Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-06

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amount Will be paid by the paymastcr
Lieut. James A. Greer viii take charge Of the
third cutter, which accompanies you. and ASSIST
you In these duties. trust that all those under
your commando IN executing this important and
delicate duty, Will conduct themselves with al
the deicaGy and kindness which become the
character Of our naval service am, very re-
spcctfly, your 0bedient servant,
CHARLES WILKES, Captain.
Lie & D. NJ FAIRFAX, U. $. NJ, Executive Of
ncer sun Jdctnt0.
BOARDING THE TRENT.
AS il by common consent the officers
had repaired to their state-rooms and
presently appeared in full uniform,
with side-arms. The officers detailed
to 90 in the boats with Lieutenant Fair
fax received their instructions, and
Captain Wilkes walked forward to the
mainmast and gave the order cheat to
quarters" A few minutes later the
officers reported their divisions and the
guns were run out, the half-ports triccd
up, and all preparations made. II was
fifteen minutes after | o'clock when the
boats were called away. Mr.. Fairfax
in the second cutter and Lieutenant
Greer commanding the third cutter.
Before the boats were showed Of the
the Trent had steamed well up toward
the San Jaci,lto, and was in midchannel
when the gun on the topgallant fore
castle, loaded with il round-shot, was
fired in u line across the bows Imme-
diately the red cross Of st. George went
lluttering to her peak, but she kept her
course. "Put u shell in that gun"
called out Captain Wilkes, "and let it
go across her bows so she may not mis-
take oui intention this time" The
shell exploded about one hundred
fathoms ahead Of the steamer and i'm
mediately her engines stopped and she
roundcd-to within two-hundred feet of
the man-of-war and under the muZles
of our broadside that would have sunk
her ut the word fire" There was
much confusion on the mail steamer
and the passengers could be seen run
ming about the decks in the greatest
state Of excitement. AS our men were
going into their boats Captain Moir Of
tic Trent hailed us. "What do you
mean, shouted he, "by stopping my
ship? and why do you do il with shot
ted guns, contrary to usage? Lieu
tenant Brccsc sang out in reply; "Wc
are going To send u boat ON board of
you. Lay-to.'
Atthis instant the order to shove off
was given to our boats, and the second
and third cutters went dancing over the
blue waves toward the Treat. Leutcn-
ant Greer pulled up TO the port gang
way and Mr.. Fairfax went to the star
board side and boarded the ship alone.
The first officer met him us he came up
the side and asked what he wanted.
"Are You the master of this ship, sir ?"
mo sir, first officer"
81 would like too sec the captain"
and Captain Moir ut this instant walk
ed out ofnls cabin, and coming forward
sand, in angry tones; GLOW dare YOU
come on board Of my ship. What
right have you here? This il IN outrage,
the flag there pointing NJ the red cross
aloft) will make you pay for"
Lieutenant Fairfax bowed, and said:
Il have instructions to effect the arrest
Of Messrs. Mason and Slidell and their
secretaries, Nlessrs. Ellstis and McFar-
land. have information that they
are ON board and would like to see
your passenger list.
For damned impcrtincnt outrage
ous puppy give me, or don't give me, II
Yankee You 80 back to your ship,
young man. and tell her skipper that
you couldn't accomplish your mission
because we wouldn't let We. deny
your right Of search. Dye understand
that"
Il am sorry quietly returned the Of
icor, ito shy | shall use force to carry
out my orders, and thanking you, sin,
for your advice, decline to return to
the ship III any such way us you pro-
pose.
EXCITEMENT AND REMONSTRANCE.
The passengers, some forty or fifty in
number, had gathered aft around the
officer, and the crew also stood about.
As Captain Moir made his assertion re-
garding the right of search the passen-
gers npplaudod, and young lady,
whom afterwards learned was Miss
Sldell, Spr,ng on To companion-way
skvhght, and said: "Qmte right, cap
tain, very right Lieutenant Fairfax
then came to the side of the ship to
summon the boat crows, but the tones
of the discussion had been highly
pNehcd ahd ms call hnu u response be-
fore he made it. The blue jackets,
twenty in number, and the marines, of
whom there were ten, the former with
cutlasses and pistols and the marines
with muskcts and hayoncts, sprung aft
ut once. A detachment was ordered Ia
the lower deck and tile rest Of the men
formed III u line across the main deck,
cutting oil communication from nhnrt
the malnmast To the forccastlc. During
this movement there had appeared on
the deck m officer with Il parr0t-lke
voice. wearing the uniform Of the royal
navy. Struttlng up to Lieutenant FAIR