The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-27

uG lGIAlbh WIN kl0 skAAlooSo - - e@I.@E
as ever. They are true and brave, and l
believe are willing and ready, but they
have no leaders, The vigilance Of the
administration, It's large detective force,
the large bounties paid for treachery, and
the respectable men who have yielded 10
the temptation, added 10 the large militia.
nv force stationed In these States, make
organization and preparation almost an
impossibility. A large sum Of money has
been expended In fostering and futhering
these operations, and now seems 10 have
been little pro6t,but in reviewing the past,
| do not see how II could have been avoid.
cd, nor has 1t been spent altogether In
vain. The spprehenslons Of the enemy
have caused him TO bring back and keep
from the field in front, at least 60, 900 men
TO watch and brow beat the people at
home. In this view Of the subject the
same amount of,inoney has effected 80
much ip no other quarter since the com.
menCement OF tho war.
In July last Capt Charles q. Cole, Of
Gen. Forresfs command, made his esi
cape from prison. BE represented TO me
that hg had been appointed q Lieutenant
In our navy. sent him around thelAkes
with instructions to 90 as q lower deck
passenger, to Iamiliarize himself with all
The channels and different approaches 10
the several harbors, the strength OF each
place, the depositaries Of coal, and es.
peCially TO learn all that he could about
The war steamer Michigan and devise
some plan for her capture or destruction.
This duty he performed very satisfactorily.
TIE PLOT TO CAPTURE THE MICHIGAN.
lie was then instructed to return and
put himself In communication with the
officers Of the Michigan, and, feeling his
w0y, 10 endeavor 10 purchase the boat
from its officers. For time he thought
he would succeed in this II he could give
the guarantees OF payment Of the sums
stipulated, but by degrees the question
was dropped. He asked permission to
organize force 10 board and take her.
This was given, and Acting Master John
Y. Beall was sent to him 10 aid in the
organization and in carrying out the en-.
terprise. Their plan was well conceived
and held out the promise OF success. II
had been previously ascertalned from es.
capped prisoners from Johnson's Island
that an organization existed among the
prisoners on theI Island for the purpose Of
surprising the guard and capturing the
island. The presence Of the steamer
Michigan, which carried ID guns, was
the only obstacle. Secret communica.
tiOns were had, by which they were ad-
vised, that on the night OF the 10th oil
September an attempt TO seize the Michi-
gan would be made. On that night Capt
Cole, who had previously established the
lriendliest relations with the officers ofthe
steamer, was to have a "wine drinking
with them on board, and at given hour
Acting Master Beall WAS 10 appear on a
boat, TO be obtained for the purpose, with
sufficient body Of Confederate soldiers
to board and take the steamer. Should
they capture the steamer, q cannon shot
sent through the officers quarters, on
JOhnson's Island, was to signify to the
prisoners that the hour for their release
had come. Should they take the Islaud,
boats were to be improvised, and San
dusky was to be Attacked. II taken, the
prisoners were,to be mounted and make
for Cleveland, the boats co.operating
and from Cleveland the prisoners we're 10
make Wheeling, and thence 10 Virginia
The key 10 the whole movement was the
capture OF the Michigan. On the evening
Of the 10Th, by some treachery, Cole was
arrested, and the messenger, who was to
meet Acting Master Beail at Kelly's Is
land, did not reach him.
SEIZURE OF TUE ISLAND QUEEN.
Disappointed, but nothing dauntedI
Acting Master Beall, having possession
OF the Philo Parsons, a passenger steam
or running from Detroit to Sundusky, he
went on his way toward Johnson's Is
land. Having landed Middle Bar
Island TO secure u supply Of wood, the
steamer Island Queen, with large num-
Der Of passengers and thirty!tHo soldiers
came up alongside and dashed herself TO
Parsons. An attack was at once resolved
upon. The passengers and soldiers were
soon made prisoners and the boat deliv
cred up to our men. The soldiers were
regularly paroled. The passengers were
left on the island, having given theil
promise not 10 leave for twenty-four
hours, and the boat was towed out into
lake and sunk.
The Paraons was then started directly
for the Bay Of Sandusky. Here the men,
for certain reasOns'not altogether satisiac
tory, but possibly fortunately, refused Il
make the attack on the Michigan. Beal
returned and landed at Sandwich, @. w.
and the men scattered through the coun
try. Most of them have returned to thu
Confederate States but a few days sinct
Acting Master Bennett S. Burley was ar
rested, and the trial is now going on fol
his delivery under the extradition treaty
If we had Coles; Bealls, or his own com
mission, should not fear the result. A!
it is, they will have to prove that they
acted under my order, and that will il
all probability secure his release, but il
may lead to my expulsion from the
Provinces. At least l have it from re
liable source that this last proposition
has been pressed upon the Canadian su.
thorities, and they have considered it
Should tire course OF events take this di
rection, unadvised by you, 1 shall consid
er it my duty TO remain where l am, ant
abide the issue. / should prefer, il it b.
possible, TO have your views on the sub
ject. Captain Cole is still a prisoner Oh
Johnson's Island, in obedience TO you
suggestion, as far as it was practicable.
A FINANCIAL SCHEME.
Soon after my arrival here, urged thu
people in the North to convert thei
paper money into gold and withdraw
from the market. / am satisfied this pol
icy was adopted and carried into effect t
some extent, but how extensively an
not able to state. What effect It had OF
the gold market, it is impossible TO est
mate, but certain 1t is that gold continued
10 appreciate until 1t went 10 300. Tn
high price may have tempted many Il
change their policy, because aflerwart
gold fell in the market to 100. When 1