Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-09-06
MASON AND SLIDELL.
Captain wilkes Famous Capture.
Il. M. IIrnter, IN Phila. Weekly Times.

the fall months on the west coast Of
Africa, bearing a rowing commission
and keeping bright lookout for the
priyateer Sumter. The cruise had rot
resulted in anything Of practical benefit
either in the way Of prize money to the
crew or service to the government, and
the LIST Of October beheld her steering
for the Spanish main, with her crew
and officers in fine spirits and eager for
adventure. Touching the Sienfuegos
news was received that Mason and
Slidel had passed out of Charleston il
the bockadcrunner Theod0,a. and had
reached Havana. THIS WAS on the
23d of October, and orders were Ut once
given to coal ship. The order was ex-
ecuted with dispatch, and on the 10th
of the same month the SIM Jacinto was
again ia blue water shaping course
for Havana. The greatest secresy was
observed as to the destination Of the
ship, but stray copy Of the Baltimore
1uericn1l had passed among the crew,
in which it was announced that Mason
and Slidcl had run the blockade. The
theory that they had gone to Nassau,
New Providence and that the objective
point Of our present trip was to inter
ccpt the Thcodord on her return was
mooted and generally accepted. ! am
afraid that the honor Of suggesting the
capture Of Mason and Slidell must he
awarded to our boatswain, j. =. Grace.
On the evening of October 9th this of
iicer, while pacing the lee side Of the
quarterback with another warrant of.
licer, said, in tone which we distinctly
heard in the wardroon, that the two
chaps themselves ought 10 be overhaul
ed wherever they might be, and the
ship that did il would get honor that
would compensate for the absence Of
prize money won during the past four
months. Two days altcrwnrd We pass
cd under the frowning guns Of Moro
Clstlc and anchored in Havana harbor.
No person except the officers were per
miltcd ashore, and it was required that
they should not appear in uniform. 1t
was street talk ut the time that Mason
and Slidcll Ind made the hardest part
Of their journey when they passed
through the blockading squadron oil
Charleston, and the opinion prevailed
that they were safe from interference
from the United States. Al but Cap
tain Wilkes accepted this view of the
case, and he retained his views with
himself. Having frequent occasion TO
visit his cabin | saw that he was deeply
engaged in the persunl of international
law books, from which he was taking
copious notes. On the LIST day of No
vcmber Lieutenant j. A. Greer, nnvl-
eating officer, brought word to the ship
that Mason and SlidclI, with their sec
retariGs and families, were booked for
England ~ tho steamer Trent to Sc.
Thomas and thence by the regular
West India packet to southampton.
The next dny we went to soa, touching
ut Key West on the Sd. On the 1th we
returned to the Cuban coast and crllls-
ing along the northern shore awaited
further information rs to the move
ments OF the confederate representa-
tives from Consul General Schnfcldt.
II was not received, and orders were
given to bear away to the narrow chan
mel of old Bahama, through which the
Trent must necessarily pass on her way
lost. Thomas, The point selected could
not have been chosen To better advan-
tago. Between the coral keys the dis
lance across the channclwas but fifteen
miles, and no ship could pass without
being seen by our topsail-yard lookout.
Early on the morning Of the Sth the
ship was cleared for action.
PREPARATIONS in EARNEST
If the Trent had left Havana OH tic
It'll sho was duo NJ the point whore We
were waiting Oh the Still. The distance
was but two hundred and forty miles,
and the wind blowing u full sail breeze
from the southwest should place the
Trent under our guns by noon. The
calculations were made with cxactness,
for nj twenty minutes to II o'clock the
lookout alottsmg out "Sail hot Lieut..
X. Randolph Breesc, who hnd the deck,
hailed the lookout and asked for her
direction. con the port bow, sir,
came back the reply. The San JdcintO
WAS then heading north, and presently
the black smoke of " steamer was de-
serted from our decks. When the crew
Ans plped To dinner the meSscloths
were deserted and nearly everybody
remained ON deck Watching tho smoke, |
until out Of the base of the ascending
hiaeknosS came the spnrs, presently the
hull and full shape Of the steamship
Trent Until chat moment, probably, !
10 ono On board " the ship knew what
she object Ut our waiting was; hut Us
soon rs the Trent hove il sight and her
identity WAS decided, there was no doubt
Of our mission. Then Capt Wilkes
called Lieut. FhirlaN into the cabin and
gave him his instructions, of which the
following is II copy;
L, $. STEAMER "SAN JAcINro,''
Ar SEA, November =, 1851.
sin. You viii have the second aud thlrd cutters
Of this ship fully manned and armed ami be IN all
rnannrlA nnrnl M hnlLl I'M. ALrnmnr LnaML. nnA