The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-07-12
HOTEL BURNED.


When the news OF the evacuation of
Richmond and the capitutation OF the
remnant OF Lees army at AppomattoX
Courthouse reached General Breckin-
ridges headquarters, it was determined
In council of war, at which Gen.
Joseph e. johnson presided, that any
further resistance to the overwhelming
force Of the Federal armies would be a
useless effuslon of blood on the part of
the Coniederates, who were already cir
cumvented by the enemy and suffering
the middle of April, 1865, that General
Breckinridge, after perilous ride of
over thousand miles ON horseback,
eyading the Federal cavalry in his
flight through North Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama aud Florida, at last succeeded
in reaching the mouth of the st. Johns
river, where he was joined by Colonel
Wilson, of the Florida cavalry; j. Tay-
lor Wood, ex.commander of the Confed-
crate privateer Tallahassee, and Cap
tain O'Toole, all OF whom, together with
his body servant, q negro boy, volun-
teered TO accompany him to Cuba. Sc
curing a small boat of only one ton bur-
den and but eighteen feet in length--the
only means of transportation at their
command-these voluntary eXiles braye-
ly launched their little craft on the
treacherous waters Of the Gulf of Mex &.
leo.
After eight days Of adventure and al
ternate calm aud storm, during which
time their supply of water and proyis-
ions gave out, they were at length hailed
Oft Salt Key, on the northwest coast of
Cuba, by a brig bound from Cardenas to
New York. Passing themselves off as
fishermen from Florida, they procured
some supplies and proceeded on their
way. On the II Of June, 1865, the party
reached Port of Cardenas, in the island
of Cuba, without nautical instrument
to guide them over the trackless waters
in that frail fishing boat. The party
was Hospitality received by the Spanish
Governor of the place, Colonel Bardaji,
to whom General Breckenridge pre-
sented his sword and the arms Of his
party. These were Immediately re-
turned, and the hospitalities Of the
party rendered to them. The party re-
NAMED two days at Cardenas, during
Which dinner and serenade were
given to General Breckinridge by the
few American sympathizers residing ut
the place. A special train was placed
at their disposal, and, accompanied by
the writer and a guard Of honor de-
putized by the Governor, the party pro.
ceeueu W ddfduds w Ieu ING Train
reached Regia, on the opposite
side Of the bay, large number OF peo-
pie were at the depot, anxious to get a
glimpse OF the famous general confeder-
ado. The ferryboat that took us across
the bay was never known to carry SO
many passengers as she did OH that oc-
casion. The tall, sOldierIy figure Of
General Breckinridge, clad in his bat
tleworn uniform OF gray, lowered above
the crowd as he stood on the bow of the
boat gazing at the magnificent specta-
Gle presented by the thousands of ships
of all nationalities, among which were
the Confederate ram Stonewal and
other small crafts still floating the stars
and bars.
A wealthy Cuban planter,an acquaint-
ance of the writer, extended most cor
dial invitation to the General to make
his headquarters with him while IN
Havana. Many other pressing invita-
tions of similar character we're eX-
tended, but General Breckenridge
courteously declined to accept any dem
onstrations, either publicly or privately.
After stopping about wee ( at the Ho-
tel Cubano, he proceeded to Montreal to
visit two Of his children who were at
school there. From there he went to
Europe, and returned to Kentucky in
1867, where he lived quietly and un-
until death closed his
career Oh the 17tb of May,
1879 s.,