The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-03
Further from the Washington Irving
Full Particulars of the G~hase-Great
Excitement at Old Point.

Inc NolioLh 1ytHt"" :" .S"'~i""s
brings us further particulars OF the re-
markable aud narrow escape of the vessel
attached for debt. 1t says:
1t is now positively stated that Deputy
United States Marshal Barry and six sol
dicrs, fully armed and equipped, were on
board the steamer when she broke loose
from the Government wharf. These men
could not have been carried oil against
their will for, armed as they were, there
exists no doubt but that they could have
forced the captain to land again. But
they made no resistance Ill fact, the state
ment made by the Deputy Marshal Is, that
having received the United States tax, he
felt no interest in the collection of what
was due the city, and made no effort to
detain the boat, which he might easily
have done AT Fort Norfolk, even had he
considered his own guard inadequate to
the control of the crew. Our Fortress
Monroe reporter tells the rest:
The steamer made her appearance oil
Scwell's Point Just as the Geographic dis
patch announcing her departure, and
requesting that she be stopped, reached
Major General Miles. He Immediately
sent a guard of one sergeant and two men
down on the wharf in doublc-quick time,
and jumping aboard the steam-tug Geneva,
Captain Young, the pursuit commenced.
The Geneva started across the roads III the
direction of the Rip-RapS, with the inten-
ton of intcrccpting her, as both steamers
met at the point OF a triangle towards
which the courses of both were directed.
The officers of the Washington Irving
crowded on all steam, and had evidently
expected pursuit, and were consequently
prepared. Reserving their strength until
the moment when came 'the tug
of war" the heavy black smoke
curled in thick volumes above her
smoke-stack as she detiantly kept on her
course, utterly disregarding the whistles
and halls from the Geneve. Gradually both
steamers ncared the point where all the
spectators of the scene were confident she
would succumb. Spy-glasses were leVeiled
from every direction-but the irving, no.
thing daunted, kept on her way. Suddenly
there came a bright flash from one OF the
muskets, and the water splashed just III
front of her bow. Directly there was an
other, and then another, and then a volley.
Not a person could be seen on the little
steamer as, enveloped in a cloud OF smoke
rising above her, he sped past the Geneva,
and headed towards the Capes. The
Geneva had failed to intercept her, but
still kept up the pursuit, though
constantly increasing the distance from
the pursued steamer for stern chase Is Il
long one. When about three miles oil from
the fortress, three heavy shots from an eX-
detrimental on the beach were fired at
the Irving, but without effect. One OF the
shots struck Just between the two vessels,
one went lust ahead of her, and the third
far wide of the mark. Towards dark both
vessels were out of sight. About 6o'clock,
the steamer Favorite, with Sheriff william
Deggs and q posse of policemen, arrived
from your city, and were somewhat cha-
crined ON learning of the escape OF the
steamer. They remained here all night,
hoping she would be o~vertaken.
About 8 o'clock the Geneva returned with
the information of having spoken the quar-
antinc steamer Eliza Hancox, near Cape
Henry, to which vessel the guard OF men
were transferred, and that shortly alter
wards started in pursuit. The Eliza Han
cox arrived here during the night, and re-
ported having overtaken the Irving about
8 O'Clock eight miles eastward OF Sniths
island. The sergeant and his two men,
detailed from the Fifth artillery, garrison
ing the fort, Immediately boarded her,
and sought an interview with Olney,
her commander. He Informed them
that he was bound to a northern port,
and had q regular clearance from the
Norfolk custom-house, and, moreover, en-
phatically expressed his determination
not to return if within his power to pre-
vent It. Captain Shutter, Of the Hancox,
having no instructions in regard to the
steamer, the guard acting only under those
coatained IN > brief Telegram, snd the