. Johus, Color el lay !or y ooH
Ijolned the Tarfy, having been csptured by
Tie commaLd OF General Wilson which
captured the President of tie ccufedesacy
! By accident, but he made good lis escape
The same night.
The small boat was hauled across the
country from the St. Johns to Indian
river, q distance Of twenly-six miles, and
launched for the ocean. On reaching a
point called Gilbert's bar, near the moutl,
of the river, the boat was beached, aud
dragged across sand pit 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 "cuunty,' Of which they
made bread. For the balance of the voy-
age they were compelled to live on sheI>
fish, caught along the shore, and turtles
eggs, OF which they also laid in store for
their voyage across the Gulf stream.
From the inlet near the mouth of Indian
river, they coasted South some fifty or
sixty miles, when they boached their beat
to hunt provisions. At this time, the
United States gunboat or steam transport
running down south between the shore
and the Florida reef, observed the party,
and the commander dispatched 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 set his weapons ready for USE
they were temporarily located Oh the
shell ridge, between an impenetEable
swamp and the waters of the ocean, so
that, ii they lost their boat they would
perish in Tie swamp. Taylor Wood
with lie cool determination Of Rough
an6 Ready" lis grandfather, ordered his
two men to launch the boat, which was
instantly accomplished, and the Others,
having retired under cover Of :bo brush,
the two soldiers took to the oars " with a
vii" and pulled 10: the advancing boat,
which they met at about one eighth Of a
mile from the shore. An officer in the
stern seat OF the gig, with revolver in
hand, hailed the boat with tie usual ques-
iions. Taylor Wood became immediately
the rougnest 'ioGgshoro woodsmau, wreck
er and fisherman that ever lived in loIila.
" His men were paroled soldiers: they
had to live somehow they were hunting
wrecks; and, Until lhev could tind some
thing better, they were subsistlng on the
rather washy charity Of The sea--slel
fish driven on shore, and turtles eggs; !;
they meant to get as far as an Indian Key,
or possibly, Kev West; .hav had ? boat
load Of papers, if be wanted 10 see them"
Aud The ready boys pulled forth their pa
role documents, which were examined and
found colfect The folks on shore were
OF the same class; had plenty of papers
! he same-aud were irving to cook din
ner; If they could lind any ergs or shells f.
wouldn't lie captain like 10 90 along
| ashove-he would be perfectly ,celcyuee 10
Tho best they had, and their papers too ~
Their hospitality was decIiled-the dc
tum all night" WAS uttered, and, "gjre
too, my boys when away shot Tho gig
on her return 10 the steamer naue not
known. The wea,ied anI half starved
party breathed more freely after The inter
view, which had been rather tedious
while waiting for the result.
That evening tloy cit the shore, hav,
ing on board few dozen OF eggs, cakes
OF cumty bread, and few CLANS, So small
that taey might pass for muscles. They
reached the Banks in about thirtysix
hours, having spoken one vessel and OBJ
tanned a supply of fresh water the day fol
loving their departure from the Florida
coast, and met with no other incident,
though terribly perpleXed Tor want Of
food, until they reached Caldenaa on the
morning oi the llth-eight days where
they were received by tue people and au
thorltles with great hlndH'sS, well fed,
we'll refreshed, and seFenaddd 10 the even
lag. The ladies wishing to entertain them
in their hospltablo homes, which was, OF
necessity, declined for the want OF sulta-
bic rainent. The Governor Of Cardenas